18 - All Modes of Mind Are Really Only Mind

Subhūti, what do you think? Does the Tathāgata possess the human eye?

Yes, World-Honored One, he does.

Well, do you think the Tathāgata possesses the divine eye?

Yes, World-Honored One, he does.

And do you think the Tathāgata possesses the gnostic eye?

Yes, World-Honored One, he does.

And do you think the Tathāgata possesses the eye of transcendent wisdom?

Yes, World-Honored One, he does.

And do you think the Tathāgata possesses the buddha-eye of omniscience?

Yes, World-Honored One, he does.

Subhūti, what do you think? Concerning the sand grains of the Ganges, has the Buddha taught about them?

Yes, World-Honored One, the Tathāgata has taught concerning these grains.

Well, Subhūti, if there were as many Ganges rivers as the sand grains of the Ganges and there was a buddha-land for each sand grain in all those Ganges rivers, would those buddha-lands be many?

Many indeed, World-Honored One!

Then Buddha said: Subhūti, however many living beings there are in all those buddha-lands, though they have manifold modes of mind, the Tathāgata understands them all. Wherefore? Because the Tathāgata teaches that all these are not mind; they are merely called mind. Subhūti, it is impossible to retain past mind, impossible to hold on to present mind, and impossible to grasp future mind.