On Claims that Enlightenment Transcends Passions

Sometimes people come in here and think that we're unruly, and that if this was a real Zen forum, there would be no passions, no vindictiveness, and everyone would act like a quietly contented monk.

Here's the Vimalakirti Sutra kicking up some face-dirt:

Sariputra said, "Is it not also that emancipation is the transcendence of licentiousness, anger, and stupidity?"

The goddess said, "On behalf of the self-conceited, the Buddha explained that emancipation is the transcendence of licentiousness, anger, and stupidity. If one is not self-conceited, the Buddha explains that licentiousness, anger, and stupidity are emancipation."

Sariputra said, "Excellent, excellent! O goddess, what attainment do you have, and through what realization do you have eloquence such as this?"

The goddess said, "It is because I am without attainment and without realization that my eloquence is like this. Why? If one had attainment and realization, this would be to be self-conceited with regard to the Buddha-Dharma."

You can't pin them down. Whatever you think the Buddha taught -- pacifism, veganism, zazen -- it was only just provisional on a personal level.

Submitted March 31, 2018 at 03:06AM by ferruix https://ift.tt/2E7PoqT