Observations placeholder
Subhuti - from 101 Zen stones - flowers
Identifier
016346
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
Subhūti (Pali: सुभूति; Chinese: 须菩提; pinyin: Xūpútí) was one of the Ten Great Śrāvakas of Śākyamuni Buddha, and foremost in the understanding of emptiness. In Prakrit and Pali, his name literally means "Good Existence" (su: "good", bhūti: "existence").
Among the Mahāyāna traditions, Subhūti is perhaps best known as the disciple with whom the Buddha speaks when imparting the Diamond Sūtra (Skt. Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra), an important teaching within the Prajñāpāramitā genre. This, along with the Heart Sūtra (Skt. Prajñāpāramitā Hṛdaya), is one of the most well-known sūtras among both practitioners and non-practitioners of Buddhism. Subhūti is also responsible for much of the exposition in earlier Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
In Zen Buddhism, Subhūti appears in several koans.
A description of the experience
Flower Shower
Subhuti was Buddha's disciple. He was able to understand the potency of emptiness, the viewpoint that nothing exists accept in its relationship of subjectivity and objectivity.
One day Subhuti, in a mood of sublime emptiness was sitting under a tree.
Flowers began to fall about him.
'We are praising you for your discourse on emptiness,' the gods whispered to him.
‘But I have not spoken of emptiness,' said Subhuti.
'You have not spoken of emptiness, we have not heard emptiness,' responded the gods. This is the true emptiness.' And blossoms showered upon Subhuti as rain.