25. Transforming that which cannot be transformed
"Subhuti, what do you say? Don't any of you ever say that the Tathagata has this thought: 'I am saving sentient beings.' Subhuti, don't have this thought. And why is this? In truth, there are no sentient beings for the Tathagata to save. If there were sentient beings for the Tathagata to save, then the Tathagata would have lakshana of self, human being, sentient being, and soul.
"Subhuti, when the Tathagata speaks of a self, it is the same as no self, and yet all ordinary people take it as a self. Subhuti, the Tathagata says that ordinary people are not ordinary people, and that this is what is called ordinary people."
-- Section 25 of the Diamond Sutra; Chinese trans. Kumarajiva (401 C.E.); English trans. Tom Graham
(lakshana: deluded awareness)
Thank you, Kitty! This is very powerful reinforcement reminding me to not try to "save" anyone.
Posted by: Lewis King | Tuesday, December 26, 2006 at 08:10 PM
Hehe ;) :D
Remember that box of books you sent me after the hurricane? I got this out of one of them ... "Describing the Indescribable".
Posted by: Kitty | Wednesday, December 27, 2006 at 12:39 AM