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The Bodhisattvas are marveling about the inconceivabilities of the Buddhas’ lands, vows, wisdom, and realm. The World Honored One knows what they are wondering.
Blue Lotus Flower Trove Bodhisattva relies on the Buddha’s awesome might and expounds upon the Thus Come Ones’ dwellings, powers, virtues, compassion, expedients, samadhis, liberations, and states.
When the World Honored One enters Nirvana, countless living beings mourn and weep. A passage from the Sutra says,
Disciples of the Buddha! When a Buddha enters Nirvana, numberless living beings sob, and wail in grief, feeling greatly distressed. They look at each other and say, ‘The Thus Come One, the World Honored One, has Great Kindness and Compassion. He sympathizes with and benefits everyone in the world. He is a savior and a refuge for all living beings. It is hard to encounter the appearance of a Thus Come One. Now this unsurpassed field of blessings is gone forever.’ That is how a Buddha causes all living beings to mourn with yearning and do the Buddha’s work.
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In the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra, the Buddha told the assembly that he had actually already accomplished Buddhahood incalculable eons ago. Although the Buddha announced that he is entering Nirvana, but he was really not entering Nirvana. The World Honored One was only using a very powerful expedient to teach and transform living beings.
Tripitaka Master Hsuan Hua explains,
Actually the Buddha has no birth or demise.
Within Eternal Stillness and Light,
he is always speaking the Dharma.
Why did the Buddha say he was entering Nirvana? If the Buddha remained in the world, his disciples would become dependent on him and grow lax. If living beings,could see the Buddha everyday, they would wait and not vigorously plant good roots or practice earnestly.
Tripitaka Master Hsuan Hua stated in his commentary,
That is why the Buddha manifests entering stillness. Once he has entered Nirvana and people see that they have nothing to rely on, they will get busy and plant some good roots. This is a very obvious principle.
Bertrand Russell says,
The facing of the world alone,
Without one’s familiar refuge,
Is the beginning of wisdom and courage.
© 2000 Soo Hoong Liung. All Rights Reserved.
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