The Lotus Sūtra 3.10

3.10

妙法蓮華經授記品第六

Those who are comfortable with transcendent powers, Who turn the irreversible wheel [of the Dharma] And save innumerable hundreds Of thousands of koṭis of sentient beings, Are the bodhisattvas Who are like the large trees. The Buddha’s equal teaching Is like the rain of one flavor. The sentient beings accept it According to their different capacities, Just as the grasses and trees Each differently absorb the rain. The Buddha reveals the single teaching With illustrations, using skillful means And explains it with various explanations, And yet it is just a drop in the ocean Compared to the Buddha’s wisdom. I pour down the rain of the Dharma, Fulfilling the world, And the sentient beings Practice the Dharma of one flavor According to their capacities. Just as the shrubs, herbs, and trees Flourish in accordance with their capacities, Reaching either a greater or lesser size, The teaching of the buddhas Is always of one flavor And fulfills the entire world. Anyone who practices it little by little Obtains the fruit of the path. The śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas Living in mountain forests, Who, in their last bodies, Hear the Dharma and attain its fruit, Are just like the flourishing herbs.

The bodhisattvas who are firm in wisdom, Who completely understand the triple world, And seek the highest vehicle, Are just like the flourishing small trees. Those who abide in meditation, Attain transcendent powers, Listen to the teaching regarding the emptiness Of every existence with great joy, And save sentient beings By emitting innumerable rays of light, Are just like the flourishing large trees. In this way, O Kāśyapa, The Dharma that the Buddha teaches Is just like the great cloud that enriches human flowers With the rain of one flavor, So that each attains its fruits. O Kāśyapa! You should know that I reveal the buddha path Using various explanations and illustrations And that this is my skillful means. All of the buddhas are just like this. I will now teach the highest truth for your sake:

There are no śrāvakas who attain nirvana.

What you practice is the bodhisattva path;

And if you practice step by step,

You will all become buddhas.

Prediction

At that time, after the Bhagavat had spoken these verses, he addressed the great assembly, proclaiming: “This disciple of mine, Mahākāśyapa, in the future will be able to meet three hundred myriads of koṭis of Buddha Bhagavats to whom he will pay homage, respect, veneration, and praise; and he will extensively expound the immeasurable great teachings of these buddhas.