Chapter 5 : The Parable of the Medicinal Herbs

At that time, the World-honoured One proclaimed to Mahakasyapa and the great disciples, Excellent, Excellent, Kasyapa! You have well stated the Tathagata's real merits. Truly they are as you have said. The Tathagata also has incalculable, limitless asamkhyeyas of merit of expedient devices. If you were to speak of them for incalculable millions of kalpas, you could not fully express. Kasyapa, know that the Tathagata is the King of the Dharmas. Whatever he preaches is wholly free from falsity. He sets forth all Dharmas by resort to wisdom and expedient devices. Without exception, the Dharmas he preaches all reach the ground of All-wisdom. The Tathagata sees and knows where all Dharmas tend. He also knows what all living beings in their inmost hearts are doing, penetrating them without obstruction. Moreover, with regard to all Dharmas, having the utmost understanding of them, he reveals to all living beings all the wisdom.

O, Kasyapa! Suppose, in the three-thousand-great-thousandfold world there are, growing on the mountains, along the rivers and streams, in the valleys and on the land, plants, trees, thickets, forests, and medicinal herbs of various and numerous kinds, with names and colours all different. A dense cloud, spreading over everywhere covering the whole three-thousand-great-thousandfold world, pours down its rain equally at the same time. Its moisture universally fertilises the plants, trees, thickets, forests, and medicinal herbs, with their tiny roots, tiny stalks, tiny twigs, tiny leaves, their medium roots, medium stalks, medium twigs, medium leaves, their big roots, big stalks, big twigs, and big leaves; every tree big or small, according to its superior, middle, or lower capacity, receives its share. From the rain of the one cloud each according to the nature of its kind acquires its development, blooming its blossoms and bearing its fruit. Though produced in one soil and moistened by the same rain, yet these plants and trees are all different.

“Know, Kasyapa! The Tathagata is also like this; he appears in the world like the rising of that great cloud. Universally he extends his great call over the world with its gods, men, and asuras. In the great assembly he proclaims these words, ‘I am the Tathagata, the Worshipful, the Right and Universal Wise, the Perfectly Enlightened in Conduct, the Well Departed, the Understander of the World, the Unexcelled Worthy, the Controller and Teacher of Gods and Men, the Buddha, the World-honoured One. Those who have not yet been saved I cause to be saved; those who have not yet been set free to be set free; those who have not yet been comforted to be comforted; those who have not yet obtained nirvana to obtain nirvana. I know the present world and the world to come as they really are. I am the All Knowing, the All Seeing, the Knower of the Path, the Opener of the Path, the Preacher of the Path. Come to me, all you gods, men, and asuras, to hear the Dharma!’ At that moment numberless thousand myriad kotis of classes of living beings came to the Buddha to hear the Dharma. Thereupon the Tathagata, observing the capacity of all these living beings, keen or dull, zealous or indifferent, according to their capacity discriminated and preached to them the Dharma in varying sounds at a time, various and infinite, causing them all to rejoice and speedily obtain much profit. All these living beings, having heard this Dharma, comforted in the present life and afterward born in happy states, also made joyful by the Dharma and also hear the Dharma. Having heard the Dharma, they are freed from hindrances, and according to their capacity in all the Dharmas, they gradually enter the true Buddha Path.

“Just as that great cloud, raining on all the plants, trees, thickets, forests, and medicinal herbs, and according to the nature of their seed perfectly fertilising them so that each grows and develops, so the Dharma preached by the Tathagata is of one form and flavour, that is to say, deliverance, abandonment, extinction, and finally the attainment of the Wisdom of All Modes. If there are living beings who hear the Dharma of the Tathagata and practise it as preached, the merit they gain thereby shall be unknown and unnoticed even by themselves. Wherefore? Only the Tathagata who knows the living beings' seeds, forms, embodiments and natures of the past and present, what things they are reflecting over, what things they are thinking, what things practising, how reflecting, how thinking, how practising, by what dharmas reflecting, by what dharmas thinking, by what dharmas practising, and by what dharmas attaining to what dharmas. The living beings dwell in a variety of stages, only the Tathagata sees them for what they are and understands them clearly and without obstruction. Just as those plants, trees, thickets, forests, medicinal herbs, and others do not know their own natures; superior, middle, or inferior. The Tathagata knows this. He then saves them by the Dharma of one form and one flavour, that is to say, deliverance, abandonment, extinction, final nirvana of eternal tranquillity, ending in return to the void. The Buddha, knowing this and observing the dispositions of all living beings, supports and protects them. For this reason he does not immediately declare to them Eka Buddha Yana and the Wisdom of All Modes. All of you, O, Kasyapa! A most rare thing it is that you should be able to understand that the Dharma preached by the Tathagata in accord with what is peculiarly appropriate is for the sake of Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, be able to believe and able to receive. Wherefore? The Dharma preached by the Buddhas, the World-honoured Ones, in accord with what is peculiarly appropriate, the purport is difficult to discern and difficult to know.

