Aspects of Mahayana Buddhism and its Relation to Hinayana c6.s9.2

c6.s9.2

(i) The first is that Buddha, just after attaining bodhi, was hesitating as to whether he should preach the truth, or proceed to attain Nirvāṇa. In the Ariyapariyesana-sutta³ it is stated that the Truth (dharma) is deep and abstruse; it is excellent and beyond the range of dialectics; it can be understood by the wise only. People are addicted to desires and will hardly be able to understand the Paṭiccasamuppāda or Nirodha; so the preaching of the truth would be of no avail, as nobody would understand him, and his labours would be thrown away. Cognizant of these thoughts passing through Buddha's mind, Brahmā appears and requests him to preach the truth, saying that though Magadha is full of impure religions, still there are beings with higher faculties and powers of vision, and the preaching of the Truth would save them from the miseries of the world, leading them to the haven of quietude. Buddha realised the value of Brahmā's words and decided to preach the Truth.