Tao Te Ching

The Power of Goodness, the Wisdom Beyond Words

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Vimalkirti विमल

600 – 500 BCE

Close disciple of the Buddha who extended his teachings to common people

One of the Buddha’s closest and most important disciples, Vimalkirti became known for his wisdom and ability to teach Dharma to not only monastics but to everyday, common people. Like the Buddha and born into a wealthy family, he also renounced his position and possessions but his teaching and influence extended back to people not willing to renounce so much. This helped shape the Buddhist traditions into welcoming everyone. Although sometimes considered legendary, teachings attributed to him on emptiness became a central theme in Buddhist philosophy and most traditions consider him an historical figure and a founding influence on the Chan and Zen traditions.

Lineages
Tibetan Vajrayana Zen

Eras

Western

Egyptian Civilization (3150 – 305 BCE)
The Axial Age, “The Great Leap of Being” (800 – 200 BCE)

Chinese

Eastern Zhou 東周 (770 – 256 BCE)
Spring and Autumn period 春秋时代 (770 – 476 BCE)

Unlisted Sources

Vimalakirti Sutra

Quotes by Vimalkirti (2 quotes)

“This body is like a dream, compounded of false and empty visions.”

from Vimalakirti Sutra

Themes: Dream

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“The body is ownerless, the product of a variety of conditions. Impermanent, fragile, and feeble it is like a magical illusion, consisting of falsifications like a ball of foam, unable to bear any pressure like a water bubble, not remaining very long, like a mirage, born from the appetites of the passions. Wise men do not rely on it.”