Exists or Not-exists ? —– Where is the SELF ?
Probably the most fundamental matter in the Buddhism is the Selflessness / Mushin.
—– though, this matter questions the credibility of the one who observes its existence, it is
nothing like a scientific objective proof of existence, it’s far more complicated or confused.
[]
Therefore, here, the most funniest paradox in the human culture comes in.
If you deny the existence of the Self, you can not argue or even put the matter on the table.
= because, its notion itself isn’t exists, there is no word to describe it.
= how to starts arguments ?
—– If the society has no system of personal possession, everything belongs to everybody, so,
there couldn’t be a notion of “theft” let alone the very word “theft”.
If the Self is not exists, no word of SELF, let alone SELFLESS could ever exists.
So, without the notion of Self, how to argue about whether it exists or not. 😀
[]
Lord Buddha’s teachings were described as “Explain unexplainable” “Describe indescribable”.
In definition, Selflessness couldn’t be taught. Selflessness itself is exists though, you can’t
detect or noticed, let alone capture it in objective observation nor describe it in the words.
Because, to notice “it is there”, it’s mean the observer, who was separated from the subject
= independent self is already THERE ! = You are the established EGO.
[]
So, Lord Buddha just gave an instruction what to do, but never explained why or what was
the intention. (Like, just let Kisa Gotami to run about, or Churi Pantac to sweep the garden.)
—– While doing it, they will get used with its work or practice, hence became able to do it
without conscious = Selfless —– this was what the teachings were intended though,
it shouldn’t be objectively noticed or talked about. = the matter is, JUST DO IT.
[]
Once it was talked about, it became a NOTION and a WORD, it became independent
existence called knowledge. Once the notion and the words “I’m cutting Lemon” was
established, “I” who cut the Lemon became THE Existence. —– but, you supposed to cut
a Lemon in Mushin, without the Self. Without such conscious, Just Cut a Lemon, slice
by slice —– your knife, the lemon, your action were all fused in one, with the Dharma
= this is the state of Ichijo / Oneness. —– BUT, once the observant eyes started to see the
situation objectively and started to give a thought or two, the Observer and Be-observed
alienated = the harmony to be in the Ichijo has broken.
[]
In the Vimalakirti Sutra, when he was asked about what is this Oneness, he answered with
NO word (= and the silence hit the people like roaring thunder !) In fact this was exactly what
Lord Buddha did when he was asked about “after life”.
Oneness (Ichijo / Fuji) could exists if no Self was there. And as NO self exists, of cause, there
couldn’t be any possibility of After-life or Reincarnation, and no such notion or word to
describe it could exist. Hence, just a silence = Strongest denial !
(If he was to explain, “There is no Reincarnation because No-Self” it’s effectively recognize
the existence of the Self by the use of the Notion and the word “Self”.
—– It is the same situation, if the one says “I’m sitting in silence” 😀 )
[]
It seems that the author of Vimalakirti Sutra did know what the mind of Selfless, as the
descriptions were spot on though, I’m not sure about the other Mahayana Sutra, and the
author (compiler ?) such as Nagarjuna —– he seemed to have written them from the
knowledge just heard from others. They were the scripture for the sake of the arguments
and those arguments, theoretical explanation seemed nothing to do with
actual Selflessness and the Void.
—– Selflessness is everywhere, as you are reading this blog without noticing that your eyes
have been following the lines. = as everybody has born with Dharma, everybody has
Selflessness yet, masking it with the useless thinking and the Ego which has been kept you
away from getting enlightened.
May be just forget those words, Selflessness, Void kind of thinkings, and just take a walk
may open your eyes much clearer.
___/\___
[]
Very good. Nice and clear. I always enjoy walking through these ideas.
Thank you Lemony-san
Now it’s almost the final stage of the battle between
the idea to idea. 🙂
[…] PS : This post is parallel with this post in English. […]