head flames

Form and Substance, Buddha and Monk

| Can you find a counter-example of the emptiness of all dharma[?]

if counter-example is not dharma-less, it will not qualify.
 if counter-example is not part of dharma, it will not qualify.
 if counter-example is not eternal, it will not qualify

| If not then we can assume, as stated in all the Hinayana and
| Mahayana sutras I quoted, that all dharma are empty of inherent
| existence.

finding no counter-example may result through ignorant unawareness.
 finding no counter-example may result from confusion about dharma.
 finding no counter-example may result from confusion about emptiness.
 finding no counter-example may result from its condition of obscurity.
 finding no counter-example may result from its lack of existence.
 finding no counter-example may result from its impossibility

| It is that simple.

overlooking some options, everything is simple

| That is how all human sciences work. How could it be illogical[?]

it could be illogical by virtue of omission (see omitted options above)
 or by virtue of inclusion (reflecting off over-valued Buddha writings)

| ...your obscurantist mumbo jumbo.

poorly-characterizing others' expressions clarifies nothing.
 presuming fault in one's own sight, arrogance may be averted and 
 breadth of options in context may be understood, ascertaining 
 cogitation's value in reality's apprehension 

quoting a story about Gautama:
|# ...what substance would there be in a glob of foam? 

that it is a glob describes its form; 
 that it is foam in a river describes its substance (water); 
 its changingness says nothing about its existence or appearance

|# ...what substance would there be in form?

form says nothing of substance, only of the shape of substance;
 form does not say there is no substance, or there is substance;
 form can be illusory shape, as a mirage, or it can be thing-shaped;
 things maintain their identity based on apparent consistency in
 composition beyond perceptual effect

|# ...what substance would there be in a water bubble? 

any thing which is described accurately will imply its substance,
 however that substance may change; some things have constantly-
 changing substance, like waves and living beings; some things 
 have constantly-changing forms, like many liquids and gases

|# ...what substance would there be in feeling?

internal objects give apparent impression, but 
 determining their substance compares well with
 determining the form of water: 
 its premise is mis-matched with its being

|# ...what substance would there be in a mirage? 

what form would there be in air or water? 
 determining the substance of a substanceless mirage compares well with
 determining the form of a formless black hole

|# ...what substance would there be in a banana tree? 

flesh and fluid, branch and root

|# ...what substance would there be in fabrications?

feeling's substance

|# ...what substance would there be in a magic trick? 

deceptive appearance's undergarment

|# ...what substance would there be in consciousness?

fabrications' and feelings' substance

|# Seeing thus, the well-instructed noble disciple grows disenchanted with form, 

not caught up 
 but fully appreciating

|# disenchanted with feeling, 

not ruled 
 but fully attending

|# disenchanted with perception, 

not deceived 
 but scrutinizing patiently

|# disenchanted with fabrications, 

not distracted 
 but intrigued with delight

|# disenchanted with consciousness. 

not discomfitted 
 but awake and aware
 
|# Disenchanted, he grows dispassionate. 

not enchanted, passions are reserved
 for perfect and integral expression

|# Through dispassion, he's released.

passions being reserved,
 there is liberation from strict reaction 

|# With release there's the knowledge, 'Released.' 

present awareness in oriented Way 

|# He discerns that 'Birth' is ended, 

fantasy self is never re-invented or reconstructed

|# the holy life fulfilled, 

nothing holy or unholy remains

|# the task done. 

continuing condition of composed movement 

|# There is nothing further for this world.'"

anything else arises in compassionate embrace

|# Thus a monk, persistence aroused, should view the aggregates
|# by day & by night, mindful, alert; should discard all fetters;

aiming for disabusement of reactionary constraints

|# should make himself his own refuge; 

aiming to awake thereby

|# should live as if his head were on fire 
|# in hopes of the state with no falling away."

extinguishing head-flames; treat for burns