“I am the Dharma King,
Appear in this world;
According to the desires of all living beings,
Preach the Dharma in various ways.
The Tathagata is greatly to be honoured,
And profound in wisdom;
For long has he kept secret this essential matter,
Not endeavouring hastily to declare it.
The wise, if they hear it,
Are able to believe and discern;
The ignorant doubt and not reverent
Losing it perpetually.
Therefore, Kasyapa,
According to their powers I preach to them
With varied means
To bring them to right views.
Know, Kasyapa!
It is like a great cloud
Rising above the great-thousand,
Covering all things everywhere,
A beneficent cloud full of moisture;
Flashes of lightning shine and glint,
The sound of thunder vibrates afar,
Bringing gladness and ease to all.
The sun's rays are veiled,
And the earth is cooled;
The cloud lowers and spreads
As if it might be caught and gathered;
Its rain everywhere equally
Descends on four directions,
Streaming and pouring without stint,
Enriching all the land.
On mountains, by rivers, in steep valleys,
In hidden recessed, there grow
The plants, trees, and herbs;
Trees, big or small,
The shoots of all the ripening grain,
Sugar cane and grapevine,
Moistured by the rain
Do not fail to prosper;
The dry ground is all soaked,
And herbs and trees flourish together.
From the product of that cloud
Water of a single flavour
Plants, trees, thickets, forests,
Each in due portion, receive moisture.
All the trees,
Superior, middle, inferior and others,
Each according to its size,
Grow and develop.
Roots, stalks, branches, and leaves,
Blossoms and fruits in their brilliant colours;
By the pouring of the one rain,
All become fresh and glossy.
Just as their bodies, forms,
Natures are divided into great and small,
So the enriching rain though one and the same,
Yet makes each flourish.
In the same manner the Buddha also
Appears in the world,
Like a great cloud
Universally covering all;
And having appeared in the world,
He, for the sake of all living beings,
Discriminates and proclaims
The benefit of all the Dharmas.
The great holy World-honoured One
Among the gods and men
And all the other multitudes
Proclaim this, saying:
‘I am the Tathagata,
The most honoured Dual Abundant One,
Appear in the world
Just like a great cloud,
To pour enrichment on all
Parched living beings,
To free them all from suffering
And so attain the joy of peace,
Joy in the world,
And the joy of nirvana.
Gods, men, and all!
With all your mind listen to me.
Come all of you here
And behold the peerless Honoured One.
I am the World-honoured One,
Who cannot be equalled.
To give peace to all living beings
I appear in the world,
And for the multitudes
Preach the Dharma, pure as sweet dew;
The Dharma of one flavour,
Of emancipation and nirvana.’
With various mystic sounds
I proclaim various meanings,
Constantly for the sake of Ekayana
Being the assisting causes and conditions.
I look upon all
Everywhere are all equal
Without distinction of persons,
Or mind of love or hate.
I have no greed or attachment
Nor have I any limitations or encumbrances;
Ever for the sake of all
I preach the Dharma equally;
As for many,
So for one person.
Constantly I proclaim the Dharma,
Never occupied with anything else;
Going or coming, sitting or standing,
Never feeling fatigue or disgust.
Noble and base, superior and inferior
Those who keep the discipline and those who violate it
Those of perfect bearing
And those of imperfect,
Orthodox and heterodox,
Quick-witted and dull-witted,
Sending down the Dharma-rain equally
Unwearyingly.
All living beings
On hearing my Dharma
They are reborn from my Dharma
Dwell on their several grounds.
Some dwell amongst gods or men
Or Holy Wheel-rolling Kings,
Or Sakra, Brahma, or other kings;
These are like smaller herbs;
Those who know the faultless Dharma
And are able to attain nirvana,
Who cultivate the six transcendental faculties
And obtain the three clarities,
Who dwell alone in mountain forests,
Ever practising dhyana-concentration,
And obtain pratyekabuddhahood -
These are the intermediate herbs;
Those who seek the World-honoured One,
‘We will become Buddhas’,
And practise zeal and concentration -
These are the superior herbs;
Also the Buddha-sons
Concentrating on the Buddha Path,
Ever practising compassion,
Assured that they will become Buddhas
Certainly and without doubt -
These are named small trees.
They firmly settled in the transcendental faculties,
Who roll the unretreating wheel
And save infinite kotis
Hundred thousands of the living beings,
Such bodhisattvas as these
Are named big trees.
The Buddha's equal preaching
Is, like the rain, of a single flavour;
In accord with the living being's natures,
Differently received,
Just as the plants and trees
Each takes a varying supply.
I, by this parable
Tactfully reveal
And with various expressions
Proclaim the Dharmas;
Of the Buddha-wisdom
It is as a drop in the ocean.
I rain down the rain of the Dharma
Filling the whole world,
The one-flavoured Dharma,
To be practised according to ability,
Just as those thickets, forests,
Herbs, and trees,
According to their size,
Gradually develop.
The Dharma of all Buddhas
Ever by its single flavour
Causes all the worlds
Universally to gain perfect weal.
Gradually by its practice
All attain the fruition of a Buddha.
Sravakas and pratyekabuddhas
Who dwell in the mountain forests,
Are in the final bodily state,
And, hearing the Dharma, reach fruition
Are named herbs,
Each progressing in growth.
As to the bodhisattvas
Who are firm in wisdom,
Penetrate the Triple Realm,
And seek the highest yana,
These are named small trees
Which gain increasing growth.
Again, there are those who dwell in dhyana,
And gain transcendental powers,
Who, hearing of the emptiness of the Dharmas
Greatly rejoice in their minds,
And emitting innumerable rays
Save all living beings,
These are named big trees
Which gain increasing growth.
Like this, Kasyapa,
The appearing of the Buddha in the world
Just like a great cloud
Which with the single-flavoured rain
Enriches men blossoms,
Enabling each to perfect its fruit.
Know, Kasyapa!
The Tathagata expediently
Using numerous means
And various parables
Are for finally
Revealing the Buddha Path.
This is my expedient device.
All Buddhas do the same.
What I have now said to you all
Is the utmost truth.
All sravakas
Have not yet attained nirvana.
The Path in which you walked in the past
Is the Bodhisattva Path;
By gradually practising and learning,
All of you will become Buddhas.”