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The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra: Chapter 5 - Medicinal Herbs

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The Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra
Chapter 5
Medicinal Herbs



At that time the World Honored One told Mahakashyapa and all the great disciples, “Good indeed! Good indeed! Kasyapa has well spoken of the Thus Come One’s real and true merit and virtue. It is just as he said.

Furthermore, the Thus Come One has limitless, boundless asamkheyas of merit and virtue. If you were to speak of it throughout limitless millions of eons, you could not finish.

Kashyapa, you should know that the Thus Come One is the king of all the dharmas. Nothing that he teaches is false. He extensively proclaims all dharmas by means of wisdom and expedients, and whatever dharmas he speaks all lead to the ground of all wisdom.

The Thus Come One contemplates and knows the tendencies of all dharmas. He also knows the depths of the mental processes of all living beings, having penetrated them without obstruction. Furthermore, he has ultimate and clear understanding of all dharmas, and he instructs living beings in all-wisdom.

Kashyapa, consider the world of the three thousand great thousand worlds and the grasses, trees, forests, as well as the medicinal herbs, in their many varieties, with their different names and colors which the mountains, streams, valleys and flatlands produce.

A thick cloud spreads out, covering the three thousand great thousand worlds, raining on them equally everywhere at the same time, its moisture reaching every part. The grasses, trees, forests and medicinal herbs - those of small roots, small stalks, small branches and small leaves, those of medium-sized roots, medium-sized stalks, medium-sized branches, medium-sized leaves or those of large roots, large stalks, large branches, and large leaves and also all the trees, whether great or small according to their size, small, medium, or large, all receive a portion of it. From the rain of the one cloud each according to its nature grows, blossoms, and bears fruit.

Although they grow from the same ground and are moistened by the same rain, still, all the grasses and trees are different.

Kashyapa, you should know that the Thus Come One is also like this. He manifests in the world like a great cloud rising; with his great sound he covers the world with its gods, humans, and asuras, just like that great cloud covers the three thousand great thousand lands. In the midst of the great assembly he announces, “I am the Thus Come One, One Worthy of Offerings, One of Proper and Universal Knowledge, One Whose Understanding and Conduct Are Complete, Well Gone One Who Understands the World, an Unsurpassed Lord, a Taming and Regulating Hero, Teacher of Gods and Humans, the Buddha, the World Honored One. Those who have not yet been crossed over, I cross over. Those who have not yet been liberated, I liberate. Those who have not yet been put at rest, I put at rest. Those who have not yet attained Nirvana, I cause to attain Nirvana. I know things as they really are, both in the present and in the future. I am the all-knowing one, the all-seeing one, the one who knows the Way, the one who opens the Way, the one who proclaims the Way. The entire assembly of gods, humans and asuras, all should come here to listen to the Dharma.”

Then, countless thousands of myriads of millions of kinds of living beings came before the Buddha to hear the Dharma.

Then, the Thus Come One, contemplating the sharpness and dullness of the faculties of these living beings, their vigor or laxness, according to their capacity, spoke the Dharma for their sakes in limitless varieties, causing them all to rejoice and quickly attain good benefit. After having heard this Dharma, all of these living beings presently are at ease; in the future, they will be born in a good place. By means of the Way, they will enjoy happiness and also be able to hear the Dharma. Having heard the Dharma, they will separate from all coverings and obstructions. Within all the dharmas, according to their powers, they will gradually gain entry to the Way.

“Just as that great cloud rains down on all the grasses, trees, forests, and medicinal herbs and each, according to its nature, fully receives the moisture and grows, so, too, the Thus Come One speaks of a Dharma having one mark and one taste, that is to say: the mark of liberation, the mark of extinction, culminating in the Wisdom of All Modes.

Those living beings who, hearing the Thus Come One’s Dharma, uphold, read, recite and cultivate it as taught will not themselves be aware of the merit and virtue they obtain.

