Observations placeholder
Asvaghosha - The Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana - Symbols
Identifier
016362
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A very interesting observation, in that it shows that symbols are but a step on the way to achieving understanding, at a certain point symbols are not necessary, because wisdom takes over
A description of the experience
Asvaghosha - The Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana translated by D T Suzuki
Be it therefore known that all things in the world from the beginning are neither matter nor mind (citta), nor intelligence, nor consciousness nor non-being, nor being; they are after all inexplicable.
The reason why the Tathagata nevertheless endeavours to instruct by means of words and definitions is through his good and excellent skilfulness. He only provisionally makes use of words and definitions to lead all beings, while his real object is to make them abandon symbolism and directly enter into the Reality.