DHARMA FLOWER SUTRA

with commentary of
TRIPITAKA MASTER HUA

Translated into English by
Bhikshuni Heng Yin
Reviewed by Bhikshuni Heng Chih

SUTRA:

      THE BUDDHA HAS INSTRUCTED US
      TO SPEAK OF THE UNSURPASSED PATH,
      AND SPOKEN OF THOSE WHO PRACTICE IT
      AS BEING ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH BUDDHAHOOD.
      RECEIVING THE BUDDHA'S TEACHING, WE
      FOR THE SAKE OF THE GREAT BODHISATTVAS,
      USE CAUSES AND CONDITIONS,
      VARIOUS ANALOGIES,
      AND NUMEROUS EXPRESSIONS
      TO SPEAK OF THE UNSURPASSED PATH.
      ALL THE BUDDHA'S DISCIPLES,
      HAVING HEARD FROM US THIS DHARMA,
      THINK UPON IT DAY AND NIGHT,
      AND DILIGENTLY PRACTICE IT.
      THEREUPON, ALL THE BUDDHAS,
      THEN BESTOW PREDICTIONS UPON THEM,
      SAYING, "YOU IN A FUTURE AGE,
      SHALL BECOME BUDDHAS."
      THIS IS THE SECRET STORE OF DHARMA,
      OF ALL THE BUDDHAS.
      ONLY FOR THE BODHISATTVAS
      ARE SUCH REAL MATTERS SET FORTH.
      AND NOT FOR OUR SAKES
      HAVE SUCH TRUE ESSENTIALS BEEN SPOKEN.

COMMENTARY:

      THE BUDDHA HAS INSTRUCTED US/TO SPEAK OF THE UNSURPASSED PATH/AND OF THOSE WHO PRACTICE IT/AS BEING ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH BUDDHAHOOD/Those who practice the Great Vehicle will eventually accomplish the ultimate Buddhafruit. RECEIVING THE BUDDHA'S TEACHING WE/FOR THE SAKE OF THE GREAT BODHISATTVAS/USE CAUSES AND CONDITIONS/ VARIOUS ANALOGIES/AND NUMEROUS EXPRESSIONS/TO SPEAK THE UNSURPASSED PATH/

      ALL THE BUDDHA'S DISCIPLES/HAYING HEARD FROM US THIS DHARMA/THINK UPON IT DAY AND NIGHT/AND DILIGENTLY PRACTICE IT/THEREUPON, ALL THE BUDDHAS/THEN BESTOW PREDICTIONS UPON THEM/SAYING, "YOU, IN A FUTURE AGE/SHALL BECOME BUDDHAS"/Then, a11 the Buddhas, with the same sound, seal and certify this fact by bestowing predictions of future Buddhahood upon the Bodhisattvas. They say, "You in limitless ages hence, will perfect the Bodhisattva path and become Buddhas."

      THIS IS THE SECRET STORE OF DHARMA/OF ALL THE BUDDHAS/the secret Dharma-jewel of all the Buddhas throughout the ten directions. ONLY FOR THE BODHISATTVAS/ARE SUCH REAL MATTERS SET FORTH/It is only for those with the potential of the Great Vehicle Bodhisattvas, that such subtle, wonderful, true matters are expounded. AND NOT FOR OUR SAKES/HAVE SUCH TRUE ESSENTIALS BEEN SPOKEN/It's not for the small vehicle people that such real Dharma has been taught. The provisional Dharma was spoken for those of the small vehicle. The real Dharma was not spoken for them.

SUTRA:

      JUST AS THE POOR SON
      DREW NEAR HIS FATHER, AND
      ALTHOUGH HE KNEW OF ALL HIS POSSESSIONS,
      IN HIS HEART HE HELD NO HOPE OF GETTING THEM.
      IN JUST THE SAME WAY,
      EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE SPOKEN
      OF THE BUDDHADHARMA'S PRECIOUS STORE,
      WE PERSONALLY NEVER ASPIRED TO IT.

