Day 9

Day 9 covers Chapter 5, The Simile of Herbs, and the start of Chapter 6, Assurace of Future Buddhahood.

The self-worth doubts mentioned yesterday illustrate one illusion that keeps me from appreciating my equality. The Buddha Dharma, like the rain in the Simile of Herbs, is uniform and indiscriminate. It falls on everything and everyone.

The various teachings I expound are of the same content, of the same taste.

But each of us is at a differing stage of enlightenment, and as a result:

They obtained different flowers and fruits although they grew on the same ground and received water from the same rain.

And yet the differences are unimportant:

I will expound these teachings [of mine]
With a wonderful voice.
My purpose is
To reveal the
Great Vehicle.

I see all living beings equally.
I have no partiality for them.
There is not ‘this one’ or ‘that one’ to me.
I transcend love and hatred.

I am attached to nothing.
I am hindered by nothing.
I always expound the Dharma
To all living beings equally.
I expound the Dharma to many
In the same way as to one.

I always expound the Dharma.
I do nothing else.
I am not tired of expounding the Dharma
While I go or come or sit or stand.
I expound the Dharma to all living beings
Just as the rain waters all the earth.

And again:

As previously stated, Kāśyapa,
I expound the Dharma
And lead human flowers
[To the fruits of Buddhahood]
Just as the large cloud waters all flowers
By a rain of the same taste
And causes them to bear their fruits.

Kāśyapa, know this!
I reveal the enlightenment of the Buddha
With various stories of previous lives,
With various parables and similes,
That is, with various expedients.
All the other Buddhas do the same.