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To: alt.zen From: mahabarbara@delphi.com Subject: Re: Suchness and Rebirth Date: 49941116 [From the Diamond Sutra, which along with the Heart Sutra is part of the much larger Prajnaparamita Sutra, probably the oldest text of the Mahayana canon. The Sixth Patriarch, Hui Neng, wrote in his autobiography (a.k.a. the Platform Sutra) that he became enlightened when he first heart the words of the Diamond Sutra. This is section 9, "Real Designation Is Undesignate."] [The Buddha is speaking.] Subhuti, what do you think? Does a disciple who has entered the stream of the holy life say within himself, "I obtain the fruit of a stream entrant?" Subhuti said: No, World-Honored One, because 'stream entrant ' is merely a name; there is no stream entering. The disciple who pays no regard to form, sound, odor, taste, touch, or any quality is called a stream entrant.. Subhuti, what do you think? Does an adept who is subject to only one more rebirth say to himself, 'I obtain the fruit of a once-to-be-reborn?' Subhuti said: No, World-Honored One. "Once-to-be-reborn" is merely a name. There is no passing away nor coming into existence. The adept who realizes this is called 'once-to-be-reborn." Subhuti, what do you think? Does a venerable one who will never more be reborn as a mortal say to himself, "I obtain the fruit of a nonreturner?" Subhuti said: No, World-Honored One. Because "nonreturner" is merely a name; there is no nonreturning; hence the designation, "nonreturner." Subhuti, what do you think? Does a holy one say to himself, "I have obtained perfect enlightenment?" Subhuti said: No, World-Honored One. Because if a holy one of perfect enlightenment said to himself, "Such am I," he would necessarily partake of the idea of an ego entity, a personality, a being, or a separated individuality. Subhuti continued: When the Buddha declares that I excel among holy men in the yoga of perfect quiescence, in dwelling in seclusion, and in freedom from passions, I do not say within myself, "I am a holy one of perfect enlightenment, free from passions. If I said to myself, "Such am I," you would not declare, "Subhuti finds happiness abiding in peace, in seclusion in the midst of the forest." This is because Subhuti abides nowhere; therefore he is called "Subhuti, Joyful Abider in Peace, Dweller in Seclusion in the Forest." [The Buddha is often called by the title Tathagata, which roughly translates into "thus, come," or "he who is such." This is the Diamond Sutra, section 29, "Perfect Tranquillity"] Subhuti, if anyone should say that the Tathagata comes or goes or sits or reclines, he fails to understand my teaching. Why? Because Tathagata has neither whence nor whither, therefore is he called "Tathagata."
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