COMMENTARY:

      JUST AS THE POOR SON/DREW NEAR HIS FATHER. AND/ALTHOUGH HE KNEW OF ALL HIS POSSESSIONS/ IN HIS HEART HE HELD NO HOPE OF GETTING THEM/ He knew of all his father's valuables, but it never occurred to him to call these things his own. IN JUST THE SAME WAY/EVEN THOUGH HE HAVE SPOKEN/We of the small vehicle have spoken OF THE BUDDHADHARMA'S PRECIOUS STORE/WE'VE PERSONALLY NEVER ASPIRED FOR IT/We felt there was no point in seeking the Great Vehicle Dharma of the Bodhisattvas. The poor son knew of a11 the treasures, yet he did not know that they belonged to him. He still held on to his small viewpoint and didn't expand his thinking. Now, he finally understands that we all have a share in the Buddha wealth.

SUTRA:

      HAVING ATTAINED INNER EXTINCTION,
      WE THOUGHT THIS SUFFICIENT,
      FOR HAVING COMPLETED THIS,
      THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE TO BE DONE.
      AND EVEN IF WE HAD HEARD
      OF PURIFYING BUDDHALANDS,
      AND TEACHING AND TRANSFORMING
      LIVING BEINGS,
      WE'D HAVE TAKEN NO DELIGHT THEREIN.
      AND FOR WHAT REASON?
      ALL DHARMAS ARE COMPLETE

COMMENTARY:

      Mahakashyapa says that, HAVING ATTAINED INNER EXTINCTION/We who cultivate the Two Vehicles have already gotten rid of the false thinking within ourselves. This absence of false thinking is what is called "inner extinction." And WE THOUGHT THIS SUFFICIENT/Because we had no false thinking, we thought that we were always in samadhi. We felt that with "one thought not produced, the entire substance manifests." The state in which not a single thought arises is called "inner extinction." WE THOUGHT THIS SUFFICIENT/We felt that this was enough. We had cultivated to the point that we had no more false thinking. FOR, HAVING COMPLETED THIS/THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE TO BE DONE/or so we thought. We have already cut off our afflictions and broken through our ignorance, so that we are always giving rise to inner wisdom. So what else is there to be done?

      AND EVEN IF WE HAD HEARD/OF PURIFYING BUDDHALANDS/of purifying and adorning the Buddhalands, of turning from the small vehicle towards the Great Vehicle, and of practicing the Bodhisattva path AND OF TEACHING AND TRANSFORMING LIVING BEINGS/of enlightening oneself and others, of benefitting oneself and others, and leading all living beings to understand the Buddhadharma, WE'D HAVE TAKEN NO DELIGHT THERE-IN/We would have thought, "That's asking too much. Can't we just cultivate, gain our own attainment and then forget it? What's with going around teaching everybody else? That's really just making up things to keep yourself busy!" Those of the Two Vehicles are independent. They work for their own accomplishment  and don't care to worry about other people. "Who cares if they fall into the hells or turn into animals? Let them do what they like! I'm enlightened already, and they are simply none of my business! I have broken through ignorance and seen the Dharma nature, and I don't care about saving living beings." They are not the least bit interested in purifying the Buddhalands and teaching living beings.

      AND FOR WHAT REASON?/ALL DHARMAS ARE/ COMPLETELY EMPTY AND STILL/They are empty! What's the big deal about teaching living beings?

      Although all Dharmas are empty and still, one still must practice the Bodhisattva path and benefit others. But those of the Two Vehicles are lazy. they don't want to do this. They hold to the saying,

      Mahasattvas don't watch over others.
      And Amitabha Buddha takes care of himself.

Your suffering is your business. I have some skill, and so I don't suffer. That's good enough for me. Your suffering is none of my business. Basically, all the Buddhas and a11 living beings are one. The Buddha is living beings, and living beings are the Buddha. Those of the Two Vehicles have arrived at "Transformation City," and they tike it there just fine. They were once vigorous in pursuit of the Way, but having arrived half-way, they grow lazy. "I've gotten quite enough." This is like people who are quite vigorous in their cultivation before they leave home. But, once they have left home, they think, "I have already received the precepts. It doesn't matter anymore whether or not I cultivate. I can keep my old bad habits, and if I get a little lazy, it's no problem." That's just the way those of the Two Vehicles are. They have cultivated and attained some benefits, and having rid themselves of ignorance and affliction, they think, "This is really wonderful." They end up enjoying how "wonderful" everything is for them, and they don't think to teach and transform living beings, to purify the Buddha-lands. They take no delight in such ideas. Why not? Everything is empty and still. If they felt delighted they would just be getting attached again! What they don't realize is that their passivity is also a form of attachment! Hah! Delight and non-delight are both attachments!

