Diamond Sutra Ch23 & 24 All Dharmas Are Equal

2009-02-26

This class we talked about the organization of the Diamond Sutra, that each 8 of the 32 sections follow this sequence: faith, understanding, cultivation, and realization (信解行證). We should reread this sutra in this light and try to understand the subtle differences in the teaching.

Furthermore, Subhuti, all dharmas are equal, none is superior or inferior.

This is a very famous line from the Diamond Sutra, and one worthy contemplating on over and over. To properly understand this teaching, we must not fall into the two sides of dualistic views: one the one hand, that things have intrinsic value that is fixated (a permanent self view), and, on the other hand, that all things are equal without differences.

A student raised the question: if all dharmas are equal, why in the next chapter Buddha goes on to compare the merits? Try to see this again from the Two Truths point of view: from the absolute truth, and from the conventional truth. Only then we'll see the Middle Way without falling into one extreme view or another.

As with all Dharma, please think of applications in real life.