I bring fullness and satisfaction to the world,
like a rain that spreads its moisture everywhere.
Eminent and lowly, superior and inferior,
observers of precepts, violators of precepts,
those fully endowed with proper demeanor,
those not fully endowed,
those of correct views, of erroneous views,
of keen capacity, of dull capacity—
I cause the Dharma rain to rain on all equally,
never lax or neglectful.
Chapter 5 of The Lotus Sutra, The Parable of the Medicinal Herbs
When the sky is draped with clouds, the rain pours down, and the various vegetation on the Earth gets a good soaking. Even though there are differences in their sizes, they equally grow, bloom, and bear fruits.
Shakyamuni Buddha’s appearance in this world is like the clouds that cover the sky. He preaches the ideal Buddhist teachings to all sentient beings according to their nature, capacity, and patience. Living beings who listen to his teachings start to walk on the Buddhist path at their own pace. Then, they receive benefits according to their own calibers, like plants grow in proportion to their kinds and sizes.
The Lotus Sutra brings equal benefits to everyone (from children to the elderly) and does not discriminate. We can receive merit through the chanting practice of Honmon Happon Shoken, Jōgyō Shoden, Honningeshu no Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō, which Honmon Butsuryū Shū inherits from the Primordial Buddha and Nichiren Shonin. The Buddha left such an easy practice, especially in order to save all of us in this Mappo era. It is the true teaching of the Buddha that can nourish us.
Written by
Ryosetsu Ikemoto
Edited by
Brandon Colbert
