Diamond Sutra – There is no Buddha who attained enlightenment
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.
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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.”
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