5. The Story of Vimalakirti

 

Vimalakirti was a great teacher as well as a great student of the Buddha dharma during the time of Sakyamuni Buddha. He was prominent in great wisdom, the ability to communicate, and esoteric power. He was known to have the same level of enlightenment and wisdom as the Buddha. One day, Vimalakirti pretended to be ill in order to examine the Buddha's disciples and boddhi-sattvas.  Sakyamuni Buddha told ten disciples and many bodhi-sattvas to inquire after him, but they all declined as they were unable to converse with him due to his superior level of Buddhist wisdom.

Sakyamuni Buddha ended up asking Manjusri Bodhi-sattva, the highest in wisdom, to visit and comfort Vimalakirti, and he agreed. Vimalakirti, knowing that Manjusri Bodhi-sattva, accompanied by a multitude of bodhi-sattvas, would visit him, swept his room and awaited them.

There were many high-level exchanges of dharma wisdom between Gŏsa Vimalakirti and Manjusri Bodhi-sattva. Vimilakirti asked, "What is puri pŏmmun (不二法門), the non-dual dharma of a Boddhisattva?"

Thirty two bodhi-sattvas gave their respective responses. Finally, Manjusri Bodhi-sattva replied, "All dharmas are silent, have nothing to say, have nothing to show, and have nothing to know. The state devoid of all questions and responses is the non-two gate of dharma." He then turned to Vimalkirti and asked, "We have all asserted our views. Tell us your views. What is the non-two gate of dharma of the Bodhi-sattvas?" Vimalkirti sat silent for a while and Manjusri said, "You're great. Really great. The state devoid of language is the real dharma of Bodhi-sattvas."

We can understand these questions and answers only by solving the most advanced precepts; this is possible only through the guidance of capable teachers. I consider the question and response between the two Buddhas to be excellent, but may I present my own response?

 

萬古碧潭空界月

再三撈漉始應知

 

You will obtain incipient knowledge

After picking the moon up

For the third times

Sunk as it is deep in the blue pond

Which is millions of years old.

 

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