Recently I completed reading The Vimalakirti Sutra as translated by Burton Watson. I was reading this as part of Rev. Ryuei McCormick’s Buddhist Study Program. This also plays into reading I’ve been doing on T’ien-t’ai’s teaching and, in particular, how it constrasts with the Madhyamika.
As with all of my quotes here, the purpose is to file these away for future reference. I’ve never been famous for my retention of what I read, and at 68 years of age I’m not getting any better.
Today’s quote is about illness, from pages 64-66.
INQUIRING ABOUT THE ILLNESS
At that time the Buddha said to Manjushri, “You must go visit Vimalakirti and inquire about his illness.”
Manjushri replied to the Buddha, “World-Honored One, that eminent man is very difficult to confront. He is profoundly enlightened in the true nature of reality and skilled at preaching the essentials of the Law. His eloquence never falters, his wisdom is free of impediments. He understands all the rules of bodhisattva conduct, and nothing in the secret storehouse of the Buddhas is beyond his grasp. He has overcome the host of devils and disports himself with transcendental powers. In wisdom and expedient means he has mastered all there is to know. Nevertheless, in obedience to the Buddha’s august command, I will go visit him and inquire about his illness.” …
“Layman, this illness of yours – can you endure it? Is the treatment perhaps not making it worse rather than better? The World-Honored One countless times has made solicitous inquiries concerning you. Layman, what is the cause of this illness? Has it been with you long? And how can it be cured?”
Vimalakirti replied, “This illness of mine is born of ignorance and feelings of attachment. Because all living beings are sick, therefore I am sick. If all living beings are relieved of sickness, then my sickness will be mended. Why? Because the bodhisattva for the sake of living beings enters the realm of birth and death, and because he is in the realm of birth and death he suffers illness. If living beings can gain release from illness, then the bodhisattva will no longer be ill.
“It is like the case of a rich man who has only one child. If the child falls ill, then the father and mother too will be ill, but if the child’s illness is cured, the father and mother too will be cured. The bodhisattva is like this, for he loves living beings as though they were his children. If living beings are sick, the bodhisattva will be sick, but if living beings are cured, the bodhisattva too will be cured. You ask what cause this illness arises from – the illness of the bodhisattva arises from his great compassion.”
This certainly resonates with this day of COVID-19.