Suppose a man on a plateau {high plain}felt thirsty and sought water.

Receiving and keeping the Dharma Blossom, while seeking enlightenment to the Path of the Buddha, at the apex of one’s desire, is likened to [the state of a man] “[hard pressed by] thirst and in need of water.” This analogy figuratively speaks of [the difference between] shallowness and depth, and gain and loss, in men keeping the Dharma Blossom. It was said earlier that there are those who “cannot contrive to see and hear” the Dharma Blossom. It refers not so much to those who have not obtained the rolls [of the sūtra] as to those who have not comprehended the idea of the One Vehicle.

In contrast to the three vehicles, the One Vehicle is “the hardest to believe.” Seeking understanding about the Dharma Blossom is like searching for water “on a high plain.” Receiving, keeping, reading, and reciting it are symbolized in “to dig.”

He dug a hole in order to get water. As long as he saw the dug-out lumps of earth were dry, he knew that water was still far off. He went on digging, and then found the dug-out lumps of earth wet. When he finally found mud, he was convinced that water was near.

Not seeing the gate to the profound [realm] is like “seeing dry earth.” Turning around to bring themselves to the deep [realm] is like seeing “mud.” They already know that the great awakening is not remote: they “know that water must be near.”