法无定法

Diamond Sutra – There is no Buddha who attained enlightenment – 金刚经 – 佛没得道,因大道不能得故

There is no Buddha who obtained enlightenment.

Why?  Because real enlightenment cannot be obtained by anyone, as such implied the dualistic paradigm of “someone” obtaining something called “enlightenment”.  While in ordinary perception there appear to be a historical Buddha who obtained a state called enlightenment, in reality, or at least in Buddha self-described reality, this is not possible because the state of enlightenment is beyond “self” and its “dualistic paradigm”.  Therefore,  anyone or being who claims to be enlightened does not aligned with the truth of this Sutra.

Besides in Diamond Sutra, same truth is also expounded in the famous Buddhist Heart Sutra (in enlightenment there is no wisdom nor anything obtained无智亦无得,以无所得故), and in the Daoist classic Qingjingjing (although named obtaining the Dao, in reality there is nothing obtained虽名得道,实无所得).

While this truth might look devastating to the ego, which constantly tries to obtain something and become enlightened, the recognition and realization of this truth brings liberation, and alignment to the authentic truth of spiritual enlightenment.

As there is no one to be enlightened (first level of surrender: self), similarly, there is no fixed truth to be expounded (second level of surrender: teachings).  Refer to last week’s discussion on 2 levels of surrender.

* * *

无得无说分第七

NOTHING ATTAINED, NOTHING SPOKEN, SEVEN

须菩提!于意云何?如来得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提耶?如来有所说法耶?
“Subhuti, what do you think? Has the Tathagata(in fact) obtained Supreme Enlightenment (Anubodhi)? Does the Tathagata (in fact) expound the Dharma?”

须菩提言:如我解佛所说义,无有定法名阿耨多罗三藐三菩提,亦无有定法,如来可说。
何以故?如来所说法,皆不可取、不可说、非法、非非法。
所以者何?一切贤圣,皆以无为法而有差别。
Subhuti replied: “As I understand the meaning of the Buddha’s teaching, there is no fixed Dharma called Supreme Enlightenment and there is also no fixed Dharma the Tathagata can expound.
“Why? (Because) the Dharma the Tathagata expounds cannot be clung to and cannot be expressed (in words); it is neither Dharma nor Not-Dharma.
“Why is this? All Bhadras and Aryas differ on account of the Eternal Asamskrta Dharma.”佛并没有得道。

为什么?因为没有任何人能获得真正的大道,因为如果我们说佛得了道,就意味着佛祖停留在有我的状态(有个”佛“得了”道“)。虽然在普通的认知下看,好像是有一个历史上的佛陀得到了道,但实质上,至少在佛陀的自我描述上,这是不可能的;因为开悟的境界是超越“自我”和“二元对立“。因此,任何人声称自己已经得道,都不是真正的得道。

除了金刚经,著名的般若波罗蜜多心经也阐述了同样的真理“无智亦无得,以无所得故”。在道家的传统,著名的清静经也说“虽名得道,实无所得“。

虽然从自我的角度去看,这个道理好像很没希望,甚至是毁灭性的,因自我总是不断试图获得东西(包括道);但承认和接受这真理,能让我们认清真理,变得更开明,和帮助我们从自我的想象中解放出来。

所以佛陀讲:没有”我”能得“道”(第一阶段,我执的放下),也没有固定的“法”可以讲(第二阶段,法执的放下)。详情可看上周的讨论: 2个阶段的放下

* * *

无得无说分第七

须菩提!于意云何?如来得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提耶?如来有所说法耶?

须菩提言:如我解佛所说义,无有定法名阿耨多罗三藐三菩提,亦无有定法,如来可说。

何以故?如来所说法,皆不可取、不可说、非法、非非法。

所以者何?一切贤圣,皆以无为法而有差别。


Comments

3 responses to “Diamond Sutra – There is no Buddha who attained enlightenment – 金刚经 – 佛没得道,因大道不能得故”

  1. […] to the early teachings of – There is no Buddha who attained enlightenment, and there is no enlightenment to be attained, this chapter explains that the Buddha did not obtain any teachings from his teachers, and […]

  2. […] to the earlier part of the Sutra “Buddha beyond form and appearance” and “There is no Buddha who attained enlightenment“, this chapter further describes that real Buddha cannot be recognized by its specific 32 […]

  3. […] have learnt that there is no Buddha who “obtained” enlightenment, as enlightenment is beyond the notion of something that could be obtained by someone.  In this […]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *