To Kill the Buddha (Jesus, tradition, Buddhism, doctrine, Christian)

[Pariah]

What does it mean, "that if you see the Buddha, kill him"?

Does it mean that any conception of Buddha remains a thought and a conception of what the Buddha might be, thus rendering it not 'true' (as nothing can be but Nirvana)?

Thanks in advance.

Also, if anyone could - are there any great Koan books (are Koans used in more Buddhist traditions besides Zen?) preferably written by masters in the tradition with common 'answers'?

[Bishka]

"The Iron Flute" is an excellent koan book that I currently own. To me, koan's aren't meant to be answered with a 'one-size fits all' answer. The answer is what you find it to be for yourself. Even if you find the answer, is it really the answer?

Here is a thread on "Killing the Buddha," that might assist you in you search on the meaning.

Note: I am a Christian, but I hold a fondness for Buddhism in my heart, mind and soul. Do not take my answers to be as Buddhist doctrine, but what I have learned.

[zenzero]

Friend Pariah,
To kill Buddha simply means:
Tohe thought of Budhha itself means there is still a trace/wave of thought in the mind. To reach the state of nothingness - the mind should be empty.
Love & rgds

[Pariah]

I forgot about this thread, but thank you for your answers.

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Pariah

What does it mean, "that if you see the Buddha, kill him"?

Jesus said, "Whoever has come to understand the world has found only a corpse, and whoever has found a corpse is superior to the world." Thomas 42: 30-33

[eudaimonia]

As I understand it, it means that you should not conceptualize Buddha-nature as being outside of yourself, "over there in that Buddha". You have Buddha-nature too.


eudaimonia,

Mark

[Darkness]

That is a pretty good saying.

[MysticSang'ha]

Originally Posted by eudaimonia

As I understand it, it means that you should not conceptualize Buddha-nature as being outside of yourself, "over there in that Buddha". You have Buddha-nature too.


eudaimonia,

Mark

That comes very close to how I see it too, Mark. Although, even if one conceptualizes Buddha-nature within oneself, one is advised to still kill it! The point is to continue to meditate on the nature of shunyata or dependent arising. No one inherently has more Buddha-nature than anyone else. We are to continuially extinguish spiritual arrogance within and outside of oneself.




Peace,
Mystic

[Ozzie]

I have interpreted this as a warning meaning something like: visualising Buddha as one of the three jewels impedes liberation.

Once in a dream a Buddha image appeared to me and said: "make of it what you wish".

[Pariah]

Originally Posted by lilithu

Jesus said, "Whoever has come to understand the world has found only a corpse, and whoever has found a corpse is superior to the world." Thomas 42: 30-33

I'm sorry, but this is even more ambiguous than the Zen koan. Does it mean the same thing?