BaruchWhen the Buddha became enlightened ...Fri May 18, 2012 07:4367.66.95.18he had defeated the god of illusion. But reality didn't cease to exist, as Hindus believe when Brahman wakes up from his dream. The Buddha went from being in the Matrix, and not knowing it, to being in the Matrix and knowing it. Full nirvana, the compete ending of illusions, only came with death. I for one have no immediate need to end all illusions. But I have to struggle to realize each day, that is what I am dealing with.
The point of a koan isn't to have a clever answer. The point is to realize that there isn't an answer. And having realized that, to have shut up the mental monkey a little bit further. In fact your answer can't be their answer anyway, because transmission of wisdom occurs without words, the words in fact get in the way of the transmission. Let each student come up with their own answer, and then to discard their own answer.
Illusion is a lot of fun, I am glad to have gotten to participate in the Matrix, a much better video game than X-box can provide ... but you get no extra lives IMHO. The question of reincarnation/transmigration depends on answering the question of personal identity. And the Buddha says that, and even nirvana, are as much an illusion as anything else. I want to compose a death gatha in Classical Chinese that is a vehicle for encouraging the realization of the illusion of personal identity ... it will be my testament ... as a most precious gift for my daughter. I hope I have enough years left to do it justice ;-) Of course being writing, it isn't the moon, just a finger pointing at the moon. One has to get to the moon on one's own, no less then Neil Armstrong.
Shalom
- When the Buddha became enlightened ... — Baruch, Fri May 18 07:43
