The expression, 無師獨悟, why is it not 無師獨覺?
Just curious.
無師独悟
- Caoimhghín
- Posts: 3419
- Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2016 11:35 pm
- Location: Whitby, Ontario
無師独悟
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)
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)
Re: 無師独悟
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.
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.