Diamond Sutra – Real vs. Fake Bodhisattva – 金刚经 – 真假菩萨

We 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 section the Buddha furthers that there is no Bodhisattva who could save any beings.

Why?  Because the notion of “Bodhisattva” is absence in a real Bodhisattva when carrying out his/her charity work (actually Bodhisattva is beyond and no limit to sexual differentiation).  On the other hand, when one accepts the notion that “I shall liberate unlimited beings”, the notion of a self, others, world, and immortality arises and one falls into the realm of ego and mortality.  Even in the worldly realm, we can see that real philanthropists choose to remain anonymous for a similar reason.

Can we do charity work without the ego/self getting involved?  The moment we succeed, the moment we are real Bodhisattva.

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须菩提！菩萨亦如是。若作是言：“我当灭度无量众生”，则不名菩萨。何以故？”
须菩提！实无有法名为菩萨。
“Subhuti, in like manner, if a Bodhisattva says: ‘I should lead uncountable living beings to put a stop to (reincarnation) and escape (from suffering)’, he cannot be called a Bodhisattva. Why?”
“Because there is really no dharma called the Bodhisattva (stage).

是故佛说：一切法无我、无人、无众生、无寿者。
“Therefore, the Buddha says: Of all dharmas, there is not a single one which possesses an ego, a personality, a being and a life.

须菩提！若菩萨作是言：“我当庄严佛土”，是不名菩萨。何以故？
如来说：庄严佛土者，即非庄严，是名庄严。
须菩提！若菩萨通达无我、法者，如来说名真是菩萨。
“Subhuti, if a Bodhisattva says: ‘I should adorn Buddha lands’, he cannot be called a Bodhisattva. Why?”
“Because when the Tathagata speaks of such adornment it is not, but is (expediently), called adornment.
“Subhuti, if a Bodhisattva is thoroughly versed in (the doctrine of) the unreality of ego and of things (dharma), the Tathagata will call him a true Bodhisattva.之前我们已经学到，没有佛“得”道，因为道（或佛）不是任何“人”可以“得到”的。在本节中，佛陀进一步解说，没有能灭道众生的菩萨。

为什么呢？因为“菩萨”是没有自我参与的布施。如果我们执着于“我要灭道无量众生”的概念，就会变成了“我，人，众生和寿者”相的执着，回到来凡夫和短暂的境界。即使是在世俗的世界，我们也可以看到，真正的慈善家都会选择保持匿名。

抚心自问，我们能否时刻做到无私的布施？在我们成功的那一刹那，那一刹那我们就是真正的菩萨。

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须菩提！菩萨亦如是。若作是言：“我当灭度无量众生”，则不名菩萨。何以故？”
须菩提！实无有法名为菩萨。

是故佛说：一切法无我、无人、无众生、无寿者。

须菩提！若菩萨作是言：“我当庄严佛土”，是不名菩萨。何以故？

如来说：庄严佛土者，即非庄严，是名庄严。
须菩提！若菩萨通达无我、法者，如来说名真是菩萨。