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.
Showing posts with label shakyamuni. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shakyamuni. Show all posts
Sunday, May 3, 2009
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)
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
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.
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.
the phantom city
Parable of the Phantom City
From the Lotus Sutra, Chapter 7
A caravan traveled through the desert. The people in the caravan followed their guide on a long and dangerous trip to a treasure land.
Along the way, the people in the caravan became tired, confused, and discouraged. They told the guide that they could not go any further.
If they turned back, all their traveling would be wasted. The guide did not want the people to give up the journey. He knew that a wonderful treasure was at the end of the journey.
When the caravan had traveled more than halfway, a great city appeared. The guide told the people of the caravan that here was an opportunity to rest and be refreshed.
After they rested, the guide made the city disappear. He told the people that the city was nothing more than an illusion he had created to allow them to rest. He tells them that their goal, the treasure land, is close.
Refreshed, the travelers continue on their journey.
wow!!! what a beautiful parable. shakyamuni was indeed master of storytelling.
this parable states that while some people thought that buddha has expounded evrything he has to teach and his kitty is now empty. but hey wait, its just an illusion. the main teaching is yet to come which is nothing other that lotus sutra itself, the supreme sutra.
only those who will persevere and keep on advancing will be able to savour the true joy. otherwise inspite of following shakyamuni's teaching they still wont be able to get the true meaning and purpose of life.
From the Lotus Sutra, Chapter 7
A caravan traveled through the desert. The people in the caravan followed their guide on a long and dangerous trip to a treasure land.
Along the way, the people in the caravan became tired, confused, and discouraged. They told the guide that they could not go any further.
If they turned back, all their traveling would be wasted. The guide did not want the people to give up the journey. He knew that a wonderful treasure was at the end of the journey.
When the caravan had traveled more than halfway, a great city appeared. The guide told the people of the caravan that here was an opportunity to rest and be refreshed.
After they rested, the guide made the city disappear. He told the people that the city was nothing more than an illusion he had created to allow them to rest. He tells them that their goal, the treasure land, is close.
Refreshed, the travelers continue on their journey.
wow!!! what a beautiful parable. shakyamuni was indeed master of storytelling.
this parable states that while some people thought that buddha has expounded evrything he has to teach and his kitty is now empty. but hey wait, its just an illusion. the main teaching is yet to come which is nothing other that lotus sutra itself, the supreme sutra.
only those who will persevere and keep on advancing will be able to savour the true joy. otherwise inspite of following shakyamuni's teaching they still wont be able to get the true meaning and purpose of life.
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