The Teaching of Vimalakirti – Chapter 9: The Dharma-Door of Non-duality, Part 2 of 2

“The Bodhisattva Akṣayamati declared, ‘The dedication of generosity for the sake of attaining omniscience is dualistic. The nature of generosity is itself omniscience, and the nature of omniscience itself is total dedication. Likewise, it is dualistic to dedicate morality, tolerance, effort, meditation, and wisdom for the sake of omniscience. Omniscience is the nature of wisdom, and total dedication is the nature of omniscience. Thus, the entrance into this principle of uniqueness is the entrance into non-duality.’” “The Bodhisattva Gambhīrabuddhi declared, ‘It is dualistic to say that voidness is one thing, signlessness another, and wishlessness still another. What is void has no sign. What has no sign has no wish. Where there is no wish there is no process of thought, mind, or consciousness. To see the doors of all liberations in the door of one liberation is the entrance into non-duality.’” “When the Bodhisattvas had given their explanations, they all addressed the Crown Prince Mañjuśrī: ‘Mañjuśrī, what is the Bodhisattva’s entrance into non-duality?’ Mañjuśrī replied, ‘Good sirs, you have all spoken well. Nevertheless, all your explanations are themselves dualistic. To know no one teaching, to express nothing, to say nothing, to explain nothing, to announce nothing, to indicate nothing, and to designate nothing— that is the entrance into non-duality.’” “Then, the Crown Prince Mañjuśrī said to the Licchavi Vimalakīrti, ‘We have all given our own teachings, noble sir. Now, may you elucidate the teaching of the entrance into the principle of non-duality!’ Thereupon, the Licchavi Vimalakīrti kept his silence, saying nothing at all. The Crown Prince Mañjuśrī applauded the Licchavi Vimalakīrti: ‘Excellent! Excellent, noble sir! This is indeed the entrance into the non-duality of the Bodhisattvas. Here there is no use for syllables, sounds, and ideas.’” “When these teachings had been declared, 5,000 Bodhisattvas entered the door of the Dharma of non-duality and attained tolerance of the birthlessness of things.”