法苑珠林 67.43

67.43

At that time, all the sentient beings suffering punishment, hearing the Buddha speak thus, wailed in grief, shaking the earth, tears falling like rain, and addressed the Buddha, saying: "We only pray that the World-Honoured One will abide long to preach the Dharma, so that we may attain liberation." The Buddha said: "If I were to abide long, those of little merit would not plant good roots; they would think that I always remain, and would not contemplate impermanence. Good sons, it is like an infant whose mother is always at its side, who does not produce the thought that she is hard to encounter; if the mother goes away, it then gives rise to thirsting longing and yearning thoughts, and only when the mother returns does it rejoice. Good sons, I am also like this: knowing the good and bad karmic conditions of sentient beings and their fine or ugly retributions, I therefore enter parinirvāṇa." At that time, the World-Honoured One spoke a gāthā for all these sentient beings suffering punishment: