"Dwelling nowhere, one abides in the mind" (應無所住而生其心)
This passage means that when a Bodhisattva practices and gives alms (布施, giving), they should not cling to any "Dharma." Here, "Dharma (法)" refers to everything we can cling to, such as objects, thoughts, concepts, and emotions.
Simply put:
"Do not be bound by any thoughts, forms, or concepts; give with compassion arising spontaneously from the heart."
In short,
"I am doing a good deed."
"That person is poor, so I should help."
"I am accumulating merit."
Even these thoughts should be abandoned, and giving should be done with pure compassion.
"A Bodhisattva should practice giving without dwelling on anything (菩薩 應無所住 行於布施)" or a related passage, "A Bodhisattva should practice giving without dwelling on Dharma (法) (菩薩 於法 應無所住 行於布施)"
The meaning of this passage is as follows.
Dharma (法): Here, 'Dharma' has a very broad meaning.
Teachings/Truth: The Buddha's doctrines or truth itself.
Existence/Phenomena: All material and mental existences or phenomena in the world.
Concepts/Ideas: All concepts or forms (相) created by our thoughts.
In this passage, it encompasses all phenomena and concepts, including thoughts and attachments to the act of giving itself, the recipient of giving, and the merit to be obtained through giving.
Without attachment (無所住, musoju): This means "without dwelling" or "without being bound." It refers to a state where the mind is not attached or bound to any particular thought, concept, object, or result.
Give alms (行於布施, heng eo bosi): This means "to practice giving." Giving (Dāna) is the first of the six pāramītās (六波羅蜜) in Mahayana Buddhism, an important practice virtue, and it means giving away possessions, teachings, and fearlessness based on compassion.
Core Meaning:
This teaching states that when a Bodhisattva practices giving with compassion, they should not dwell on or be attached to the following:
The 'giver': One should not be attached to the self-consciousness of "I am doing such a good deed."
The 'recipient': One should not be bound by discriminatory thoughts or specific thoughts about the recipient.
The 'object' or 'content' of giving: One should not be attached to the thought of what and how much was given.
The 'result' or 'merit' of giving: One should not be attached to the expectation of receiving blessings or good results through giving.
The 'act' or 'concept' of giving: One should not be bound by the very concept of "one must give" or the form of the act of giving.
In short, one should give naturally with **complete non-attachment (無心) and equanimity (平等心)**, without expecting any reward or result, and without discrimination and attachment to 'I,' 'you,' 'object,' or 'act,' solely following compassion.
This **'giving without dwelling on phenomena (無住相布施)'** is a core practice method emphasized in the Diamond Sutra. Giving without dwelling on 'phenomena (相)' is said to be the true practice of a Bodhisattva, combining the wisdom of emptiness (空) and compassion, and producing the highest merit. This is consistent with the teaching mentioned earlier, "If a Bodhisattva has phenomena (相), they are not a Bodhisattva."
Source: https://myear.tistory.com/1003 [Tina's Story: Tistory]
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