Commentary on The Sutra of the Father and Son Collection (201)

The Purpose of the World-Honored One's Teachings

Previously, the Dharma spoken by the Buddha to King Śuddhodana were all gateways to liberation. He used various illusory dreams and appearances to awaken the king, urging him to liberate himself from the five desires and six dusts. We already know that all phenomena are like a dream, like an illusion; humans are also as if in a dream, not truly existent. We know the body is illusory, but have not yet truly realized this. To realize it, one must cultivate meditative concentration (samadhi) and deeply engage in contemplative practice. After realization is attained, one can gradually achieve liberation. The purpose of the World-Honored One's teachings is to enable sentient beings to enter the gate of liberation. The eighty-four thousand Dharma gates taught by the Buddha are all gateways to liberation. By entering through one Dharma gate, all Dharma gates can be penetrated; every Dharma can lead to liberation. The Buddha descended into the world precisely to liberate sentient beings, to free them from the suffering of birth and death, to enable sentient beings to enter the Buddha's knowledge and vision, and ultimately attain Buddhahood. Lesser liberation is the severing of the attachment to self (atman) to become an Arhat. Great liberation is the severing of attachment to dharmas (phenomena) to achieve the supremely free Buddha fruit (Buddhahood). This is the ultimate liberation.