Difference between revisions of "Parable of the three kinds of medicinal herbs and two kinds of trees"
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[[三草二木の譬]] (Jpn [[sanso-nimoku-no-tatoe]] ) | [[三草二木の譬]] (Jpn [[sanso-nimoku-no-tatoe]] ) | ||
| − | Also, [[parable of the medicinal herbs]]. One of the seven [[parables]] in the [[Lotus Sutra]]. [[Shakyamuni]] relates this [[parable]] to [[Mahakashyapa]] and others in the "[[Parable | + | Also, [[parable of the medicinal herbs]]. One of the seven [[parables]] in the [[Lotus Sutra]]. [[Shakyamuni]] relates this [[parable]] to [[Mahakashyapa]] and others in the "[[Parable of the Medicinal Herbs]]" (fifth) chapter to reiterate his [[teaching]] in the previous three chapters ("[[Expedient Means]]," "[[Simile and Parable]]," and "[[Belief and Understanding]]") that the [[Buddha's]] true purpose is the [[revelation]] of the one [[vehicle]] of [[Buddhahood]], but that, because of the differences in people's capacity, he first expounds the [[three vehicles]] and the five vehicles as [[provisional teachings]]. In the [[parable]], a great cloud envelops the [[world]] and sends down lifegiving [[rain]] equally upon all the grasses, [[flowers]], [[trees]], and {{Wiki|medicinal}} herbs. Though the [[rain]] is the same, the [[plants]], [[trees]], and {{Wiki|medicinal}} herbs absorb the {{Wiki|moisture}} differently and grow to varying heights according to their {{Wiki|individual}} natures. Similarly, the [[Buddha]] impartially expounds only the one [[vehicle]] of [[Buddhahood]] for all [[people]], but they understand and [[benefit]] from it differently according to their respective capacities. |
The three kinds of {{Wiki|medicinal}} herbs appearing in the [[parable]] are {{Wiki|inferior}} {{Wiki|medicinal}} herbs, [[intermediate]] {{Wiki|medicinal}} herbs, and {{Wiki|superior}} {{Wiki|medicinal}} herbs; the two kinds of [[trees]] are small [[trees]] and big [[trees]]. Based on the description in the text, [[T'ient'ai]] (538-597), in The [[Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra,]] interprets the {{Wiki|inferior}} {{Wiki|medicinal}} herbs as [[ordinary people]] and [[heavenly beings]], the [[intermediate]] {{Wiki|medicinal}} herbs as persons of the [[two vehicles]] ([[voice-hearers]] and [[cause-awakened ones]]), and the {{Wiki|superior}} {{Wiki|medicinal}} herbs, small [[trees]], and big [[trees]] as [[bodhisattvas]]. Among these, [[T'ient'ai]] says, the {{Wiki|superior}} {{Wiki|medicinal}} herbs represent [[bodhisattvas]] of the [[Tripitaka]] [[teaching]], the small [[trees]] indicate [[bodhisattvas]] of the connecting [[teaching]], and the big [[trees]], [[bodhisattvas]] of the specific [[teaching]] | The three kinds of {{Wiki|medicinal}} herbs appearing in the [[parable]] are {{Wiki|inferior}} {{Wiki|medicinal}} herbs, [[intermediate]] {{Wiki|medicinal}} herbs, and {{Wiki|superior}} {{Wiki|medicinal}} herbs; the two kinds of [[trees]] are small [[trees]] and big [[trees]]. Based on the description in the text, [[T'ient'ai]] (538-597), in The [[Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra,]] interprets the {{Wiki|inferior}} {{Wiki|medicinal}} herbs as [[ordinary people]] and [[heavenly beings]], the [[intermediate]] {{Wiki|medicinal}} herbs as persons of the [[two vehicles]] ([[voice-hearers]] and [[cause-awakened ones]]), and the {{Wiki|superior}} {{Wiki|medicinal}} herbs, small [[trees]], and big [[trees]] as [[bodhisattvas]]. Among these, [[T'ient'ai]] says, the {{Wiki|superior}} {{Wiki|medicinal}} herbs represent [[bodhisattvas]] of the [[Tripitaka]] [[teaching]], the small [[trees]] indicate [[bodhisattvas]] of the connecting [[teaching]], and the big [[trees]], [[bodhisattvas]] of the specific [[teaching]] | ||
Latest revision as of 21:38, 14 February 2014
<poem> parable of the three kinds of medicinal herbs and two kinds of trees 三草二木の譬 (Jpn sanso-nimoku-no-tatoe )
Also, parable of the medicinal herbs. One of the seven parables in the Lotus Sutra. Shakyamuni relates this parable to Mahakashyapa and others in the "Parable of the Medicinal Herbs" (fifth) chapter to reiterate his teaching in the previous three chapters ("Expedient Means," "Simile and Parable," and "Belief and Understanding") that the Buddha's true purpose is the revelation of the one vehicle of Buddhahood, but that, because of the differences in people's capacity, he first expounds the three vehicles and the five vehicles as provisional teachings. In the parable, a great cloud envelops the world and sends down lifegiving rain equally upon all the grasses, flowers, trees, and medicinal herbs. Though the rain is the same, the plants, trees, and medicinal herbs absorb the moisture differently and grow to varying heights according to their individual natures. Similarly, the Buddha impartially expounds only the one vehicle of Buddhahood for all people, but they understand and benefit from it differently according to their respective capacities.
The three kinds of medicinal herbs appearing in the parable are inferior medicinal herbs, intermediate medicinal herbs, and superior medicinal herbs; the two kinds of trees are small trees and big trees. Based on the description in the text, T'ient'ai (538-597), in The Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra, interprets the inferior medicinal herbs as ordinary people and heavenly beings, the intermediate medicinal herbs as persons of the two vehicles (voice-hearers and cause-awakened ones), and the superior medicinal herbs, small trees, and big trees as bodhisattvas. Among these, T'ient'ai says, the superior medicinal herbs represent bodhisattvas of the Tripitaka teaching, the small trees indicate bodhisattvas of the connecting teaching, and the big trees, bodhisattvas of the specific teaching
<poem>
