http://www.jenchen.org.sg/vol7no4c.htm
Volume
7 no 4
Voice of
Bliss
All
forms are illusions
Buddhism is truly detached from idols
People who think that
Buddhism is the worshipping of an image of the Buddha, or that the
Buddha is somebody whom we can appeal to for favours, should know
of two very profound verses from the Diamond Sutra that contradict
these popular beliefs. To the intellectual, they can lay to rest
the suspicion that Buddhism is superstition. To those who are used
to praying for divine intervention, they can become self reliant
through their own virtuous karma.
It is
stated in the Diamond Sutra, “He who sees me (Buddha) in forms or
seeks me in sounds is on a heterodox path and cannot see the
Tathagata (Buddha).” It further states that, “All forms are but
illusions, in seeing that all forms are illusory, one sees the
Tathagata”. It is only when we have attained a certain advanced
level in the learning and practising of Buddhism that we will be
able to understand the profound meaning of these verses. If you
were to tell a person who has just started to learn Buddhism that
learning Buddhism is like these verses, then he would find them too
profound. He would not be able to make out what Buddha is like. Of
course, he knows what human beings are like and quite naturally he
will assume that only those who are similar in form to human beings
are Buddhas. We can say that this is correct, but we can also say
that this is wrong. For example, kindergarten teachers may use
drawings of an old man and old woman when teaching the young
children about grandfathers and grandmothers. Thereafter, when the
children see other old folks in such resemblance they know that
they are someone else’s grandparents. But, to university students
it would be inappropriate for professors to use the same approach
when talking about such blood relationships.
It is the same in learning Buddhism. When we encourage a new
student of Buddhism to pay respect to the Buddha in the temple or
monastery, he will not be frightened when he sees that the Buddha
is the same as a human being. At the same time, when he sees that
the Buddha and Bodhisattva images are so dignified and
compassionate, it will give rise to a feeling of joy and reverence
and lead him to learn Buddhism.
Often
we come across people who have been learning Buddhism for a long
time saying that they saw this Buddha or that Bodhisattva in their
dreams. Initially, when we do not know about their level of
understanding of Buddhism, we may praise them by saying, “Oh! You
have such good affinity with Buddha and Bodhisattva that you can
even see their images!” But it is wrong if we always praise them
like this. If they report dreams like this for more then 3 times,
you have to tell them, “The Mara is here, you have seen the Mara!
All the Zen masters advise to obliterate the Buddha when the Buddha
appears, and obliterate the Mara when the Mara appears [1].” We
cannot praise them any more because they have already developed an
attachment to forms.
In the
same way, when we are dealing with people who are already advanced
in Buddhism, we should use the method of the Diamond Sutra rather
than the kindergarten method:
“He who sees me (Buddha) in forms or seeks me in sounds is on a
heterodox path and cannot see the Tathagata (Buddha).”
“All forms are but illusions, in seeing that all forms are
illusory, one sees the Tathagata.”
At
this level, people will realize that Buddhism is the only religion
that eradicates superstition and attachment to all
forms.
Critics
often say that the Buddha image is an idol. They criticize that
Buddhism worships idols. In reality, the cross, the Jesus Christ
image and Mother Mary, they are also idols. In this sense, is there
a religion that does not worship idols? Therefore, we cannot say
that Buddhism is the only religion that worships idols. The fact is
that only Buddhism does not worship idols. The Diamond Sutra
states, “All forms are but illusions, in seeing that all forms are
illusory, one sees the Tathagata.”!
The
essence of the Buddha, the Buddha Nature is omnipresent in the
space of the Dharma realm, and the Dharma Nature is omnipresent in
the space.
Notes:
1. To ignore and not to be attached to such forms;. Mara is the
Evil One, described as a murderer, hinderer, disturber, destroyer,
etc. 
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2002.Jen Chen Buddhism Centre
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