The Profound Meaning of the Diamond Sutra's Vijñapti-mātratā (103)

Original Text: Subhuti, for example, when we speak of a person's body being great. Subhuti said: World-Honored One, the Tathagata speaks of a person's body being great, then it is not a great body, but is called a great body.

Explanation: The World-Honored One said: Subhuti, for example, speaking of a person's body being great is one dharma among all dharmas. Subhuti replied: World-Honored One, the characteristic of a great body spoken of by the Tathagata is not a truly great body; it is merely given the name "great body." Why is it said that the great body spoken of by the Tathagata is not a great body? Because the size and appearance of a human body are merely illusory false appearances projected by the Tathagatagarbha. They lack substance, and there is no substantial characteristic of size. It is an illusory form created by the Tathagatagarbha using the four great elements (earth, water, fire, wind). Its size, length, and shortness are all spoken of relatively; they must be compared against something, having a reference point, to be designated as large, small, long, or short. Moreover, the object of comparison is also not real, lacking reliability and comparability. Therefore, a person's body being great is not a great body; it is called a great body in name only, with no real substance regarding size.

Original Text: Subhuti, it is the same with a bodhisattva. If one says, "I shall liberate immeasurable sentient beings," then one is not to be called a bodhisattva. Why? Subhuti, there is actually no dharma called a bodhisattva. Therefore, the Buddha says all dharmas have no self, no person, no sentient being, no life span.

Explanation: Subhuti, it is the same with a bodhisattva. Only when one's mind does not cling to any dharma characteristic while practicing the bodhisattva path is one a true bodhisattva. If a bodhisattva, having made the vow to liberate all sentient beings, says: "I should liberate immeasurable sentient beings," then this bodhisattva is not yet a true bodhisattva, having not yet realized the true reality (dharmata) and entered into it. Why is this said? Subhuti, because within the actual state of truth, there is no dharma that can be called a bodhisattva or called a self. Therefore, the Buddha says that within all dharmas, there are no characteristics of self, person, sentient being, or life span (the four characteristics).

A true bodhisattva is one who has realized the true reality. A bodhisattva who has realized the true reality should no longer cling to worldly characteristics in their mind. These worldly characteristics are the four characteristics. First, a bodhisattva should not have the characteristic of a self; consequently, there should not be the characteristic of a bodhisattva, nor should there be the characteristic of sentient beings to be liberated. These characteristics are the characteristics of the five aggregates (form, feeling, perception, mental formations, consciousness). They are all false appearances projected by the Tathagatagarbha, not real dharmas. It is like the shapes of cats or dogs formed by clouds in the sky; there are no real cats or dogs to grasp, they are merely cloud appearances. A true bodhisattva should not cling to the characteristic of a bodhisattva, should not cling to the characteristic of a self, should not cling to the characteristic of sentient beings. Yet, they must still have the action of "I liberating immeasurable sentient beings," performing these bodhisattva deeds without any mind of attachment (wuxin).