Half 6 – 4
“Why? If all these sentient beings’ minds grasped at varieties, they’d be connected to the picture of self, the picture of particular person, the picture of sentient being, and the picture of soul. Why? It’s as a result of even greedy at a picture of Dharma can be to be connected to the picture of self, the picture of particular person, the picture of sentient being, and the picture of soul, to not point out that greedy at a picture of non-Dharma can be to be connected to the picture of self, the picture of particular person, the picture of sentient being, and the picture of soul. Due to this fact, you shouldn’t grasp at not solely the Dharma but additionally non-Dharma.
Commentary:
Greedy at varieties means being unable to see issues as they’re, or being unable to see issues as empty, and being connected to pictures means not merely being anxious to own, or to be with them but additionally being desperate to keep away from, or to be far-off from them because of greedy at them. Greedy at varieties and being connected to pictures is known as being deluded by illusions.
All varieties, photographs will not be substantive however simply illusionary irrespective of how sacred or hideous they might seem, and the true-Self, the Buddha, is formless.
So, historic masters would say that even when ten thousand Buddhas tempt us, we shouldn’t observe them, as a result of they’re illusions we wish to keep away from, and that even when ten thousand Maras strategy us, we shouldn’t keep away from them, as a result of they’re the Buddha we’re anxious to see. Put merely, if we’re attracted even by the picture of the Buddha, it’s to be deluded by an phantasm. If we see even Mara as empty, it’s to see the Buddha. Once we see every thing as empty, there isn’t any distinction between the Buddha and Mara since each are additionally empty, and there’s nothing to observe, or keep away from.
Due to this fact, once we can’t see issues as they’re, we, deluded by illusions, can’t be with the Buddha irrespective of how exhausting we might battle to observe the Buddha, however as soon as we come to see every thing as it’s, our attachment to pictures fades away spontaneously with out effort as a result of we all know they’re empty and illusory, and the Buddha follows us on a regular basis.
Extra instantly talking, we should always have the ability to learn even this writing with out greedy at varieties and see the Buddha.
Pupil: “How is it if we don’t grasp at varieties?”
Grasp: “I’ve no mouth, and you don’t have any ears.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All photographs ©Simon Hathaway