      ALL DHARMAS ARE/COMPLETELY EMPTY AND STILL/ NEITHER PRODUCED NOR DESTROYED/NEITHER GREAT NOR SMALL/They think, "Since all dharmas aren't produced or destroyed, why should I bring about production and extinction?" WITHOUT OUTFLOWS AND UNCONDITIONED/REFLECTING IN THIS WAY/WE DID NOT GIVE RISE TO JOY/They aren't interested in practicing the Bodhisattva's path, in purifying the Buddhalands, in teaching and transforming living beings. They find the whole idea to be a pain in the neck.

      WE, DURING THE LONG NIGHT/During the long night of time, HAD NO CRAVING OR ATTACHMENT/ FOR THE BUDDHA'S WISDOM/We did not covet even the wisdom of the Buddha, that bright light which illumines the dark night of time. We had no attachments. Above, we felt there was no Buddhahood for us to realize, and below there were no living beings to save. We had no hope of becoming Buddhas, and we had no wisdom to save living beings. I don't know quite what we thought we were doing! We weren't doing anything, in fact!" And you wonder why the Buddha scolded those of the Two Vehicles calling them withered sprouts and sterile seeds? They weren't reaching for Buddhahood; they weren't teaching living beings. They were exactly nowhere; they were drying up and blowing away. They did not even care about attaining the Buddha's wisdom or becoming a Buddha, NOR DID WE ASPIRE TO IT/ It didn't figure in their plans at all.

      AND YET, AS TO DHARMA, WE/CLAIMED WE HAD THE ULTIMATE/We thought we had achieved inner-extinction, broken through ignorance and severed affliction, and we thought that was

about all there was to cultivation. We have no afflictions or ignorance. You can scold us or hit us, and it doesn't matter. This is the ultimate in all Dharmas. ALL THROUGH THE LONG NIGHT/WE PRACTICED AND CULTIVATED THE DHARMA OF EMPTINESS/We have cut off affliction in the Three Realms. HAVING WON RELEASE FROM THE TRIPLE WORLD/WITH ITS SUFFERING. DISTRESS, AND CALAMITIES/ WE DWELL WITHIN OUR FINAL BODIES/and we do not again have to undergo birth and death IN NIRVANA WITH RESIDUE/ACCORDING TO THE BUDDHA'S TEACHING/WE ATTAINED THE WAY WHICH IS NOT FALSE/We have attained the fruits of the Path. AND WE ASSUMED THAT WE HAD/THEREBY REPAID THE BUDDHA'S KINDNESS/ We thought that our attainment of the nirvana with residue and our certification to the Fourth Fruit of Arhatship was, in fact, repaying the Buddha's kindness." But it wasn't, really, because those of the Two Vehicles did not cultivate the Bodhisattva Path, did not adorn the Buddhalands and did not teach and transform living beings. All they cared about was #1 , and that doesn't count as repaying the Buddha's kindness.

SUTRA:

      ALTHOUGH WE, FOR THE SAKE
      OF THE BUDDHA'S DISCIPLES SPOKE
      OF THE BODHISATTVA*S DHARMA,
      WITH WHICH THEY SHOULD SEEK BUDDHAHOOD,
      STILL IN THIS DHARMA,
      WE NEVER TOOK DELIGHT AT ALL.
      OUR MASTER SAW THIS AND LET THINGS BE,
      BECAUSE HE SAW INTO OUR HEARTS.
      AND SO, AT FIRST, HE DID NOT ENCOURAGE US
      BY TELLING OF THE REAL ADVANTAGE.

