The Diamond Sutra: The Perfection of Wisdom

Fu Hsi’s song goes, “Water and land are the same true realm / flying and walking alike are real / dharmas include no this or that / the truth isn’t distant or near / distinctions of self and other be gone / away with perceptions of better or worse / once we know this equalizing nature / we enter nirvana together.”

On this occasion, he saw in the Buddha’s actions the perfect realization of that doctrine.

“Moreover, Subhuti, when bodhisattvas give a gift, they should not be attached to a thing. When they give a gift, they should not be attached to anything at all.

But merit refers to more than what we normally think of as “good karma.” It refers to karma that is in some sense selfless and thus no karma.

The problem with most people is that for the sake of food and clothes they run around like beggars and eventually forget who they are and no longer return to their own place. When your work is done, don’t involve yourself in what doesn’t concern you. Thus, the Buddha sits down and focuses on the thought before him.”

And this is also what he means by “resolving on selfless dharmas.” Seeing that all dharmas are empty and without any self-nature is not enough. The only way bodhisattvas can liberate other beings is by making use of the very selfless dharmas to which beings are attached. Thus, the Buddha introduces us to the dharma eye and the buddha eye.

Therefore, Subhuti, fearless bodhisattvas should thus give birth to a thought that is not attached and not give birth to a thought attached to anything. They should not give birth to a thought attached to a sight. Nor should they give birth to a thought attached to a sound, a smell, a taste, a touch, or a dharma.

“And why not? Subhuti, a bodhisattva who creates the perception of a being cannot be called a ‘bodhisattva.’ And why not? Subhuti, no one can be called a bodhisattva who creates the perception of a self or who creates the perception of a being, a life, or a soul.”

Te-ch’ing says, “The primary method taught by the Buddha to liberate beings is to realize that there is no self. Once there is a self, the other concepts follow.