The Buddha is always here

Peter Masefield in his book, Divine Revelation in Pali Buddhism, has demonstrated (i.e., shown evidence for) that an encounter with a living Buddha is necessary in order to win liberation. Out of his compassion (a kind of grace) the Buddha gives those who are capable of receiving his compassion and who have little dust in their eyes, insight into his recondite Dharma.  No Buddha, no liberation, in other words.  

Contrary to the late Ven. Walpola Rahula’s own view which begs the question, that sotâpatti (the state of stream entry which leads to nirvana) is not Buddha dependent, Masefield writes:

“To arrive at such a view [as Walpola Rahula does], however, is surely to ignore not only all the passages that we have been considering but also the quite unequivocal and bold statement to the effect that the Buddha is the propounder, the expounder, the bringer to the goal (atthassa ninetâ), the giver of the Deathless (amatassa dâtâ) found at, for instance, M i 111; and cp M iii 195; S iv 94; A v 256f etc.  Rather it is only through the gracious intervention of the Buddha that the supermundane path and its goal are attained” (138).  (Brackets and italics mine.)

I am sure that most modern day Buddhists might find this upsetting.  “What the fuck!  Does this mean I have to wait for a living Buddha to come along to establish me on the transcendent path?”  Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but yes.  But then there is a significant loophole in the Mahayana canon.  Living Buddhas are not subject to death (Shakyamuni didn’t die).  They are immortal—and still here (I mentioned this in an earlier blog, Immortal Buddhas).  Bearing this fact in mind, the initiation described in the Lankavatara Sutra, is quite mystical, called the Light of Mahayana.  The adept

will immediately see the Tathagatas, Arhats, Fully-Enlightened Ones appearing before them personally, who come from all the different abodes in the ten quarters of the world and who now facing the Bodhisattvas will impart to them their sustaining power displayed with the body, mouth, and words.

Speaking from my own experience this is a real event.  Let me add, that the term 'light of Mahayana' well describes the Buddha’s body.  This event is not something fanciful or subjective.  It can be somewhat described as an encounter of the fourth kind (CE4).  All the previous years of sitting in meditation, etc., pale in significance.  It is through this encounter that real Buddhism is laid out.  Without it, Buddhism is really not Buddhism.

Back to Divine Revelation in Pali Buddhism, Masefield has us understand that it is ‘right view’ that is gained only through a Buddha’s compassion-grace (provided we have little dust in our eyes).  By it we see things as they are (yathabhutam), see nibbana/nirvana and the four aryan truths.  Right view, I hasten to add, leads the way.  It races on ahead” (S. i. 33) to prepare the path that would be otherwise impossible to accomplish.  

In a way, Mahayana takes what is often implicit in the Nikayas and makes it explicit, but in a completely spiritual way.  Masefield’s research, in a way, forces the Nikayas to be treated like Mahayana—not as some mundane ethical teaching.  

The Buddha, whose body is fully attained spirit, always enters into mundane life—but only when the individual has little dust in their eyes which is to say, the individual can’t be blind to spirit. 

 

Comments

[minx]

My Master told me;

"Having discovered the radiant reality of the deathless, the skillful bodhisattva explores the all pervading Buddha Mind, with the firm intention to prepare and aid suffering beings for a safe passage to the other shore of Nirvana."

[Java Junkie Junebug Julius]

heres one of those "oh damn, i have to download it" books

Philosophy of Trinitarian doctrine: a contribution to theological progress...

http://books.google.com/books?id=pOwrAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=trinitarian&hl=en&sa=X&ei=TUg8T8jsKom4tweG1uXHBA&ved=0CDwQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=trinitarian&f=false

[The Oracle]

The Oracle - A 400 Year Old Secret (Documentary) "The State Oracle of Tibet, an ancient spirit, which has inhabited a succession of thirteen human mediums, advises the Dalai Lama on matters of public and religious policy."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ1VvvrAILo

[kojizen]

Reikon, Read the story of Asanga's awakening who was probably foremost in reviving Buddhism.

[Reikon]

http://noscope.com/photostream/albums/various/I_Want_To_Believe_01.jpg