Aspects of Mahayana Buddhism and its Relation to Hinayana c6.s9.25

c6.s9.25

¹ This parable is also cited in the Laṅkā., p. 88 : Rājā śreṣṭhī yathā putrān vicitrair mṛṇmayair mṛgaiḥ, pralobhya krīḍayitvā ca bhūtān dadyāt tato mṛgān. tathāham lakṣaṇais citrair dharmāṇām pratibimbakaiḥ, pratyātmavedyām putrebhyo bhūtakoṭim vadāmy aham. (Just as kings or rich bankers first tempt their boys by various kinds of earthen deer and then give them the real deer, so also Buddha tempts his disciples first by various appearances of dharmas and their characteristics, ultimately enabling them to know the true existence, which is realisable within one's own self.).