COMMENTARY:

      ALTHOUGH WE, FOR THE SAKE/OF THE BUDDHA'S DISCIPLES, SPOKE/OF THE BODHISATTVA'S DHARMA/ WITH WHICH THEY SHOULD SEEK BUDDHAHOOD/YET, IN THIS DHARMA/WE NEVER TOOK DELIGHT AT ALL/We never hoped for it ourselves; we were not the slightest bit interested in it. We didn't want to practice the Bodhisattva Path. We were satisfied with the little we had; we felt happy enough at having arrived in Transformation City. We weren't greedy for Buddhahood. Above, we felt no need to realize Buddhahood, and below we had no interest in teaching living beings.

      OUR MASTER SAW THIS AND LET THINGS BE/The Buddha knew that we didn't want to cultivate the Great Vehicle Buddhadharma, and so he didn't speak the Great Vehicle Buddhadharma to us, BECAUSE HE SAW INTO OUR HEARTS/He knew that we liked the small vehicle. AND SO, AT FIRST, HE DID NOT ENCOURAGE US/BY TELLING US OF THE REAL ADVANTAGE/In the beginning he just taught us about the Four Holy Truths and the Twelve Causal Conditions. He didn't encourage us to practice the Six Perfections and Ten Thousand Conducts of the Bodhisattva. He didn't tell us to practice the Bodhisattva path and become Buddhas. He merely encouraged us to attain the Four Fruits of Arhatship."

SUTRA:

      JUST AS THE WEALTHY ELDER
      KNOWING HIS SON'S LOWLY AMBITIONS,
      USED THE POWER OF EXPEDIENTS
      TO BRING HIS MIND UNDER CONTROL,
      AND AFTERWARDS GAVE TO HIM
      ALL OF HIS VALUABLES,
      THE BUDDHA IN THE SAME WAY
      MANIFESTS RARE THINGS.
      BUT FOR THOSE WHO DELIGHT IN THE SMALL,
      HE USES THE POWER OF EXPEDIENTS
      TO BRING THEIR MINDS UNDER CONTROL
      ONLY THEN TEACHING THE GREATER WISDOM.

COMMENTARY:

      JUST AS THE WEALTHY ELDER/KNOWS HIS SON'S LOWLY AMBITIONS/knowing he had no lofty resolve, USED THE POWER OF EXPEDIENTS/used various expedient methods, TO BRING HIS MIND UNDER CONTROL/Bit by bit he tamed him, he drew near him, chatted with him, he put on a worn and dirty robe. This means that the Buddha manifested as an ordinary Bhikshu so that he could draw near to those of the Two Vehicles. Gradually, he subdued their minds. AND AFTERWARDS GAVE TO HIM/ALL OF HIS VALUABLES/THE BUDDHA, IN THE SAME WAY/MANIFESTS RARE THINGS/Things never seen before, dharmas never known before, BUT FOR THOSE WHO DELIGHT IN THE SMALL/those of the Two Vehicles, he speaks the small vehicle dharma. HE USES THE POWER OF EXPEDIENTS/TO BRING THEIR MINDS UNDER CONTROL/and once their minds have been subdued, ONLY THEN TEACHING THE GREATER WISDOM/only then are they receptive to the Great Vehicle Buddhadharma.

SUTRA:

      ON THIS DAY, WE
      HAVE GAINED WHAT WE NEVER HAD!
      THAT FOR WHICH WE LACKED HOPE,
      WE NOW HAVE ATTAINED.
      JUST AS THE POOR SON
      GAINED LIMITLESS TREASURE,
      WORLD HONORED ONE, NOW
      WE'VE OBTAINED THE PATH AND ITS FRUITS.
      WITHIN THE NON-OUTFLOW DHARMA
      WE'VE GAINED THIS REWARD.
      IN THE DHARMA KING'S DHARMA,
      LONG HAVE WE CULTIVATED BRAHMA CONDUCT.
      NOW WE'VE OBTAINED THAT NON-OUTFLOW,
      THE UNSURPASSED, GREAT FRUITION.
      NOW WE ARE ALL
      TRULY SOUND HEARERS
      AND TAKING THE SOUND OF THE BUDDHA'S WAY,
      WE CAUSE ALL TO HEAR IT.
      NOW WE ARE ALL
      TRULY ARHATS,
      AND IN ALL THE WORLD,
      WITH ITS GODS, PEOPLE, MARAS AND BRAHMAS,
      EVERYWHERE AMONG THEM
      WE ARE WORTHY OF RECEIVING OFFERINGS.

