the parables of medicinal herbs

The Parable of the Medicinal Herbs

The world has many kinds of plants — more kinds than can be named. There are bushes and trees, mosses and ferns, flowers and grains. There are herbs that can be made into medicines.

All over the earth there are plants growing. Different plants grow in different areas: on the tops of mountains and at the bottom of the sea, in the desert and in the jungle.

Clouds also cover the earth. In one moment, a cloud can rain life-giving water onto the plants. The rain nurtures the plants and soaks the soil.

Through the soil, the water soaks down, down, down to the plants’ roots. Some of the roots are woody and big. Some are thin and fine. The water goes to all the millions of kinds of plants.

Each plant uses this water according to what kind of plant it is. Some plants may blossom. Some trees may bear fruit. Some mushrooms may grow. Some vines may grow long. Some herbs may grow to be used for medicine. Each plant uses the water differently.

Although all these plants and trees grow in the same earth and are moistened by the same rain, each has its differences. But all may be nourished.


such a simple analogy to explain so profound things. isnt it:)
well just like plants are different, we are all different, we all have our own individuality , characteristics, and basic tendancies.
but inspite of all that just like mother earth treats them all equally, lotus sutra makes them all equal and eligible to attain buddhahood. and whats more?
all that in this lifetime only.

the jewel in the topknot

The Jewel in the Topknot

Once upon a time there was a great king. He was the greatest of kings and was called the Wheel-Rolling King. It was said that he owned a magical wheel of jewels that would spin while he governed.

The king was a fine ruler, and when he found a country that was run by evil people, he would wage war against it. He continually fought such evil countries until he had crushed them all.

The king was very glad to see that some of his soldiers were very brave in war. He rewarded these soldiers with treasures such as gold, silver, shell, agate, coral, and amber. He gave some of them farms, houses, villages, and cities. He also gave elephants, horses, and vehicles to those who were worthy.

Every time the soldiers were given these gifts from the king, they boasted, saying “I received golden rings and necklaces from the Wheel-Rolling King.”

Or: “He gave me a fabulous elephant and an ox-cart, praising my brave fight in the war.”

Or: “It was clothes this time for me. But I’ll get much more next time for my valiant fight.”

Or: “But you’ll not outdo me. I’ll be fighting with all my might, too.”

There was one thing that the king kept for himself: the brilliant gem which he was keeping in his topknot. This gem was the only one of its kind in the world. If he had given it to anyone, his followers would have been shocked.

Finally, one day, the Wheel-Rolling King saw an especially brave soldier and gave him that precious gem.



wow, all the parables are so profound. isnt it?
well wheel rolling king is none other than shakyamuni .
he had many jewels comparable to many sutras(expedient means) but he has the main sutra which he never shared/ given to anyone.
reason?
no one is capable of comprehending the sutra at that time.
its like a professor of maths knows everything about maths. but if he teach a class 5 student he will use simple language and examples to make him clear. though he knws calculus but it is not a appropriate time to tell that student.
so this professor will keep on teaching the student until he reaches the level where the professor can reveal the true and discard the expedient means.
he will say "listen the formula of circle A= pie*square of radius is just a very small side of integration.
what i teach u till now is just a very part of large picture.
here is that picture itself.
enjoy :)
u have been able to wage lots of war(passing from 5th to 11th) and now u deserve to look at this picture (lotus sutra)

the excellent physician and his sick children

well how profound this parable is.
this parable depicts that shakayamuni's life is eternal but he used his death as an expedient mean to teach his followers. if he will always be there then his follower will take him for granted.
secondly it also states that though shakyamuni has prepared an elixir of life as a lotus sutra but we in the later stage of the law are keep on refusing it because of our own ignorance.
father returning later can be taken as coming of nichiren daishonin at the start of late day of the law with five characters of nam myoho renge kyo.
but children/people refused to listen to him and hence he left Dai-Gohonzon for all so that even after his passing away everyone can be benefitted from that great medicine of NMHRK

The Excellent Physician and His Sick Children

The Excellent Physician and His Sick Children

There once was a very wise doctor. He could make medications — medicine that could cure any illness imaginable.

The doctor had many children. One day, he traveled to a distant land. While he was away, his children mistakenly drank poison. They became very sick. Some were in pain, some lost their minds. Some were close to death. Others were only a little bit sick.

When the doctor returned from his long trip, he saw that his children were very sick.

All the children, even though ill with poison, were happy to see their father return. "Welcome home, father!" they said. "We're so happy to see that you have returned safely. While you were away we were very foolish. We all mistakenly drank some poison. Please save us from this suffering!"

