posthumanTV

     October 2011

Worldwide © posthuman.ORG

These words are attributed to Maitreya (the future Buddha) whose prophecies are recognised by all three main Buddhist schools.

 

His role in the wisdom literature of is to expound on the most obscure of metaphysical matters

 

Subhuti said, "Venerable Sariputra, Maitreya, a bodhisattvha, and a very great being, is present. The Tathagata has predicted his supreme, truly perfect enlightenment. In this matter he is an eye-witness, one should question him on this, and he will reply about the matter."

 

Then the venerable Sariputra said to Maitreya, "Venerable Maitreya, Subhuti the Elder has said, 'This is Maitreya, a bodhisattva, a great being. He will reply on this matter.' Reply accordingly on the matter, venerable Ajita (Maitreya)!"

 

Then Maitreya said to the venerable Subhuti, "When the venerable Subhuti said, 'This is Maitreya, a bodhisattva, a great being, he will reply on this matter', what is this name 'Maitreya', what does 'he will reply on this matter' mean? Does my form reply? Do feeling, perception, mental activities, or even consciousness reply? Does my appearance or my shape reply? Does the voidness of

form reply? Does the voidness of feeling, perception, mental activities, or consciousness reply? Does the voidness of my appearance or my shape reply?

 

But, venerable Subhuti, the voidness of form cannot reply. So, venerable Subhuti, the voidness of feeling, perception, mental activities or consciousness, and the voidness of my appearance or my shape cannot reply? Venerable Subhuti, I do not see any phenomenon that could reply, or that should reply, or by which there could be a reply. I do not see any phenomenon which was predicted as supreme, truly perfect enlightenment."

 

Then the venerable Sariputra said to Maitreya, a bodhisattva, a great being, "But, venerable Maitreya, have you experienced these phemonena which you speak about?"

 

Maitreya replied, "Venerable Sariputra, I have not experienced these phenomena which I speak about. Thus, venerable Sariputra, I do not know them, nor do I think about them, nor apperceive them, nor see them. And also, venerable Subhuti, form cannot touch them, words cannot express them, mind cannot consider them. That is their intrinsic nature, because they have no intrinsic nature!"

 

Then the venerable Sariputra said, "There is deep wisdom in what Maitreya has said. Indeed, he explains things as someone who has acted in the perfection of wisdom for a long time."

 

Then the Lord Buddha said to the venerable Sariputra, "Where, Sariputra, did

that, 'There is deep wisdom in what Maitreya has said' come from? Sariputra, can you see the phenomenon that has brought about your becoming an arhat?"

 

Sariputra replied, "Not at all, Lord Buddha!"

 

The Lord Buddha said, "Similarly, a bodhisattva, a great being, acting in the perfection of wisdom, does not think, 'This phenomenon has been predicted, is predicted, was predicted and is completely understood in supreme, truly perfect enlightenment.' Acting thus, a bodhisattva, a great being, acts in the perfection of wisdom. Acting, he is not nervous, he is not frightened, he is not terrified. Imbued with the strength that he has gained, he thinks, 'I am not yet fully enlightened' and therefore he makes more effort. And so, when he acts, he acts in the perfection of wisdom."   

 

Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, verses 359-361

 

MAITREYA ON THE PERFECTION OF WISDOM