法苑珠林 63.28

63.28

"Sons of the Buddha, this great ocean's water is thus immeasurable, its precious gems are immeasurable, its sentient beings are immeasurable, and its great earth is immeasurable. Sons of the Buddha, what do you think? Is the water of that great ocean immeasurable or not?" It was answered, "Indeed so; its waters are so deep and vast that no analogy can be made." "Sons of the Buddha, though the sea water is thus deep, vast, and immeasurable, in comparison to the Tathāgata's immeasurable ocean of wisdom, it does not amount to even a hundredth part, down to being beyond any comparison; it is merely an analogy devised according to what is suitable to transform [beings]."