Intellectuals who always tend to accumulate and squirrel away information, proud of their “book knowledge”, are best treated firstly by wisdom in order to counter their symptom of delusion. When enlightened by wisdom, one naturally knows that one needs ethical disciplines and meditative concentration as well. Among the three remedies, meditative concentration is the most fundamental. Only by meditation can one attain the “no-self” state and the dhyana of “extinction of sensations and perceptions”, to stop discriminating and be attached to things. Lao Tzu said that enlightened persons always seem somewhat guileless, and that is because they are now different, free from all passions and have attained the perfectly content seclusion or no-rebirth state.

If in his first lesson the Buddha taught that we should eat when hungry and drink when thirsty, in order to emphasize the “ethical discipline”, then this second lesson emphasizes the “meditative concentration”. From the passage: “Then the Buddha addressed the Venerable Subhuti” … to “is not a Bodhisattva” there is a consistency in the meditative process from the sphere of desire, sphere of form and then non-form. Then one must overcome all these too, to eventually attain the dhyana of “Extinction of sensations and perceptions” which is also called the ninth dhyana absorption.

It is like a perfect exchange of martial arts sword play, movements intertwined with harmonious and unbroken transitions from visible to invisible, like trancelike flowing water or chasing clouds, until all but the essence of the art of sword remained; the performers and their moves also disappeared… and that is the ultimate move. At that moment there is no more object nor subject, when the herd as well as the herdsman cease to exist. One must experience this! Not just talk about it. That is what the Buddha taught.
Of course there are many other layers of meanings to experience before one can discover oneself. This is what is called the “infinite meanings” in Buddhist scriptures. The handing of the Precious sword symbolizes the capacity of going beyond convention and constraining. If we are still clinging, or still hold on to any fix meaning tight, then we still are dependent, stuck… how can we attain the mental state of that mind without dwelling anywhere?
Lệnh Hồ Xung’s “sword destroying tactics” in the “Độc cô cửu kiếm” (Technique of combatting alone using 9 swords) defeated 15 trained swordsmen who besieged and outnumbered him. If he used the “No More” technique (vô chiêu thắng hữu chiêu), imagine how more awesome it would be! The way towards destroying the move is only a simple step toward the technique “going beyond convention and constraint”. One day we shall be able to perceive, to discover and to be “aware” to much more layers of meanings. The important thing is to practice, to discover through experience. Only then, will we be able to understand what means “unutterable” (impossible to explain) and “unfathomable” (impossible to comprehend), where even language is not of use!.