Q. What is a life of wisdom in Buddhism?
Zen Fools
by Zen Fools
2d ago
A. Wisdom in Buddhism signifies the ability to see things as they are without being deluded by illusions, that is, the realisation that everything is empty. He who has the wisdom to see and hear things as they are, is referred to as a man who has transcended birth and death because he sees them just as illusions, or as an idle person with no work to do since he sees whatever he does as empty. So, a life of wisdom means a peaceful and stable life free from the fear and worries that we sentient beings encounter in our lives. ©Boo Ahm All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway ..read more
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The Diamond Sutra (31)
Zen Fools
by Zen Fools
6d ago
Part 10-2 “Subhuti, what do you think? Do Bodhisattvas adorn the Buddha-land?” “No, World Honoured One, because adorning the Buddha-land is not adornment, but it is just called adornment.” Commentary: The Buddha-land, another name of the Pure land which means the true-Self, is so perfect that it leaves nothing to be desired. That is, adding something else to it, removing something from it, or changing it to make it look better is not adorning but dirtying it. The truth is that it is impossible to change the Buddha-land. No matter how hard we may struggle to change it, we cannot change it in th ..read more
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Q. Shouldn’t we read good books such as the Sutras if we ought not to be deluded by words?
Zen Fools
by Zen Fools
1w ago
A. A great book is one thing and reading it well is another. No matter how great a book may be, it cannot be a good book for you if you don’t appreciate its meaning. When ancient masters said that we shouldn’t read books, they didn’t mean that we should not read books but meant that we should not be deluded by words. Misreading a great book, being deluded by words is like worsening your illness by misusing the best medicine from the best doctor. For example, putting oral medication for eye disease in your eyes will be more harmful than helpful for your eyes. Just as the best medicine, if misu ..read more
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Joshu’s ‘A bead in one’s hand’ (3)
Zen Fools
by Zen Fools
1w ago
Master Joshu said to an assembly, “The true-Self is just like a bead in one’s hand. It reflects a bird when a bird comes to it and reflects a lion when a lion comes to it. I use a blade of grass as the Buddha and use the Buddha as a blade of grass. The Buddha is an illusion, and an illusion is the Buddha.” Then, a monk asked, “I don’t know whose illusion the Buddha is.” Joshu said, “Everyone’s illusion.” The monk said, “How can I avoid it?” Joshu said, “Why are you going to avoid it?” Student: “How is it when the Buddha is an illusion?” Master: “You don’t follow it.” Student: “How is it when ..read more
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The Diamond Sutra (30)
Zen Fools
by Zen Fools
1w ago
Part 10-1 The Buddha said to Subhuti, “What do you think—did I, the Realised One gain any kind of Dharma when I, the Realised One was with the Dipankara Buddha in the past?” “No, World Honoured One. You, the Realised One really did not gain any Dharma from the Dipankara Buddha.” Commentary: The purpose of the Buddha’s teaching, as mentioned previously, is to attain enlightenment, which is to realise the true-Self, Emptiness that is the essence of everything. The true-Self contains everything, including us, and there is nothing that is not the true-Self. Even the historical Buddha and the Dipan ..read more
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Q. What is the meaning of ‘The Buddha’s teaching is transmitted without using letters, characters and beyond doctrine’?
Zen Fools
by Zen Fools
2w ago
A. The core of the Buddha’s teaching is to help people to escape from illusions. Typical illusions are words and doctrines made up of words. The key problem is that we cannot help but use words to transmit the Buddha’s teaching that we should not be deluded by words. This is why the Buddha said that we should see what his words pointed to instead of being attached to his words themselves. Some ancient masters would say that the Buddha’s words are no more than vessels to carry his teaching. So, we should try to recognise the Buddha’s teaching beyond words in his words. Student: “What is the Bu ..read more
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Joshu’s ‘A bead in one’s hand’ (2)
Zen Fools
by Zen Fools
2w ago
Master Joshu said to an assembly, “The true-Self is just like a bead in one’s hand. It reflects a bird when a bird comes to it and reflects a lion when a lion comes to it. I use a blade of grass as the Buddha and use the Buddha as a blade of grass. The Buddha is an illusion, and an illusion is the Buddha.” Then, a monk asked, “I don’t know whose illusion the Buddha is.” Joshu said, “Everyone’s illusion.” The monk said, “How can I avoid it?” Joshu said, “Why are you going to avoid it?” Student: “How is it when Joshu uses a blade of grass as the Buddha?” Master: “What is humble is not humble ..read more
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The Diamond Sutra (29)
Zen Fools
by Zen Fools
2w ago
Part 9-3 “World Honoured One, if I were to entertain the thought that I have attained sainthood, then the World Honoured One would not say Subhuti enjoys the state of sainthood. It is because Subhuti really does nothing that you say Subhuti likes to enjoy the state of sainthood.” Commentary: A saint, one who has truly attained sainthood is above being deluded by any images to the extent that not only is he not deluded by the thought of having attained sainthood but does nothing as well. To elaborate on the meaning of ‘doing nothing’, supposing you are asked what you did yesterday, how will you ..read more
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Q. If the true Buddha means one who transcends birth and death, how should we accept the historical Buddha?
Zen Fools
by Zen Fools
3w ago
A. The true Buddha, the true-Self is formless, boundless and changeless and contains everything. Not only the historical Buddha but also all people are part of it. This is why it is said that everything is the Buddha. The historical Buddha tried to teach people how to see the Buddha that is free from birth and death and tried to show it to sentient beings through his physical body. That is why he said, “He who seeks to see me through voices and forms cannot see me.” By this he didn’t mean that his body is not the true-Buddha but that we can’t see the true-Buddha if we confine his being only t ..read more
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Joshu’s ‘A bead in one’s hand’ (1)
Zen Fools
by Zen Fools
3w ago
Master Joshu said to an assembly, “The true-Self is just like a bead in one’s hand. It reflects a bird when a bird comes to it and reflects a lion when a lion comes to it. I use a blade of grass as the Buddha and use the Buddha as a blade of grass. The Buddha is an illusion, and an illusion is the Buddha.” Then, a monk asked, “I don’t know whose illusion the Buddha is.” Joshu said, “Everyone’s illusion.” The monk said, “How can I avoid it?” Joshu said, “Why are you going to avoid it?” Student: “What is the bead in my hand?” Master: “You can’t put it down even for a moment.” Student: “How does ..read more
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