Maha Parinibbana

Sakyamuni Buddha said:
"Now that I'm gone
let Dhamma be your teacher".
Much later,
Theravada master Ajahn Chah
told students,
"You must become Dhamma".
But Mahayana Teachers say,
"we will become Buddhas".
So I ask,
if Dhamma is Teacher,
when we become the Teaching,
what is the difference
whether one calls out,
Hey Buddha!
or quietly
realizes Dhamma?

Copyright 2009 by Pete Tomlinson