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The Vajra Prajna Paramita Sutra
THE “THUS” PRINCIPLE OF GENUINE SEEING
CHAPTER 5
Sutra:
“Subhuti, what do you think, can the Tathagata be seen by his physical marks?”
“No, World Honored One, the Tathagata cannot be seen by his physical marks. And why? It is because the physical marks are spoken of by the Tathagata as no physical marks.”
The Buddha said to Subhuti, “All with marks is empty and false. If you can see all marks as no marks then you see the Tathagata.”
Commentary:
In the previous passage of text the Buddha told Subhuti that a Bodhisattva should only dwell in what is taught “thus.” You should not refuse the dharma which is taught, but should abide by the rules in your cultivation; it is by adhering to the rules that you make progress. Without rules you aimlessly drift and in the future you will not reach any goal at all.
Shakyamuni Buddha again called, “Empty Born, in your opinion, can it be said that the thirty-two marks and eighty subtle characteristics are the Tathagata’s dharma body?”
Because Subhuti understood the principle of emptiness, and because he had awakened to the emptiness of people and the emptiness of phenomena he said, “No. One should not rely on physical marks to see the Tathagata. And Why? The thirty-two marks and eighty subtle characteristics of which the Tathagata speaks are marks of the physical body, not of the true, real dharma body. The Tathagata has certified to the substance of the principle, the dharma body, so although he is endowed with physical marks, there is no attachment to them, nor can he truly be seen by means of those marks.”
The Buddha listened to Subhuti’s explanation and acknowledged that he was correct, saying, “Everything which has form and appearance is false.” Why can the Tathagata not be seen by his bodily characteristics? Because the existence of marks is false. All marks decay and become extinct. In the midst of marks one must be separate from marks. When there are marks, know them as empty. Then you see the Tathagata’s dharma body, which is without form or appearance. If you rely on marks to see the Tathagata, you have made a mistake.
Later in the text a four-line gatha says:
If one sees me in form,
If one seeks me in sound,
He practices a deviant way,
And cannot see the Tathagata.
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