Let’s read the chapter, “The Parable of Medicinal Herb” of the Lotus Sutra, which depicts the essence of the Sutra.
Opening Chant of Sutra
The Lotus Sutra: The Parable of Medicinal Herbs – The teachins of Buddha are a rain of blessings
破有法王 出現世間 随衆生欲 種種説法
如来尊重 智慧深遠 久黙斯要 不務速説
有智若聞 則能信解 無智疑悔 則為永失
是故迦葉 随力為説 以種種縁 令得正見
The Buddha said to Kashyapa and the other disciples who were listening to him:
As the King of the Teachings, I have appeared in this world to shatter the deluded world.
I preach my Teachings with a full understanding of the needs of all who exist in this world.
However, there is one thing that I have deliberately kept secret for a long time and have not preached about it.
That is the existence of the Tathagata. The Tathagata is extremely precious and important, and his wisdom is extremely profound.
I have kept this truth hidden because those with wise reason will quickly understand and uphold the Teachings, but those without will doubt the truth and become lost and astray. For this reason, I use various methods to guide those who listen to my teachings to the correct view, depending on their ability of understanding.
迦葉当知 譬如大雲 起於世間 徧覆一切
慧雲含潤 電光晃曜 雷声遠震 令衆悦予
日光掩蔽 地上清涼 靉靆垂布 如可承攬
其雨普等 四方倶下 流澍無量 率土充洽
山川険谷 幽邃所生 卉木薬草 大小諸樹
百穀苗稼 甘蔗蒲萄 雨之所潤 無不豊足
乾地普洽 薬木並茂 其雲所出 一味之水
草木叢林 随分受潤 一切諸樹 上中下等
称其大小 各得生長 根茎枝葉 華果光色
一雨所及 皆得鮮沢 如其体相 性分大小
所潤是一 而各滋茂
What this means is, for example, imagine that great clouds rise and cover the entire world. These clouds are clean and moist, and lightning flashes and thunder roars, making them clouds of blessing that bring joy to people.
They block out the scorching sun and cool the earth, and the moisture from the billowing clouds descends so far that people can reach it.
Rain will moisten all the land equally, flowing everywhere and revitalizing the parched earth.
The mountains, rivers, and valleys are home to plants, medicinal herbs, trees large and small, various grains, sweet potatoes, and grapes, and the blessings of rain will replenish the entire land in abundance. The parched earth will become moist everywhere, and medicinal herbs and trees will flourish in abundance. Each plant will absorb the same tasting water that falls from the same clouds, depending on its environment.
Trees, large and small, of high quality, medium quality, and low quality, will all grow according to their size and shape. Roots, stems, branches, and leaves will all grow, and thanks to the rain that falls from the clouds, flowers will bloom and fruit will be born.
Even though it is the same rain, each plant is vividly nourished.
Even if plants are different in shape, size, and characteristics, they each grow in the same environment brought about by the same blessed rain.
佛亦如是 出現於世
譬如大雲 普覆一切 既出于世 為諸衆生
分別演説 諸法之実 大聖世尊 於諸天人
一切衆中 而宣是言 我為如来 両足之尊
出于世間 猶如大雲 充潤一切 枯槁衆生
皆令離苦 得安穏楽 世間之楽 及涅槃楽
諸天人衆 一心善聴 皆応到此 覲無上尊
我為世尊 無能及者 安穏衆生 故現於世
為大衆説 甘露浄法 其法一味 解脱涅槃
以一妙音 演暢斯義 常為大乗 而作因縁
Like a great cloud of blessing that appears on dry land, the Tathagata too appears to save all living beings in this world. He speaks and shows us the truth of all things. This great and noble saint speaks to us from the abode of the gods.
“I am the Tathagata, the most noble of all living beings. I have appeared in this world to quench those whose hearts are dry and withered, and to free them from suffering, like a great cloud of blessing that waters the parched earth.
I will bestow gentle happiness and peace on those who suffer, and lead them to the pleasant state of nirvana.
I ask all gods and humans to listen to my voice with a kind heart.
Come closer and behold my existence.
To you, I am more precious than any other being.
I have appeared in this world to bring happiness to all of you.
I speak pure and beautiful truths for the benefit of many people. All of these teachings have the same flavor: the taste of liberation from suffering, and the taste of peaceful nirvana.
I preach and speak this truth in this pleasant voice.
Anyone, regardless of their nature, can ride this great vehicle that leads to the goal of enlightenment. I am weaving various connections for this purpose.
我観一切 普皆平等 無有彼此 愛憎之心
我無貪著 亦無限礙 恒為一切 平等説法
如為一人 衆多亦然 常演説法 曽無佗事
去来坐立 終不疲猒 充足世間 如雨普潤
貴賤上下 持戒毀戒 威儀具足 及不具足
正見邪見 利根鈍根 等雨法雨 而無懈倦
一切衆生 聞我法者 随力所受 住於諸地
I view all beings equally. I show no favoritism or discrimination. I have no likes or dislikes. I have no attachments or hindrances.