COMMENTARY:

      ON THIS DAY, WE/HAVE GAINED WHAT WE NEVER HAD/THAT FOR WHICH WE LACKED HOPE/WE NOW HAVE ATTAINED/JUST AS THE POOR SON/GAINED LIMITLESS TREASURES/Basically, he had no idea he would be bequeathed all of his father's wealth.

      WORLD HONORED ONE, NOW/WE'VE OBTAINED THE PATH AND ITS FRUITS/the fruition of the unsurpassed Buddha Path. WITHIN THE NON-OUT- FLOW DHARMA/WE'VE GAINED THE EYE, PURE AND CLEAR/We've gained the clear, pure Buddha-eye and opened the wisdom of the Buddha.

      DURING THE LONG NIGHT, WE/MAINTAINED THE BUDDHA'S PURE MORALITY/During the long night of time, we have upheld the pure, precious, precepts of the Buddha. BUT ONLY ON THIS DAY/HAVE WE GAINED THIS REWARD/IN THE DHARMA KING'S DHARMA/In the Buddhadharma LONG HAVE WE CULTIVATED BRAHMA CONDUCT/We have been practicing pure conduct for a long, long time, for over forty years, now. NOW WE'VE OBTAINED THAT NON-OUTFLOW/THE UNSURPASSED GREAT FRUITION/and there is nothing higher than this position. NOW WE ARE ALL/TRULY SOUND HEARERS/AND TAKING THE SOUND OF THE BUDDHA'S WAY/WE CAUSE ALL TO HEAR it/so that all living beings get to hear the Buddha-dharma. NOW WE ARE ALL/TRULY ARHATS/we are "Slayers of Thieves," "Ones Worthy of Offerings," "Ones Not Born." AND IN ALL THE WORLD/WITH ITS GODS, PEOPLE, MARAS, AND BRAHMAS/EVERYWHERE AMONG THEM/WE ARE WORTHY OF RECEIVING OFFERINGS/We are truly worthy of receiving their offerings within the Triple Realm.

      For those who have left home, it is not easy to accept the offerings of those who have not left home. It is said, "If you haven't ended the three phases of thought, you'll find plain water hard to digest." The three phases of thought refer to past thought, present thought, and future thought. The Diamond Sutra says, "Past thought cannot be got at; present thought cannot be got at; future thought cannot be got at." But have you got at it? As to the past, it has already gone by and cannot be obtained. The present is just now becoming the past, and it doesn't stand still. The future simply hasn't come yet. One may make verbal reference to the three phases of thought as unobtainable, but on a more practical level, have you ended the three phases of thought? Do you think about the past? Have you forgotten what happened in the past? No? Then you have "obtained" past thought. Is your thought at present empty? Are you running thoughts through your head concerning your next shopping trip? Or your next project? There! You have "obtained" present thought. Are you planning for your future? You have just "obtained" future thought! See? If you have no thought of the past, no thoughts in the present, and no concern for the future, then you can say, "The three phases of thought cannot be obtained." It should be the case that you, 

      Sweep away the three phases of thought,
      And separate from all marks.

But, if as a left-home person you have not ended the three phases of thought, you are going to have trouble trying to digest a cup of water, to say nothing of digesting your lunch!

      Back to the saying,

      If you haven't ended the three phases of thought, you'll find plain water hard to
      digest. But, if you've understood the Five Contemplations,  
      You'll be able to digest metal!  

      I've noticed lately that there is a lot of chatter going on at the lunch table. Probably you have all forgotten the Five Contemplations. You should forget the Three Phases of Thought, but you can't forget them! You should remember the Five Contemplations, but you can't remember them!

