ヒント
Hint
2024-04-27 18:00:00
A practitioner may wish to gain hints for enlightenment (= liberation) from the actions and words of the Tathagata or descriptions in the Buddhist scriptures.
However, in reality, there are no explicit hints to be found in the practice of the Buddhist path, and even if one were to gain some hint, it would not necessarily make enlightenment easier. In fact, as a practical matter, the Tathagata does not provide hints to practitioners.
However, it may be that a certain Buddhist practitioner gains hints for enlightenment from the actions and words of the Tathagata or descriptions in the Buddhist scriptures, and that such hints prove to be significant knowledge aiding their attainment of Buddhahood.
In essence, whether hints exist or not, and whether they are beneficial or not, is ultimately a matter of outcome (in hindsight).
Therefore, it would be appropriate to say that there is a problem with seeking hints arbitrarily in the practice attitude.
Hence, Buddhist practitioners are taught phrases like "ardently desire to know the truth" and "Buddhist practitioners should focus on their own affairs."
At that point, as the merits accumulate gradually, practitioners finally encounter the conditions for enlightenment, recognize the true nature of reality, become aware of the sequence of events, generate wisdom, and attain enlightenment (= liberation).
At that moment, in the practice of the Buddhist path, there is no need for hints, nor do they exist in the first place. One comes to understand that even other Tathagatas preach the Dharma knowing this fact.
Conversely, it could be said that a teacher who tries to give hints to disciples or acquaintance/connections is actually not enlightened.
The subtlety of this situation is akin to someone who has already unraveled the wheel of wisdom refraining from giving hints to someone currently engaged in unraveling the wheel of wisdom.
All Tathagatas simply manifest the state of enlightenment in the world.
***
