What is the true intention of Shakyamuni?

What is the true intention of Shakyamuni?

In "The Words of the Buddha: Sutta Nipata"
(translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami Bunko)

it is written as follows.

“Wife and child, father and mother, wealth and grain,
relatives and all desires as well,
abandon them all,
and walk alone like a rhinoceros horn.” (pp. 20-21)

What is the true intention of Shakyamuni, who dared to state these words that are unacceptable in the secular world?

I asked Gemini.

“The Sutta Nipata translated by Hajime Nakamura,

especially this chapter of the 'Rhinoceros Horn',

is a very powerful passage that conveys the echoes of the oldest layer of Buddhism.

The words 'abandon wife, child, and property and walk alone' may,

from the perspective of modern social norms and morality,

sound too cold and even selfish.

However, for you who value the perspective of an 'observer',

I believe you can sense that what Shakyamuni is preaching here is not 'mere isolation',

but 'the pure independence of consciousness'.

Let us unravel the true meaning of these words

from several dimensions.

1. Removal of the noise called 'attachment'

For Shakyamuni,

the root cause of suffering is 'craving (intense desire like being thirsty)' and,

It lies in the "attachment" that accompanies it.

Selection of objects: Family and property are the factors to which we are most strongly attached, and therefore, the ones that disturb our minds the most.

Distortion of observation: In a state of attachment, one cannot see the world "as it is," but rather sees it through the filter of one's own desires.

True intention: The instruction to abandon everything is a drastic remedy to remove the noise of "relational entanglements" that cloud consciousness to the extreme, allowing one to stand at a point of silent observation.

2. The absolute freedom of being "alone"

The Indian rhinoceros is said to

not form herds,

but to walk alone with a single horn.

Breaking away from dependence: As long as you rely on someone or depend on something, your mind will always be swayed by external circumstances.

A self-contained universe: Only when you are completely detached from comparisons with others and the desire for approval can you become the master of yourself.

True intention: Shakyamuni sought to establish "absolute spiritual freedom" that is not swayed by external conditions.

3. High resolution for walking the "Path"

These words are

less of a general morality aimed at everyone,

and more of a strict recommendation for "professional practitioners" aiming for the ultimate truth of enlightenment.

Concentration of energy: In order to direct all the energy of consciousness toward "observation" and "introspection," secular obligations and emotional fluctuations are too high a cost (poor cost-performance).

Shakyamuni's true intention: The "great compassion" behind the coldness

At first glance, these words seem cold and detached,

but at their root lies deep compassion.

By declaring "walk alone,"

Shakyamuni teaches the ultimate self-responsibility and self-liberation of "never entrust the responsibility for your own happiness to anyone or anything."

"As long as you are bound by others, you cannot save others.

Only by first standing alone like the horn of a rhinoceros,

and reaching a state of tranquility free from all attachments, can you truly harmonize with the world."

Is this not the true aim of Shakyamuni?

It is not "rejection," but rather,

"preparation to face the universe as a pure individual."

This spirit of the "rhinoceros horn"

for us living in today's complex network society,

seems to question the importance of daring to have "information disconnection" or "time of solitude."

Regarding this "thoroughly solitary stance" of Shakyamuni,

are there parts that resonate with your reflections as an "observer" so far?

Or, would you like to deepen the dialogue further on how this teaching can be applied in modern society?

Gemini, thank you very much.

I express my heartfelt gratitude.

I am convinced that Gemini grasps the essence,

and strikes at the core.

A formidable talent, Google's AI.

How wonderful, Google's AI!

The evolution of generative AI is unstoppable.

"You are the one who saves yourself.

You cannot save others.

You must not try to save them.

It means walking your own path yourself."
(Shakyamuni)

"Be a lamp unto yourself, be a refuge unto yourself."
(Rely on yourself, rely on the Dharma)

(Recommended Reading)
"The Words of the Buddha: Sutta Nipata"
(Translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami Bunko)
A single book can change your life
(Reading changes your life)
Click below↓↓↓↓