The Buddha's Flower Sermon
a good teacher is worth more than the most sacred scriptures. Books only contain words.
religions conceal many mysteries . Why do its teachers say that words are always insufficient , and why do they repeat their speech indefinitely , until the ears that hear them are made of stone ? This is perhaps one of our greatest mysteries today.
The Buddha near a lake , on Mount Grdhakuta . He was preparing to deliver a sermon in front of his disciples.
As they waited for everyone to be seated , he saw nearby a golden lotus flower blooming from the muddy water . He pulled the plant out of the water , - flower , whole stem and root . He held it high so everyone could see it . And for a long time he stood like that without saying a word . He held the flower , silent , gazing at the expressionless faces of his audience.
Suddenly , a disciple , Mahakashyapa , smiled . only had understood.
What had he understood ? Everyone wants to know.
For centuries people have wondered , "What message did the Buddha convey to Mahakasyapa ?"
Some say that the root , the stem and the flower of the lotus represent the Three Realms : the underworld , the earth and the sky , and that the Buddha meant that he could contain all existence in the palm of his holy hand.
According to others, he wanted to reverse the Great Mantra " Mani Padme Hum " which says the Jewel is in the Lotus . By raising the flower in his hand , he was expressing that the Lotus was in the Jewel. GOOD . GOOD.
Still others say that root , stem and flower represent the foundation , the spinal stem and the thousand - petalled crown of the Chakra system , and that in thus raising and showing the plant he evoked the discipline of Yoga . Others say that this gesture could also allude to the result of this discipline : the triple achievement , - the Buddha being Father , Mother and Son : the one who was born from the Lotus , and the Future Buddha Maitreya , carried by the Lotus, the Julai.
We can certainly wonder what there is to think about it.
In the Chan , things not sure . We only know one with certainty : enlightenment is not achieved through the use of a dictionary . The bridge that leads to Nirvana is not made of sentences.
Old Master Lao Zi wrote , " The Dao that can be named is not the true Dao. "
Buddha spoke with his silence . But, what did he say ?
Perhaps he said , " From the mud of Samsara rises the pure and immaculate Lotus . Transcend your ego consciousness ! Be one with this beautiful flower !"
The Buddha had delivered his sermon ; and no one had to take notes.