Later Buddhas? By that the Alpha Seer means those who had existed after the Buddha himself, e.g. the Bodhidharma, or the Sixth Patriarch etc. Yes, indeed. There are many of them in the history of mankind,–some are pretty famous, while other are completely anonymous.
You and I can become aware enough to be called Buddhas too, even though it takes a lot of work and incessant meditations throughout the lifetime. But the potentiality is there. That is not to be disputed. Remember what Buddha said? Buddha nature is in all sentient beings! That means we all have the potential to be buddha one day.
If we cannot, then what is the point of existing in the current human form? Â It must be understood that Buddhas are not “Gods”. Buddha is more profound than gods. While “gods” are but the figment of a person’s imaginations, fictitious characters, like Santa Claus, Jehowah, Allah, the King of Heaven etc., Â Buddhas are REAL! Buddhas are those with the awareness that we are indeed the masters of our universe, in fact we are our own universe. Buddhas are extremely intelligent beings. Those who fall short in this life may come back and evolve again, but only as humans. The Alpha Seer does not perceive the possibility of a dog becoming A Buddha. A dog is an instinctive animal. It cannot become a meditator, or an awarer. Make sense?
THE PROFOUND WRITINGS OF LATER BUDDHAS:
(This essay was written by Master Sen Hui, who was probably the first disciple of the Sixth Patriarch. When the 6th Patriarch died, Sen Hui was still a kid, but he can understand the Dharma well enough that he was the only one that remained untouched with sorrow at the 6th’s passing. The essay was translated into English by the Alpha Seer.)
NO THINKING IS THE TRUE IMAGE OF EMPTINESS. PERCEPTION IS THE PRAJNA WISDOM WITHOUT BIRTH.
PRAJNA SHINES ON THE TRUTH TO ENLIGHTEN THE FOOLISH. TRUE EMPTINESS RESOLVE MATTERS IN THE WAY OF SUCHNESS.
THIS IS THE BASIC OF THE BODHIDHARMA ZEN.
TRUE SUCHNESS HAS NO THINKING. IT IS Â NOT ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THINKING.THE TRUE IMAGE HAS NO BIRTH, SO HOW CAN A HEART WITH BIRTH
ACCESS IT? THOSE WHO CAN UNDERSTAND THE WISDOM OF NO THINKING CAN ATTAIN THE ENTIRETY OF THINKING. THOSE WHO CAN EXIST IN THE REALM
OF NO BIRTH CAN BE ENDOWED WITH THE TRUE IMAGE. THOSE WHO CAN DWELL IN THE REALM OF NO DWELLING WILL DWELL IN NIRVANA FOREVER. IF ONE CAN WALK WITHOUT EVEN MAKING A MOVE, THEN ONE MAY FLY ONTO THE OTHER SHORE. WHEN NO MOVEMENT IS MADE LIKE SUCHNESS, THEN MOVEMENT CAN NEVER BE EXHAUSTED. WITH EVERY THINKING NO DESIRE IS MADE, ALL THAT ONE CAN WISH FOR ARE FOREVER WITHOUT THINKING. BODHI IS WITHOUT GAIN, THE GAIN CAN BE THE ACQUISITION OF THE DHARMA BODY. PRAJNA WISDOM IS WITHOUT INTELLECTUALISM, BUT PRAJNA WISDOM KNOW ALL DHARMAS.
AT MEDITATION THERE IS WISDOM. AT WISDOM NO BIRTH IS POSSIBLE. BIRTHLESSNESS IS THE TRUE IMAGE OF EMPTINESS, NO MOVEMENT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE ENTIRE REALM OF DHARMA. HENCE THE SIX PASSAGES WILL BECOME PERFECT. WITH THAT THE QUALITY OF TAO HAS NOTHING IN WANT.MY DHARMA IS DUALLY EMPTY. THE “IS” CANCELS THE “IS NOT”. THERE IS NO EMBARKING NOR ATTAINING, NEITHER IS THERE COMING NOR GOING. WHEN THE BODY CAN UNDERSTAND THE THREE LUMINOSITY, THE HEART CAN GET THROUGH TO THE EIGHT ANALYSIS. WITH THE SUCCESS OF THE TEN POWERS IN HAND, THEN ONE IS ENRICHED WITH THE SEVEN TREASURES. The being then enters the Door of No Duality, and he/she is ready to understand the thesis of the One Vehicle. From then on, he/she is forever extinguished, applying all laws without formula. Even when thus applying, there should not be the thought of gaining merit in mind. Emptiness is forever at watch, and the ability in the use of which does not imply any kind of possession. When that is indeed the case, one may give that a name: true Emptiness. Even when empty, it does not imply any kind of depletion either. When that happens, Profound Possession can be set up. Once Profound Possession has been set up, there is true Prajna. True Emptiness is the same as peaceful Nirvana. Prajna can reach the most molecular and the most mystical enlightenment. The true Image can go into the realm of True Suchness. Prajna cannot shine forth, but it can mirror Nirvana. Nirvana cannot give birth, but it can produce Prajna. Even though Nirvana and Prajna are called by different names, yet they share the same body. The Dharma calls for a system of nomenclature conveniently suiting an entity’s meaning, because the Dharma does not have a fixed image itself. If Nirvana can produce Prajna in a being, then that being must be in possession of the Dharma Body. When Prajna can mirror Nirvana, that Prajna can be called the Intelligence and Perception of the Buddha. What is that intelligence? It is the ability to know Emptiness always. What is that perception of the Buddha? It is the ability to perceive No Birth. The intelligence is distinct from the perception. They are not different, but neither are they the same. When that happens, both movement and stillness become profound. At that stage, every action being undertaken is in the style of Suchness. When one can thus handle Stillness, the reach of his/her power is definitely far and wide. In all things he/she happens to lay his/her hand on, there is no obstruction. When the six senses are unblemished, it is due to meditation and wisdom. When Image and thinking are not born, it is because of the Peaceful and unblemished nature of Suchness. The heart will empty all when all consciousness is extinguished. With One-pointedness of the mind prevailing, one is beyond not just the ordinary, but also the magnificent. However, it must be understood that when there is nothing, it cannot really be nothing. By the same token, when there is something it cannot really be something either. Whether one is traveling, staying home, sitting down or taking a rest, the heart simply won’t sway back and forth. At all times, there is Emptiness, but it must be understood that there is hardly anything to gain in this.