Why the Perfection of Forbearance Is Not the Perfection of Forbearance

Original Text: Why is this so, Subhuti? In the past, when I was dismembered by King Kali, at that time I had no notion of self, no notion of others, no notion of living beings, and no notion of a life span. Why? Because at the time when I was dismembered limb by limb in the past, if I had held the notions of self, others, living beings, or a life span, I would have generated anger and resentment. Subhuti, I also recall that in the past, for five hundred lifetimes, I was an Ascetic of Forbearance. During those lifetimes, I had no notion of self, no notion of others, no notion of living beings, and no notion of a life span.

Explanation: The Buddha said: Subhuti, for example, when I was dismembered by King Kali in the past, at that time, within my mind, there was no notion of self, no notion of others, no notion of living beings, and no notion of a life span. Why is it said that there were none? Because when I was dismembered limb by limb in the past, if I had held the notions of self, others, living beings, or a life span within my mind, I would have generated anger and resentment. Subhuti, I also recall that in the past, during five hundred lifetimes as an Ascetic of Forbearance, within my mind, there was no notion of self, no notion of others, no notion of living beings, and no notion of a life span.

When the World-Honored One was dismembered by King Kali in the past, because His mind held no notion of self, others, or living beings, He did not generate any anger or resentment towards King Kali. If the World-Honored One had held the notion of self, He would have felt that His body was being dismembered, that He was suffering pain, and because of the pain, He would have generated anger and resentment. If the World-Honored One had held the notions of others or living beings, He would have felt that King Kali ordered his attendants to dismember and harm His body, causing Him physical pain and sensation, and thus would have generated anger and resentment towards King Kali and his attendants. However, the World-Honored One at that time truly had no notion of self, others, or living beings. Even though King Kali dismembered His body limb by limb, the World-Honored One did not generate any anger or resentment. Outwardly, it appeared that the World-Honored One was practicing forbearance, possessing the Perfection of Forbearance (Kshanti Paramita). In reality, the World-Honored One was not forbearing anything, because His mind was free from notions; thus, He did not feel insulted and had nothing to endure. Therefore, there was no forbearance and no Perfection of Forbearance.

In the past, during five hundred lifetimes, the World-Honored One was also an Ascetic of Forbearance, specifically cultivating the Perfection of Forbearance. Yet, precisely because the World-Honored One had no notion of self, others, or living beings, He did not feel insulted and thus did not feel there was anything to endure. The Perfection of Forbearance existed without any notion of forbearance. The World-Honored One's Perfection of Forbearance was not the Perfection of Forbearance (as a concept). If the World-Honored One had held these notions in His mind, then forbearance would have been necessary, and there would have been a Perfection of Forbearance. Therefore, what is called the Perfection of Forbearance is not the Perfection of Forbearance. This is the state of one who has perfected the practice of forbearance. Those who have not yet perfected the practice of forbearance still hold the notion of forbearance and may still possess a Perfection of Forbearance.

Similarly, for one who practices the Perfection of Giving (Dana Paramita), if the mind holds no notion of self, others, living beings, or a life span, one does not feel that there is a self performing the giving, nor does one dwell on what or to whom one is giving wealth or goods. Then there is no notion of giving and no Perfection of Giving. The mind is empty, pure, vast, and unobstructed, and the merit attained is the most extensive, immeasurable and boundless. For one who upholds precepts (Sila Paramita), if the mind holds no notion of self, others, living beings, or a life span, then there is no notion of a self upholding precepts, no notion of the precepts being upheld, and thus no notion of the Perfection of Precepts. Having no precepts to guard or uphold is true upholding of precepts; it is without burden, the mind empty and unobstructed. The same applies to cultivating the Perfection of Diligence (Virya Paramita), the Perfection of Meditation (Dhyana Paramita), and the Perfection of Wisdom (Prajna Paramita). With no notion of self, others, living beings, or a life span, there is no notion of the Perfection of Diligence, no notion of the Perfection of Meditation, no notion of the Perfection of Wisdom, and no notion of practice. Only then is it true diligence, meditation, and wisdom.