the question, "What and who is Buddha?" Yuen Wu (En-go)…
““the question, "What and who is Buddha?" Yuen Wu (En-go) replied: "Hold your tongue: the mouth is the gate of evils!" while Pao Fuh (Ho-fuku) answered to the same question: "No skill of art can picture Him." Thus Buddha is unnamable, indescribable, and indefinable, but we provisionally call Him Buddha. 4.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Buddha is beyond description and naming; attempts to define him are limited, so we use provisional labels.
In simple terms: Buddha cannot be fully described or named.
Key Takeaway
Accept the ineffable nature of ultimate reality.
Themes
spirituality
philosophy
language
Mood
contemplative
curious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- meditation
- teaching
- discussion
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
ineffability
symbolism
conceptual limits
Questions to Reflect On
- Can we ever truly know the ultimate?
- How do we discuss the indescribable?
A Different Perspective
Labels may still be useful for communication.