The Diamond Sutra (1) – Second Commentary – Zen Fools

Part 1
Thus did I hear. One time, the Buddha was staying in Jeta Grove in Sravasti, residing with 1,250 great monks.

Commentary:
“The Thus Have I Heard” is the opening phrase of all Buddhist sutras, and the ancient masters considered understanding this single sentence to be equivalent to understanding the entire sutra. It is no exaggeration to say that the rest of the text is merely a detailed commentary on this line. Let us then examine each word in this phrase.

Here, “Thus” does not merely refer to the remaining content of the sutra. Rather, it describes the nature of the true-Self, or the Pure Land—the way things appear when they are seen exactly as they are, without being deluded by words or appearances. It points to a perfect, inexpressible state, so pure that the ancient Zen masters would say even uttering the word “thus” corrupts its meaning.

Disciple: “What does ‘thus’ mean?”
Master: “It is a description of what is right in front of you.”
Disciple: “What is that?”
Master: “It’s also behind you.”
Disciple: “What is it like?”
Master: “It is the Buddha.”
Disciple: “What is the Buddha like?”
Master: “It is like all things. There is nothing that is not like the Buddha.” Disciple: “If the Buddha’s form is the same as all things, and all things exist in that form, why can’t I see the Buddha?”
Master: “Because you do not see thus.”

There is nothing other than this. Whether your hand is open or closed, every finger points to this.

©Boo Ahm

All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway