The Buddha Is Light, Not Just Form

📖Master’s Reading

Many cling to the statues and forms of the buddhas and bodhisattvas, overlooking that what the Dharma truly conveys is formless wisdom and light. The truth of the dharmadhātu is: gods and buddhas exist as light, not as flesh. Because humans have a carbohydrate body of flesh, limited by the senses of three-dimensional space, they often think the form seen by the fleshly eye is what is real.

Yet the Diamond Sūtra tells us: "If you see appearances as non-appearances, you see the Tathāgata." To see appearances as non-appearances is, when seeing a formed thing, to see through the inner rather than the outward state — only then do you see the real. The buddhas and bodhisattvas long ago transcended material form. When the soul faces the crossing of life and death and travels to the buddha-land Pure Land, what truly comes to guide is a strong light, absolutely not the dark, large buddha one usually sees coming to guide.

If at death one still clings to the wooden or bronze buddha-images usually seen, even led by illusions in memory, one may well miss the chance for liberation. Remember, what truly comes to guide is a very strong light; the Buddha exists as light, not as form. This strong light symbolizes boundless compassion, wisdom and pure awakening.

True practice is to light this lamp within, letting the soul gradually shine. When we learn to set down the gripping of outer form and let the mind always abide in purity and light, no longer held hostage by fleeting three-dimensional objects, the true Buddha is naturally within our heart.

🌱Reflection for Daily Life

• The Buddha exists as light, not as form.
• Gods and buddhas all exist as light.
• Grasp that seeing appearances as non-appearances is to see the Tathāgata.
• The Buddha exists as light, not as form.
• Always let the mind abide in light.