無師独悟

Looking for translations, or for help with translations and transliterations? This is the place.
Post Reply
User avatar
Caoimhghín
Posts: 3419
Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2016 11:35 pm
Location: Whitby, Ontario

無師独悟

Post by Caoimhghín »

The expression, 無師獨悟, why is it not 無師獨覺?

Just curious.
Then, the monks uttered this gāthā:

These bodies are like foam.
Them being frail, who can rejoice in them?
The Buddha attained the vajra-body.
Still, it becomes inconstant and ruined.
The many Buddhas are vajra-entities.
All are also subject to inconstancy.
Quickly ended, like melting snow --
how could things be different?

The Buddha passed into parinirvāṇa afterward.
(T1.27b10 Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra DĀ 2)
Admin_PC
Former staff member
Posts: 4860
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:17 pm

Re: 無師独悟

Post by Admin_PC »

According to DDB:
In pre-Buddhist classical Chinese works such as the Zhuangzi, 覺 is used in contrast to illusory states to indicate a state of proper awareness and understanding. For example, in the Discussion on the Equality of Things 'great awakening' 大覺 is contrasted with the 'great dream.' 大夢. [Charles Muller; source(s): Iwanami]

The Zhuangzi's a foundational text of Taoism. Just a guess, but they may have avoided it so as not to get the awakening of Buddhism confused with the awakening of Taoism.
Post Reply

Return to “Language”