"We do not begrudge our own lives, we value only the Supreme Way" (Lotus Sutra chapter 3).
This is the true meaning of non-attatchment.
"It is said in the Nirvana Sutra:' Before listening to the Lotus Sutra we had all been of evil views.' Grand Master Miao-le explains this in his Fa-hua hsuan-i shih-chi'en; ' The Buddha himself called his pre-Lotus Three Teachings(zokyo, tsugyo and bekkyo) evil. ' Tientai citing the words of the Nirvana Sutra just mentioned, says in his Mo-ho Chih-kuan(Great Concentration and Insight): ' They called themselves evil. Isn't "evil" bad? ' Miao-le explains this in his commentary on the Mo-ho Chih-kuan:
' Evil means "wicked." Therefore we must know that only the engyo (perfect teaching) among the Four Teachings is correct. But it has two meanings. First, it means that following the "perfect teaching" (engyo) while rejecting the remaining three is correct, and rejecting the "perfect teaching" while following the three is erroneous. This is a rerlative point of view. Secondly it means that attachment to the "perfect teaching" is considered erroneous while detachment from it is correct. This is an absolute point of view in which there is no difference in the eyes of the Buddha between the "perfect teaching" and the remaining three of the so-called Four Teachings. Either way, we have to stay away from error. It is bad to attach ourselves to the "perfect teaching," how much worse it is to attach ourselves to the Three Teachings!" (The Opening of the Eyes)
The absolute point of view is that all teachings of the Buddha are for the sake of Enlightenment. However, the teaching must accord with the time.
Posted by markrogow at March 27, 2008 02:38 AM