The Meaning and the Words

“We say that we base ourselves on the meaning, not in the words. The meaning connotes fully Enlightened beings. Full Enlightenment means non-weak. Non-weak means (full) satisfaction. Satisfaction means that the Tathagata is Eternal and Unchanging. That the Tathagata is Eternal and Unchanging means that the Dharma is eternal. That the Dharma is eternal means that the Sangha is eternal. This is basing oneself on the meaning. Do not base yourself on the words. What are the words in which we should not base ourselves on? These are the discursive and decorative words. They [those who adhere to the letters, rather than the spirit] seek, also, greedily and insatiably all the innumerable sutras of the Buddha. Wickedly, skillfully and disingenuously, they cheat and, displaying a semblance of sympathy and benevolence, they seek profits. Garbed in white, they climb ranks. They also loudly proclaim: ‘The Buddha allows to the Bhiksus receive all [kinds of] services (aid in tasks) and impure things, trading gold, silver, rare gems, to store rice, to trade cattle, sheep, horses and elephants; and so seek profits. And also there may arise a famine, and out of pity of children, the Bhiksus may look for profits, store things and keep them in a house, prepare food with their own hands and for your own support, instead of receiving [the alms of others]’. All such words are not to be followed.”

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 8 - On the Four Dependables.