Observations placeholder
Buddha - Diamond sutra - Extract: Prajna-paramita
Identifier
003239
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
The Buddhist text named the Prajna-paramita , is called ‘The Wisdom (prajna) Gone to the Other Shore (paramita)’. It decribes moksha and the mystical marriage where one leaves the 'soul' and unites with the higher spirit. In one of the texts the Buddha says……….
A description of the experience
Whosoever stands in the ferryboat of the saviours who lead to the far bank shall bear in mind the rescue of all living beings, conducting them to release and extinction in the pure and perfect nirvana. And when, by virtue of this attitude, he has rescued all living beings, no being whatsoever has been made to reach nirvana.
Why Subhuti is this so?
Because if this saviour had the notion of the actual existence of any being, he could not be called a perfect Enlightened One. If there could occur to him the conception of a living being donning the garb of various bodies and migrating through numerous existences, or the idea of an individual personality, then he could not be called a Bodhisattva, ‘a being whose essence is Enlightenment’
And why is this so?
Because there is no such thing as anything or anybody standing in the vehicle of the Enlightened Ones..............
The Enlightened One sets forth in the Great Ferryboat; but there is nothing from which he sets forth. He starts from the universe; but in truth he starts from nowhere. His boat is manned with all the perfections and is manned by no one. It will find its support on nothing whatsoever and will find its support on the state of all knowing, which will serve it as a non support.
Moreover, no one has ever set forth in the Great Ferryboat; no one will ever set forth in it and no one is setting forth in it now.
And why is this?
Because neither the one setting forth nor the goal for which he sets forth is to be found; therefore, who should be setting forth and whither?