What is the reason? Only the Thus Come One knows the kinds, the marks, the substances, and the natures of these living beings, what they are recollecting, what they are thinking, and what they are cultivating; how they are recollecting, how they are thinking, and how they are cultivating; by means of what dharma they recollect, by means of what dharma they think, and by means of what dharma they cultivate; and by means of what dharma they obtain what dharma. Living beings dwell on a variety of levels. Only the Thus Come One sees them as they really are, clearly and without obstruction.

Just as those grasses, trees, and forests and all the medicinal herbs do not know themselves whether their natures are superior, middle, or inferior.

The Thus Come One knows the Dharma of one mark, of one flavor, that is to say: the mark of liberation, the mark of separation, the mark of extinction, the mark of ultimate Nirvana which is constantly still and extinct and which in the end returns to emptiness.

Already understanding this the Buddha contemplates the desires in the minds of living beings and protects them. For this reason he does not immediately speak of the Wisdom of All Modes.

Kashyapa, you are all very rare in your ability to know that the Thus Come One speaks the Dharma as it is appropriate, and in your ability to believe and accept it. Why it this? All the Buddhas, the World Honored Ones speak an appropriate Dharma which is difficult to understand, difficult to know.”

At that time the World Honored One, wishing to restate this meaning spoke verses, saying:

        "Destroyer of existence, the Dharma King
        Manifests within the world;
        According to living beingsdesires,
        He teaches the Dharma in various ways.
        The Thus Come One, out of veneration
        For this wisdom, deep and far-reaching,
        Has long remained silent on this important matter,
        Being in no hurry to set it forth.

        Those with wisdom, if they heard it,
        Would be able to believe and understand it,
        But those lacking wisdom would doubt it
        And thereby lose it for a long time
        For this reason, Kashyapa,
        It is spoken in accord with their powers
        Employing various conditions
        To lead them to the right view.

        Kashyapa, you should know
        It is like a great cloud
        Rising above the world
        And covering all
        A wisdom cloud filled with moisture
        Illuminated with lightening flashes
        And vibrating with thunderous roars
        It brings delight to all,
        Obscuring the light of the sun,
        Refreshing the earth
        The cloud lowers and expands
        As if one could reach out and touch it,
        It rains equally everywhere
        Falling alike in the four directions
        Pouring without measure
        Saturating all the lands.

        In the mountains, streams and steep valleys,
        In deep recesses, there grow
        Grasses, trees, and herbs,
        And trees, both great and small,
        The grains, shoots, and plants,
        The sugar cane and the grape vine;
        All are nourished by the rain,
        And none fail to be enriched.

        The parched ground is soaked,
        The herbs and trees together flourish,
        Issuing from that cloud
        Water of a single flavor
        Moistens grasses, trees and forests
        Each according to its measure
        All of the trees,
        Great, medium and small,
        According to their size
        Can grow and develop.
        When reached by that single rain
        The roots, stalks, branches, and leaves,
        Flowers and fruits with luster and color,
        All are fresh and shining.

        According to their substance and marks,
        And natures, either great or small
        They alike receive moisture
        And each one flourishes.

        The Buddha, in the same way
        Manifests within the world
        Just like a great cloud
        Covering over everything.
        Having come into the world
        For the sake of living beings,
        He discriminates and expounds
        The reality of all dharmas.

        The Great Sage, the World Honored One,
        In the midst of the multitudes
        Of gods and humans
        Proclaims these words saying:
        “I am the Thus Come One
        The doubly complete honored one.
        I appear within the world
        Like a great cloud
        Moistening all
        The dried-out living beings,
        So they all leave suffering
        And gain peace and bliss
        Worldly joy
        And the joy of Nirvana.

        All gods and humans assembled here
        Listen singlemindedly and well.
        You should all come here
        To behold the Unsurpassed Honored One,
        I am the World Honored One,
        The one beyond compare.
        To bring peace and ease to living beings
        I manifest within the world
        And for the sake of the assembly speak
        The sweet dew of pure Dharma
        The Dharma of a single flavor,
        That of liberation and Nirvana.
        Using a single wondrous sound
        I proclaim this principle
        Constantly creating the causes and conditions
        For the Great Vehicle.

