Dhamma Has No Name

Written by Somkid and translated by Dhammacaro

Dhamma is the truth of nature. It is based on the truth, but it has no self, no name, no time and no place. It seems mysterious, but it is not so because it is subject to the natural rules. We just cannot see it. This may be because it has no self, no name etc. to communicate. All the names of the truths are conventional. They have different names, depending on places or times, and these are called “Conventional truths or language”. On the other hand the real truths are called “Ultimate or non-conventional truths or language.” Something more important than that is a person who conveys two truths to the world as they are revealed. A person like this is very difficult to find and he is named “A sage, a knower or an omniscient man” for whom the world has been waiting.

“A sage, a knower or an omniscient man” is a man of legend or prophecy. No matter who they were; all were prophesied before. When such people were born, there was discussion about whether he was the man in the legend or prophecy or not. So they, themselves, were tested in different ways until they were accepted as being a worthy man. If they were not proved to be worthy, they did not deserve to be called, “A sage, a knower or an omniscient man.”

Their special characteristic is their superiority. Sometimes it is beyond a normal man’s ability, they have unexpected and unlimited wisdom. Usually human wisdom is limited, but in the knower it is not. Their wisdom is infinite.

The truth is abstract and is conveyed by conventional language (learning scripture) or non-conventional language (pure practice). Some can attain to the ultimate goal through practice, some can do so through learning the scripture, so the path of truth is not fixed. It really depends on human ability; how much effort a devotee (or practitioner) put into the action.