Day 5 Faith in Self, Faith in Method, Faith in Dharma

The king in Dharma is the most superior;
The realization that countless Tathagatas are all alike.
Now I show you this all-giving pearl;
Believers are all in accord (with Dharma).


There are two special terms in this stanza. One is the king in Dharma, which is a title for the Buddha. Here, it symbolizes ultimate Dharma. This highest Dharma is the sudden enlightenment teaching of the Ch'an tradition. Not only is it far superior to enlightenment experiences of outer path traditions, but it also exceeds the enlightenment attained by sages who follow the Hinayana path. The other term, the all-giving pearl ─ mani pearl ─ is a gem that grants all wishes. It refers to Buddha's wisdom.