The doctor went to work, grinding, sifting, and mixing various herbs. He made a powerful medicine that had a beautiful color, excellent fragrance, and wonderful taste. This medicine was perfect. Bringing the medicine to his children, he encouraged them to drink it: "My children, here is a medicine of excellent color, fragrance, and taste. Drink this and your illness will be gone and you will be well.”

Those children who were only slightly ill immediately took the medicine and were quickly cured. The children who had lost their minds refused the medicine. They were confused by the poison in their bodies. They refused to believe that their father's medicine would help them.

"My poor children," the father said, "because you have consumed poison, your thinking has become twisted. When you saw me return home, you begged me to cure you. But when I offered you this medicine, you refused it. If you won't take this good medicine, how can you be cured?"

Although the children's minds were confused, their father loved them. He had to think of a way to get them to take the medicine. Finally, the doctor said: "My beloved children, hear me well! I am old and weak, and may die at any time. I will leave this medicine here for you. Even if I should die, your sickness can still be cured with this good medicine. Please don't doubt that! I must leave now on another trip, so please remember what I have told you."

The doctor then traveled to another land. He sent a messenger home to tell his children of his death. The children were stunned. They had never expected him to really die! They said: "Our father is dead! Now we have no one to rely on!"

Then, the children remembered the medicine that their father had left for them and his words before leaving. In tears, they each took some of the medicine and were immediately cured of their illness.

Then, to their amazement, their father returned home. For the first time they realized how great his love and mercy was for them.

parable- gem in the robe

this one is my most favourite. we did this in one of our discussion meeting as a skit. that was full of fun.
i played the poor friend :)



Parable of the Gem in the Robe

A poor man came to visit a wealthy friend. Late into the night, the two friends ate, drank, and talked. When the poor man went to bed, he fell into a deep sleep.

In the middle of the night, a messenger came to inform the rich man that he must go immediately to a distant land far away. Before he left, he wanted to do something for his poor friend to show how much he cared for him. But he did not want to wake his friend from such a deep sleep.

So the wealthy friend sewed a beautiful colored gem inside the hem of his poor friend’s robe. This jewel had the power to satisfy all of one’s desires.

The next morning, the poor man awoke to find himself alone in his wealthy friend’s house. Totally unaware of anything that had taken place while he was sleeping, he wandered off.

The poor man traveled from place to place, looking for work. All the while, he was completely unaware that he possessed a priceless gem in the hem of his robe.




A long time passed until one day, by chance, the wealthy friend came upon the poor man in the street.

Seeing the man’s impoverished condition, the wealthy friend asked him:
“Why have you allowed yourself to become so poor? You could have used the jewel that I gave you to live your life in comfort. You must still have it, yet you are living so miserably. Why don’t you use the gem to get what you need? You can have anything you want!”

Bewildered, the poor man fumbled through the inside of his robe and, with the help of his friend, found the gem. Ashamed of his ignorance yet overcome with joy, he realized for the first time the depth of his friend’s compassion. From then on, the poor man was able to live comfortably and happily.

so u read the parable.
so tell me what does this parable actually wanna convey?
i think this parable shows that we all have a gem of buddhahood within each of us.
but we keep on searching the gem and hence happiness without.
if we can find the inner gem and the way to actually tap it then we will be the happiest person in this world.
am i right in interpretation?
please correct me if m not or gimme your valuable inputs

parables- bodhisattava never disparaging

lotus sutra is full of similes and parables. few of them are very popular and can be used to convey some basics of buddhism.
this one is my personal favourite besides kankucho birds.
we used some of the parables in our discussion meeting. its a good idea to try out some with future division members.
we used jewel in the rob.
anyways enjoy this parable from 20th chapter of lotus sutra

Bodhisattva “Never Disparaging”

Once there was a man who had a very hard way to practice Buddhism. Whenever he encountered another person, he would bow to that person and say, "I would never disparage you, for you are practicing the Buddha way and all of you will become Buddhas!"

When people heard Bodhisattva Never Disparaging say this to them, some of them realized what a good person he was. Some of them bowed in return and thanked him.

But others yelled at him and cursed him. Some of them said “Who are you to say that to me?” Some of them said “I don't remember asking anyone to worship me!" Some of them threw rocks and sticks at him.

People often made fun of Bodhisattva Never Disparaging. Sometimes he was even beaten. But he never gave up his way of practice. He really believed that each person he met was a potential Buddha. No matter how much people spoke ill of him or hated him, he never doubted this.

And he thought it was only right to tell people about being a Buddha. He thought they should know this.

Before he died, Bodhisattva Never Disparaging was able to hear the Lotus Sutra. His behavior throughout his life showed great respect for all people. And, in telling people that they have Buddhahood inside, he saved them from suffering. He was a great Buddhist teacher.

Eventually, Bodhisattva Never Disparaging was reborn as Shakyamuni himself.