The Diamond Sutra - Quotes
The texts were written down by BJ Avilla, and analyzed into the four essential parts:
A) Emptiness of the Reality, B) the Method of Buddhist Meditational Practice, C) the True Nature of Buddha/Enlightenment, D) the Way to Deal With Conditioned Phenomena
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A. Emptiness of the Reality
The Buddha cannot be recognized by means of his bodily form.
Why? Because when the Buddha speaks of bodily form, it is
not a real form, but only an illusion.
Verse #1) All that has form
is illusive and unreal.
When you see that all
forms are illusive and unreal, then you will begin to perceive your true Buddha
nature.
And yet, even as I speak, I must take back my words as soon
as they are uttered, for there are no Buddhas
and there are no teachings.
A true disciple entering the stream which flows to
enlightenment would not think of themselves as a separate person that could be
entering anything.
Only that disciple who does not differentiate themselves
from others - who has no regard for name, shape, sound, odour, taste, touch or
for any quality - can truly be called a disciple who has entered the stream.
There is no passing away, or coming into, existence. Only
one who realizes this can really be called a disciple.
There is no such thing as Perfect Enlightenment to obtain.
If a Perfectly Enlightened Buddha were to say to himself -
'I am enlightened' - he would be admitting there is an individual person, a
sperate self and personality - and would therefore not be a Perfectly
Enlightened Buddha.
B. the Method of Buddhist Meditational Practice
Verse #2) A disciple should
develop mind which is in no way dependent upon sights, sounds, smells, tastes,
sensory sensations - or any mental conceptions. A disciple should develop a mind which does
not rely on anything.
The disciple's mind should be kept independent of any thoughts
that might arise within it.
If the disciple's mind depends upon anything in the sensory
realm it will have no solid foundation in any reality.
Just as the Buddha declares that form is not form, so he
also declares that all living beings are, in fact, not living beings.
A true disciple knows that there is no such thing as a self,
a person, a living being, or a universal self.
A true disciple knows that all things are devoid of
selfhood, devoid of any separate individuality.
All modes, conceptions and tendencies of thought are not
mind.
Why?
Because it is impossible to retain a past thought, to seize
a future thought, and even to hold onto a present thought.
C. the True Nature of Buddha/Enlightenment
When I attained total Enlightenment, I did not feel, as the
mind feels, any arbitrary conception of spiritual truth - not even the
slightest.
Even the words 'total Enlightenment' are merely words, they
are used merely as a figure of speech.
What I have attained in total Enlightenment is the same as
what all others have attained.
It is undifferentiated, regarded neither as a high state,
nor a low state.
Do not say that the Buddha as the idea, 'I will lead all
sentient beings to Nirvana.' Do not think that way.
In truth there is not one single being for the Buddha to
lead to Enlightenment.
If the Buddha were to think there was, he would be caught in
the idea of a self, a person, a living being, or a universal self.
What the Buddha calls a self essentially has no self in the
way that ordinary persons think there is a self.
Verse #3) If any person were
to say that the Buddha is now coming or going, or sitting up or lying down -
they would not have understood the principle I have been teaching.
Why? Because the true Buddha is never coming from anywhere
or going anywhere.
The name 'Buddha' is merely an expression, a figure of
speech.
When people begin their practice of seeking to attaining
total Enlightenment - they ought to see, to perceive, to know, to understand,
and to realize that all things and all spiritual truths are no-things. - and,
therefore, they ought not conceive within their minds any arbitrary conceptions
whatsoever.
D. the Way to Deal With Conditioned Phenomena
This is how to contemplate our conditioned existence in this
fleeting world:
Verse #4) Like a tiny drop
of dew, or a bubble floating in a stream; Like a flash of lightning in a summer
cloud, Or flickering lamp, an illusion, a phantom, or a dream. So is all
conditioned existence to be seen.
Thus spoke Buddha.
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Analyzed & Organized by BJ Avilla
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