      What are the Five Contemplations, then?

      1. Consider the amount of work it took to get the food to you.
      2. Consider whether you have enough merit to accept the offering.
      3. Guard your mind against offenses such as greed.

In other words, don't get greedy when you see good things to eat, and don't get disgusted when the food's not good. You should be even-minded regardless of what's on the table.

      4. Remember the food is only medicine, to prevent the body from going bad.

Eating food is just like taking medicine. You shouldn't get caught up in the taste of food. It is taken merely to keep you going.

      5. I only take this food in order to realize the karma of the Way.

I eat so that I may live, and I live so that
I may cultivate and realize the Way.
      So, the text says, WE ARE WORTHY OF RECEIVING OFFERINGS.

SUTRA:

      THE WORLD HONORED ONE IN HIS GREAT
      KINDNESS,
      USES THIS RARE THING, TO PITY, TEACH, AND BENEFIT US.
      THROUGHOUT LIMITLESS MILLIONS OF AEONS,
      WHO COULD REPAY HIM?
      GIVING ONE'S HANDS AND FEET,
      BOWING REVERENTLY IN OBEISANCE,
      WHATEVER OFFERING ONE MAKES,
      NEVER REPAYS HIM.
      IF ONE BORE HIM ON ONE'S HEAD,
      OR CARRIED HIM UPON ONE'S SHOULDERS,
      FOR AEONS AS -NUMEROUS AS THE
      GANGES' SANDS,
      EXHAUSTING ONE'S MIND IN REVERENCE,
      OR FURTHER, IF ONE USED DELICACIES,
      AND LIMITLESS VALUABLE CLOTHING,
      AND ALL TYPES OF BEDDING,
      AND VARIOUS MEDICINES,
      OX-HEAD SANDALWOOD,
      AND VARIOUS PRECIOUS GEMS,
      OR STUPAS AND TEMPLES,
      COVERING THE GROUND WITH VALUABLE CLOTH,
      AND IF WITH SUCH THINGS AS THESE,
      ONE MADE OFFERINGS
      THROUGHOUT AEONS AS NUMEROUS AS
      THE GANGES' SANDS,
      ONE STILL NEVER REPAYS HIM.
      THE BUDDHAS ARE RARE INDEED.
      LIMITLESS AND BOUNDLESS,
      YES, INCONCEIVABLE IS THE POWER,
      OF THEIR GREAT SPIRITUAL PENETRATIONS.
      WITHOUT OUTFLOWS, UNCONDITIONED,
      THEY ARE KINGS OF ALL THE DHARMAS.
      FOR THE SAKE OF LESSER BEINGS,
      THEY BEAR UP UNDER THIS WORK.
      TO COMMON FOLKS WHO GRASP AT MARKS,
      THEY TEACH WHAT IS APPROPRIATE.
      THE BUDDHAS HAVE, WITHIN THE DHARMAS,
      ATTAINED TO THE HIGHEST COMFORT.
      THEY UNDERSTAND ALL LIVING BEINGS'
      VARIOUS DESIRES AND DELIGHTS,
      AS WELL AS THE STRENGTH OF THEIR RESOLVE
      ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY CAN BEAR,
      USING LIMITLESS ANALOGIES,
      THEY TEACH THEM THE DHARMA,
      IN ACCORD WITH LIVING BEINGS'
      WHOLESOME ROOTS FROM FORMER LIVES,
      AND KNOWING THOSE WHO HAVE MATURED,
      THROUGH SUCH CALCULATIONS,
      THEY DISCRIMINATE AND UNDERSTAND.
      AND IN THE PATHWAY OF ONE VEHICLE,
      THEY APPROPRIATELY SPEAK OF THREE.

