Eradicating Attachment to the Ego to Reveal the One
Reality
Ananda asked: If this essence of seeing is my wondrous nature,
the latter should manifest before me. If seeing is my real ego,
then what are my body and mind? But in fact my body and mind can
discern (things) whereas that seeing cannot discern my body. If
perception is my mind and causes me to see (things), then this
perception is my Ego whereas my body is not; this is exactly what
the Buddha previously re- futed (with the argument that) objects
should then see me. Will you be compassionate enough to enlighten
me?
Rooting Out ânanda’s Misconception of Objects Being and NOT
BEING Perception
Misconception of objects BEING perception
The Buddha replied: Ananda, your conception of perception being
in front of you is incorrect because if it is, the essence of
perception should have a position which can be shown. As you sit in
Jetavana park, you see its trees and nullahs as well as this hall,
with the sun or moon overhead and the Ganges in the distance. As
you are now, in front of my lion-seat, moving your hand to point to
the surroundings, such as the dark foliage of the wood, the bright
sun, blocking walls and clear open spaces as well as grass, plants
and very small things, although they are of different sizes, each
of them can be pointed out. If they are really your seeing
manifesting in front of you, you should be able to show which one
is your seeing.
Ananda, you should know that if voidness is your seeing, since
it has already become your perception, then how can it be empty? If
an (external) thing is your seeing and has already become your
perception, how can it be external? So, after dissecting all things
in front of you, pick out the bright and pure principle of your
perception and show it (to me) to prove that it is clearly and
irrefutably identical with externals.
Ananda said: From this hall, I now see the Ganges in the
distance, the sun or moon overhead and all that I can point out
with my finger and see with my eyes; they are all (external) things
but not one of them is my perception. World Honoured One, as the
Buddha has said, not only a beginner in the sravaka stage, like
myself, who is still in the stream of transmigration, but even a
Bodhisattva, cannot dissect things and pick out the essence of
seeing which has an independent nature apart from phenomena.
The Buddha said: Correct, correct.
Misconception of objects NOT BEING perception
The Buddha said: As you have said, there is no essence of seeing
with an independent nature apart from phenomena. Now if there is no
perception in the things you point out, I now ask again: As you and
the Tathagata sit in this Jetavana park, when you see the wood and
all externals including the sun or moon, if there is no essence of
Seeing which can be picked out from them, tell me which one is not
the seeing?Ananda replied: Of all things seen in this Jetavana
park, I do not know which one is not the seeing. Why? Because if
the trees are not the seeing, why do I see them? If they are the
seeing, why are they trees? If the void is not the seeing, why do I
see it? If the void is the seeing, why is it empty? I too have
thought carefully about all this and now conclude that each one of
them is the seeing.
The Buddha said: Correct, correct.
In the assembly, all those who had not achieved the stage beyond
study, were very surprised at hearing the Buddha say this. They
failed to understand His meaning and were perturbed and thrown off
balance. The Buddha realized their perplexity and alarm and took
compassion on them, saying: Virtuous men, the words of the King of
the Supreme Law are true, accord with Reality and are neither
deceitful nor false, unlike those of the heretics whose sermons are
arbitrary and aimless. Now listen attentively; your faith in me
shall not be in vain.