        I contemplate all
        Everywhere as equal,
        Without “this” or “that”
        And without thoughts of love or hate.
        I have no greed or attachment,
        And no limitations or obstacles.
        Constantly for everyone,
        I speak the Dharma, equally.
        Speaking for a single person,
        As I would for the multitudes.
        I constantly expound and proclaim the Dharma
        And have no other work.
        Coming, going, sitting and standing
        I never grow weary,
        Filling the entire world,
        Like the moisture of the universal rain.

        For the noble, the lowly, the superior and inferior,
        Those who keep precepts
        And those who break them,
        Those with perfect awesome manner
        And those not perfect,
        Those with right views and those with deviant views
        The sharp rooted, the dull rooted
        I send down equally the Dharma rain
        And never grow weary.

        All living beings
        Who hear my Dharma
        Receive it according to their power
        And dwell on various levels.
        They may dwell among humans or gods,
        Or Wheel-turning sage kings,
        Shakra or Brahma Kings.
        These are the small herbs.
        Those who know the non outflow Dharma,
        Those who can attain Nirvana,
        Giving rise to Six Spiritual Penetrations
        And attaining the Three Clarities,
        Dwelling alone in mountain groves
        Ever practicing Chan samadhi
        Attaining certification to condition-enlightenment :
        These are the middle-sized herbs.
        Those who seek the place of the World Honored One
        Saying, “We will become Buddhas.”
        Vigorously practicing concentration,
        These are the superior herbs.

        Further, those disciples of the Buddha
        Who turn their minds to the Buddha Way
        Always practising compassion
        Knowing they will become Buddhas,
        For sure, without doubt:
        These are called the small trees.
        Those who dwell in spiritual penetrations,
        Turning the irreversible wheel,
        Saving limitless hundreds of thousands
        Of millions of living beings-
        Such Bodhisattvas as these
        Are called great trees.

        The Buddha speaks equally,
        Like the rain of a single flavor.
        According to living beings’ natures
        They receive it differently,
        Just as those herbs and trees
        Each receives a different measure.
        The Buddha uses this analogy
        To instruct expediently.
        With various phrases, he
        Expounds and proclaims a single Dharma which
        In the Buddha’s wisdom is
        Like a drop within the sea.

        I send down the rain of Dharma
        Filling all the world
        The Dharma of one taste is
        Cultivated according to their power
        Just like those forest groves
        All the herbs and trees
        According to their size
        Grow and flourish well.

        The Dharma of all the Buddhas
        Is always of a single taste
        It causes all the world
        To attain perfection.
        Through its gradual cultivation
        All attain the fruits of the Way.
        The Hearers, those enlightened to conditions
        Dwelling in mountain groves
        Living in their final bodies
        Hearing the Dharma, gain the fruit;
        They are called the herbs,
        And each one does grow.

        If there are Bodhisattvas,
        Whose wisdom is firm and solid,
        Who thoroughly comprehend the triple world
        And seek the supreme vehicle;
        They are called small trees,
        And each one does grow.

        Further, those who dwell in Chan
        Attaining spiritual powers,
        Who hear the dharma of emptiness
        And rejoice within their minds,
        Emitting countless lights
        Crossing over all beings;
        They are called the large trees,
        And each one does grow.

        In this way, Kashyapa,
        The Dharma spoken by the Buddha
        Is like that great cloud.
        With rain of a single flavor,
        It moistens all the people and flowers,
        So each one bears fruit.

        Kashyapa, you should know
        That by using causes and conditions
        And various analogies
        I demonstrate and reveal the Buddha Path.
        These are my expedients
        And other Buddhas are also thus.

        Now, for your sake,
        I speak of this true matter;
        All of you Hearers,
        None of you have reached extinction.
        What you now are walking
        That is the Bodhisattva Path.
        Gradually, gradually, cultivate and study,
        And you will all accomplish Buddhahood.”

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Source

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