COMMENTARY:

      THE WORLD HONORED ONE, IN HIS GREAT KINDNESS/USES THIS RARE THING/employs the unsurpassed Dharma, which is extremely rare in the world, TO PITY, TEACH/AND BENEFIT US/In the Ten Dharma Realms he causes all living beings to make the Four Vast Vows and to 
accomplish the unsurpassed, wonderful fruition of Bodhi. He causes us to bring forth the Bodhi mind and eventually realize the wonderful fruit of enlightenment. This is the greatest form of kindness there is. He leads living beings to separate from suffering and attain bliss. THROUGHOUT LIMITLESS MILLIONS OF AEONS/Living beings have forgotten the Great Vehicle Dharma. They take suffering as bliss. Although they have forgotten, the "seeds" of the power of their vows-- these Great Vehicle seeds--do not get lost. So now the Buddha uses the power of his great compassion to bring happiness to all living beings. He leads all living beings to attain peace and comfort. Living beings undergoing suffering are like children being bullied who go running to their father. They can find no way out of it themselves and so the Buddha teaches them the Six Perfections and the Ten Thousand Conducts. He teaches them the Bodhisattva Path of benefitting oneself and benefitting others, so that in the future they can realize Buddhahood. After the Buddha became a Buddha himself, he was basically entitled to enjoy the happiness of still extinction. He didn't have to do anything else. But, the Buddha was unable to let go of living beings, and so he taught the Buddhadharma to all living beings. He taught them to keep the five precepts, to practice the ten good deeds, and to cultivate in accord with Dharma. First, he spoke The Great Avatamsaka Sutra, But, because the potentials of living beings had not yet matured sufficiently to understand the doctrines of The Avatamsaka Sutra, the Buddha "hid away the great and manifested the small." He manifested as an old Bhikshu to draw near to all living beings. This was a manifestation of the Buddha's great compassion. He drew near to living beings, and as they gradually got to know him better, they grew to have faith in him. The Buddha bequeathed all of his valuables to the Two Vehicles; he turned over his entire inheritance to them. He had a meeting, and amidst all the great kings and ministers and householders, he decided that his entire wealth would be turned over to those of the Two Vehicles--they in the future can become Buddhas. They will eventually sit on the Buddha's throne, purify the Buddhatands, and teach and transform living beings. This just shows us the Buddha's great kindness.

      HE USES THIS RARE THING/this most rare Dharma, TO PITY, TEACH/AND BENEFIT US/not just for a short while, but THROUGHOUT LIMITLESS MILLIONS OF AEONS/WHO COULD REPAY HIM? The World Honored One has been so good to us. How can we ever repay him?

      GIVING ONE'S HANDS AND FEET/BOWING REVERENTLY IN OBEISANCE/WHATEVER OFFERING ONE MAKES/NEVER REPAYS HIM/There is no way to repay the great kindness of the Buddha. To offer one's hands and feet means to do work for the Buddha.

      IF ONE BORE HIM ON ONE'S HEAD/OR CARRIED HIM UPON ONE'S SHOULDERS/FOR AEONS AS NUMEROUS AS THE GANGES' SANDS/EXHAUSTING ONE'S MIND IN REVERENCE/Doing absolutely everything in one's power to show reverence and respect, OR FURTHER IF ONE USED DELICACIES/AND LIMITLESS VALUABLE CLOTHING/AND ALL TYPES OF BEDDING/AND VARIOUS MEDICINES/These are the four types of offerings: food and drink, bedding, clothing, and medicines. OX HEAD SANDALWOOD/AND VARIOUS PRECIOUS GEMS/OR BUILT STUPAS AND TEMPLES/COVERING THE GROUND WITH VALUABLE CLOTH/AND IF WITH SUCH THINGS AS THESE/ONE MADE OFFERINGS/THROUGHOUT AEONS AS NUMEROUS AS THE GANGES' SANDS/ONE STILL COULD NEVER REPAY HIM/

      THE BUDDHAS ARE RARE, INDEED/LIMITLESS AND BOUNDLESS/YES, INCONCEIVABLE IS THE POWER/OF THEIR GREAT SPIRITUAL PENETRATIONS/There is no one else in the world like the Buddha. The Buddha's state is limitless and boundless and inconceivable.

