Come and see (ehi-passika)

Come and see(ehi-passika) Buddha invites you to come and see but not to come and believe!

Expressions of the enlightened • i. The dustless and stainless Eye of Truth (dhamma-cakkhu) has arisen. • ii. He has seen Truth… known T, penetrated into…cross over doubt • iii. He sees it as it is with right wisdom dustless-不起污塵的 stainless-不鏽的

Buddha on his own Enlightenment • The eye was born (cakkhum udapadi) • Knowledge was born (gnanam udapadi) • Wisdom was born (panna udapadi) • Science was born (vijja udapadi) • Light was born (aloko udapadi) （眼生、智生、慧生、明生、光生） (轉法輪經)

Buddha and Kapathika • K: Concerning the holy scriptures, the Brahmins hold : “This alone is truth, and everything else is false.” B: Is there someone who claims that personlly knows and sees: “This alone is truth, and everything else is false?”

K: No. • B: At least a teacher back to the seventh generation? • K: No. • B: Then it is like a line of bind men, each holding onto the preceding one; Generation-一代 hold on to- 緊抓 Preceding- 前面的

the first one does not see, • the middle one also does not see, • the last one also does not see. (explain grammar: neither …nor) It seems that the brahmins state is similar to a line of blind men!

How to protect Truth • B: One cannot conclude as: “ This alone is truth, and everything else is false.” • A man has a faith. If he says: • “ This is my faith”, so far he maintains truth. • By that he cannot conclude: “ This alone is…”

It acceptable if one says he/she likes this or that faith or belief.

Buddha’s position: “To be attached to one thing (to a certain view) and to look down upon other things (views) as inferior – this the wise men call a fetter” Attached to- 執著 View- 見解 Inferior- 低劣的 Fetter- 束縛

Buddha advises on view • Once the Buddha gave a sermon on the theory of cause and effect and they said that they saw it and understood clearly. • Buddha’s response was: • ‘ O, monks, even this view, pure and clear, if you cling to it…if you are attached to it,

Simile of raft • Then you do not understand that the teaching is similar to a raft, which is for crossing over, not for getting hold of.’ Simile- 比喻、明喻 Raft – 筏 Cross over- 渡過

Simile in detail • A man is on a journey. He meets very wide river. • This bank is dangerous but the other is safe. • There is no boat to cross the water. • He decides to make a raft. He gathers grass, wood, branches etc and makes a raft. Finally he crosses of by means of the raft .

After crossing he thinks: It would be good if I carry this raft on my head or on my back wherever I go” • B: Is this the proper (恰當的)way to act towards the raft? After crossing over he thinks: • It would be good if I beach or leave it floating and go on my way.

Emphasis on simile • In the same manner, O bhikkhus, I have taught a doctrine similar to raft—it is for crossing over, and not for carrying.

Give up dhamma ! • You, O bhikkhus, who understand that the teaching is similar to a raft, • should give up even good things (dhamma) • how much more then should you give up evil things (adhamma) ! • give up 放棄

Simile of simsapa leaves • This story emphasizes that the purpose of Buddhas teaching not to merely satisfy the intellectual curiosity but to end suffering. • So, Buddha’s teaching was limited to fulfill the need of eradicating suffering. • He was not interested in metaphysical questions.

Makunkyaputta and Buddha • M: These problems were unexplained and rejected by the Blessed One. • i. Is the universe eternal ? (永恆的) ii. Is it not eternal ? • Iii. Is the universe finite ?(有限) • Iv. Is it infinite?(無限) Universe: 宇宙

V. Is soul same as the body ? (靈魂) • Vi. Is soul one thing and body another? • Vii. Does the Tathagata exist after death? • Viii. Does he not exist after death? • Ix. Exist and not exist after death? • X. Does he both not exist and not not-exist? Exist- 存在

Buddha on ten questions • If somebody says that he would not lead the holy life under the Buddha until he explains these questions • He may die with these questions unanswered by the Tathagata.

Simile of poisoned arrow • A person is hit by a poisoned arrow ,yet does not allow treatments until he gets answers for his certain questions. • Before the questions are answered the person would die.

Purpose of Holy life • It is not dependent on these views. The purpose is to seek solutions to cease suffering in this very life !

Come and see (ehi-passika)