(No) Attributes

The Diamond Sutra says that the Tathāgata cannot be seen by means of the possession of attributes:

The Buddha doesn't need a halo.
The Buddha doesn't need an army of followers.
The Buddha doesn't need to work miracles.
The Buddha doesn't need to be a man.  Or a woman.
The Buddha doesn't even need to be a human.

The Diamond Sutra says that the Tathāgata can indeed be seen by the means of attributes that are not attributes:

The Buddha can be a flower.
Or a viper.
The Buddha can be an ambulance.
Or a cruise missile.

Or us!