I always, simply, preach the teachings equally for the sake of all beings.
It makes no difference whether one or many are listening. I simply continue to preach the truth and do not get involved in anything else.
I continue to preach while walking, sitting, or standing still, without feeling tired or inertia.
It fills the world just as rain moistens dry earth.
Regardless of rank, whether they observe the precepts or not, whether they hold correct views or not, whether they are superior or inferior, I simply shower the rain of the teachings of truth equally on all. All living beings hear my rain of teachings equally, and each absorbs its moisture to the best of their ability in their own environment.
或処人天 転輪聖王 釈梵諸王 是小薬草
知無漏法 能得涅槃 起六神通 及得三明
独処山林 常行禅定 得縁覚証 是中薬草
求世尊処 我当作佛 行精進定 是上薬草
又諸佛子 専心佛道 常行慈悲 自知作佛
決定無疑 是名小樹 安住神通 転不退輪
度無量億 百千衆生 如是菩薩 名為大樹
Among those who receive the rain of my teachings, there may be an ideal king who rules the world with justice without the use of force, or a god like Indra or Brahman who becomes king of the gods. These are called small herbs.
Or there may be someone who reaches the state of nirvana on their own, acquires six supernatural powers, and the three wisdoms, then goes into the mountains alone and practices Zen habitually, becoming an arhat called a pratyekabuddha. This would be a medium-sized herb.
There may also be someone who aims to become like Shakyamuni, and meditates, striving to become a Tathagata themselves. This is called the finest herb.
Some of the Buddha’s children will always maintain compassion and calmness and continue their training diligently. They will be called small trees, convinced that they themselves will become Buddhas. Others will acquire supernatural powers, never turn back, and save many beings from suffering and delusion. They will be big trees.
佛平等説 如一味雨 随衆生性 所受不同
如彼草木 所稟各異 佛以此喩 方便開示
種種言辞 演説一法 於佛智慧 如海一滴
The teachings of the Tathagata are as equal as the rain of blessings, but like the lush plants of the earth, each of you will receive them differently. Therefore, the Tathagata uses parables and metaphors, and various expressions, to preach one truth. Each expression is like a drop in the ocean of Tathagata’s wisdom.
我雨法雨 充満世間 一味之法 随力修行
如彼叢林 薬草諸樹 随其大小 漸増茂好
諸佛之法 常以一味 令諸世間 普得具足
漸次修行 皆得道果
I will send down the rain of truth, filling and nourishing the world. This rain is the same, but each person living in this world practices according to their own abilities. This is just like how herbs and trees grow according to their shapes and forms. In other words, the truth preached by the Tathagata is always the same rain, but it satisfies everyone, regardless of the environment or the kind of being they live in. Everyone practices in their own way, and everyone can reach the enlightenment.
声聞縁覚 処於山林
住最後身 聞法得果 是名薬草 各得増長
若諸菩薩 智慧堅固 了達三界 求最上乗
是名小樹 而得増長 復有住禅 得神通力
聞諸法空 心大歓喜 放無数光 度諸衆生
是名大樹 而得増長
The arhats, also known as Shomon or Engaku, train in the mountains and reach the highest state of mind from which they will never be reborn, and this is what it means for the medicinal herb known as the arhat to grow.
If many bodhisattvas possess firm wisdom, acquire knowledge of all worlds, and seek the highest vehicle to enlightenment, it is like the growth of a small tree called a bodhisattva.Also, if there were someone who practiced Zen and gained supernatural powers, who rejoiced at the truth that “all things are empty and have no substance,” and who radiated great light to save all beings from suffering, it would be like the growth of a large tree.
如是迦葉 佛所説法
譬如大雲 以一味雨 潤於人華 各得成実
迦葉当知 以諸因縁 種種譬喩 開示佛道
是我方便 諸佛亦然 今為汝等 説最実事
諸声聞衆 皆非滅度 汝等所行 是菩薩道
漸漸修学 悉当成佛
Kashyapa, the teachings of the Tathagata are like the rain of blessings brought down by a great, nurturing cloud. This rain nourishes people, allowing them to blossom and bear fruit.
Remember this well. I weave various connections and use all kinds of parables to show the path to enlightenment. I’m not the only one; other Tathagatas also use similar expedient means to save countless living beings.
Now let me tell you what’s most important to you.
“Arhat, who only thinks about himself and seeks enlightenment, will not be able to enter into true, peaceful Nirvana. What you should do is practice the Bodhisattva path. Train diligently and reach the state of proper enlightenment.”
Dedication Verse from Lotus Sutra
Bibliography
Video Version
Sponsored Link
コメント