      WITHOUT OUTFLOWS. UNCONDITIONED/THEY ARE KINGS OF ALL DHARMAS/The Buddha has attained to the state of no-outflows and certified to the wonderful doctrine of the unconditioned. Therefore, within all the Dharmas he is the King, his is the highest position, and yet FOR THE SAKE OF LESSER BEINGS/The Buddha will refrain from speaking the highest. Great Vehicle Buddhadharma, and for the sake of the Real manifest the Provisional. He will teach the expedient devices for those inferior. THEY BEAR UP UNDER THIS WORK/With patience, they undertake to educate those who are inferior by teaching them the provisional doctrine.

      TO COMMON FOLKS WHO GRASP AT MARKS/THEY TEACH WHAT IS APPROPRIATE/They give the common folks what they like. If they like what is sweet, they give them something sweet. If they like what is salty, they give them something salty. If they like hot, bitter, or sour things, they give them what they like, according to their tastes. If they need to be crossed over by means of bitter dharmas, they teach them bitter dharmas. If they need to be crossed over by means of joyful dharmas, they give them joyful dharmas. If they need to be crossed over by means of kindness, they teach them the dharmas of kindness. If they need to be crossed over by means of compassionate dharmas, they teach them compassionate dharmas. The Buddha cherishes and protects all living beings as one would love and protect one's own children. He looks upon a11 living beings as if they were his own children. He looks upon them as if they were his own parents. So the Buddha said,

      All men are like my father,
      All women are like my mother.

Since all men are like one's father, one should be filial. Seeing all women as like one's mother, one should also be filial. If one has this attitude, one will not fall into deviant knowledge and views regarding living beings. One won't be prone to desire. The practice of filiality precludes lustful thoughts toward others. That is why the Buddha treats all living beings as equals.

      There is a saying,
      If you wish to lead them into
         the Buddha's wisdom,
      You must first bait the hook
         with something that they like.

Fishermen have to put some bait on their hooks, something that the fish like to eat, and then the fish will bite, and you can reel them in. If your relatives and friends do not believe in the Buddhadharma, you can bring them here to have a good lunch. If the food is good, they will remember it and think about coming back at the next opportunity. You can say, "That lunch wasn't so good. I know something that's even better. Try the Dharma! That's even better." And then they hear the Dharma and get crossed over.
      
      THEY TEACH THEM WHAT IS APPROPRIATE/
They teach the right dharma at the right time. 
They teach them what they need to learn. 
      
      THE BUDDHAS HAVE, WITHIN THE DHARMAS/ATTAINED TO THE HIGHEST COMFORT/They are the freest and most at ease. They are "right-on" all the time.

      THEY UNDERSTAND ALL LIVING BEINGS'/VARIOUS DESIRES AND DELIGHTS/Some like to hear the Buddhadharma; others like to go to movies. Some like to dance; others like tennis. Some like to sleep! Some like to eat! Some like to go jogging. Everybody's different. But, the Buddha knows what they like best, and knows AS WELL THE STRENGTH OF THEIR RESOLVE/AND ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY CAN BEAR/according to what they will accept, USING LIMITLESS ANALOGIES/THEY TEACH THE DHARMA TO THEM/IN ACCORD WITH LIVING BEINGS'/WHOLESOME ROOTS FROM FORMER LIVES/We living beings come into this world with different predilections. This life we are friends with one person, and in the next life we are friends with another. In this life, one person is our father, and in the next life, someone else takes that role. This life one is married to one person, and in the next life to another. Father/son this life, father/son with another next life. One undergoes retribution according to karma created in former lives. We have come into this world to undergo retribution. So people shouldn't be so stupid. Basically, once one has studied the Buddhadharma and listened to the Sutras, one should not run down filthy roads again. In one's thoughts and actions one should be pure. AND KNOWING THOSE WHO HAVE MATURED/AND THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET MATURE For those who have not planted good roots, they help them to plant them. For those who have already planted good roots, they help them to grow. For those whose good roots have already grown, they help them to mature. THROUGH SUCH CALCULATIONS/THEY DISCRIMINATE AND UNDERSTAND/He knows the dispositions of living beings, AND IN THE PATHWAY OF ONE VEHICLE/THEY APPROPRIATELY SPEAK OF THREE/He speaks of the Three Vehicles.

-end of Chapter Four-