The Diamond Sutra (104) – Zen Fools
Part 32-3
“Why?
All created things are like dreams,
illusions, bubbles, shadows;
like dew, and like lightning.
They should be viewed in this way.”
Commentary:
This scripture means that all things are just illusions created by our imagination and that all of them are untrue. We should never fail to view them in this way.
However, ‘They should be viewed in this way’ is very misleading and tricky and we are likely to misunderstand it. As mentioned repeatedly in the preceding parts, no matter how plausible words may sound, following and clinging to them is no more than being deluded by words, which is to run counter to the Buddha’s teaching. When all things are like dreams, the Buddha’s words should be like dreams. Then, only when all Buddha’s words, including ‘They should be viewed in this way’, are like dreams can it be said that we know how to view things in this way.
Student: “How is it when all created things are like dreams and illusions?”
Master: “All the Sutras are also dreams and illusions.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
