There is really no Dharma to teach, said the Buddha. Does it sound familiar to Chapter 1 of Laozi’s Daodejing (whatever spoken is not the real and everlasting Dao)? If the two masters met, i imagine there will be a smile of mutual recognition!
But the Buddha put it out more seriously in this chapter, saying whoever said the Buddha has expounded on Dharma is slandering him! Why? For the real Dharma is beyond words and no word, and the real Buddha beyond form and no-form. So, can truth be spoken? Can the Buddha be seen? Can charity work be done? Can a human life be lived? If we can ponder on these questions carefully… maybe one day we will get a smile with the Buddha and Laozi!
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非说所说分第二十一
WHAT IS SPOKEN IS NOT SPOKEN, TWENTY-ONE
须菩提！汝勿谓如来作是念：
“我当有所说法。”
莫作是念，何以故？
若人言：如来有所说法，即为谤佛，不能解我所说故。
须菩提！说法者，无法可说，是名说法。
“’Subhuti, do not say that the Tathagata thinks:
“‘I must expound the Dharma.’
“Do not have such a thought. Why?
“Because if someone says so, he will really slander the Buddha and be unable to understand my teaching.
“Subhuti, when (the Tathagata) expounds the Dharma, there is really no Dharma to teach: but this is (expediently) called teaching the Dharma.”佛陀说, 实在没有佛曾说法。 这是什么说法! 不就是有个佛陀在说法吗？ … 但是，这个说法听起来是不是有点像老子的道可道非常道？如果两位大师相遇，我想会有个会心微笑！
然而，佛陀在这章中更严重的说，谁要是说我曾说法就是在诽谤我！为什么呢？ 因为，严格来说，真正的佛法是无用语言和文字来完全传达的。 所以，真理能否讲？佛陀能否见？布施能否做？生活能否过？如果我们仔细的琢磨这几个问题… 说不定某一天我们就能与佛陀和老子来个会心微笑。
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非说所说分第二十一
须菩提！汝勿谓如来作是念：
“我当有所说法。”
莫作是念，何以故？
若人言：如来有所说法，即为谤佛，不能解我所说故。
须菩提！说法者，无法可说，是名说法。
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