Hello, everyone. Welcome to this episode of the podcast provided by the Buddhas’ Practice Incorporated of Australia.
Today, we’ll continue our exploration of the Lotus Sutra, arriving at Chapter 16, “The Lifespan of the Tathāgata.”
1. The True Lifespan of the Buddha
The Buddha solemnly declares, “Since I attained buddhahood, immeasurable, limitless, hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of nayutas of Asamkhyeyas of kalpas have passed.” He had already achieved buddhahood an immeasurably long time ago. Since then, he has consistently resided in this sahā world and countless other worlds, teaching the Dharma and guiding sentient beings.
2. Why the Buddha Manifests Nirvana
If the Buddha’s lifespan is immeasurable, why does he appear to enter parinirvāṇa?
The Buddha explains: “If the Buddha were to abide in the world for a long time, those with little virtue and grave defilements, seeing me constantly, would become arrogant and lazy. They wouldn’t cherish this rare opportunity or be willing to plant roots of good merit. Therefore, the Tathāgata uses a skillful means, saying that the buddhas are difficult to encounter. This inspires sentient beings to long for the Buddha and awaken their resolve to practice.”
The Buddha uses this “manifestation” to stir a sense of longing and a desire for the Dharma within sentient beings, prompting them to plant good roots.
3. The Parable of the Excellent Physician and His Sons
To further explain this principle, the Buddha offers a famous parable:
“There was an excellent physician, wise and skilled, with many children. One day, while he was away on a long journey, his children mistakenly drank poison. The poison took effect, and they fell to the ground in agony.”
When the physician returned home, he saw his children’s suffering and immediately prepared an excellent medicine with a good color, aroma, and flavor. The children who had not lost their minds immediately took the medicine and were cured. However, the remaining children, whose minds were deluded by the poison, refused to take the medicine, saying it was not good.
Filled with compassion, the father devised a skillful means. He pretended to leave on another journey and announced that he was near death. He left the good medicine behind, telling his children, “After I’m gone, you can take this medicine. Do not worry; it will cure you.” He then sent a messenger to tell his children that their father had died.
Upon hearing of their father’s death, the children were filled with great sorrow and distress. They felt abandoned and without anyone to rely on. This constant grief cleared their minds, and they finally realized that the medicine their father had left was excellent. They took it, and the poison was completely driven out. When the father heard that all his children had recovered, he returned and revealed himself to them.
The Buddha then asked the assembly, “Do you think this excellent physician was guilty of lying?” The bodhisattvas replied, “No, Bhagavat!”
The Buddha said, “I am the same. Though I attained buddhahood an immeasurably long time ago, for the sake of sentient beings, I use my power of skillful means and say that I will enter nirvana. No one can rightly say that I am guilty of falsehood. For everything I do is for the benefit of all sentient beings.”
Conclusion
The “Lifespan of the Tathāgata” chapter teaches us two key things:
- The Buddha’s true lifespan is immeasurable; he has been a Buddha since an eternity ago.
- The Buddha’s entry into nirvana is a skillful, compassionate manifestation. Its purpose is to ignite a sense of urgency and longing in sentient beings, encouraging them to practice diligently.
All of this stems from the Buddha’s boundless compassion for all beings. The Buddha shows us that his true nature is without birth or death, and his Pure Land never perishes. However, to save sentient beings, he sometimes appears and sometimes conceals himself, teaching the Dharma in various ways according to their capacity to be saved. Everything he does is to guide sentient beings to quickly enter the highest path and attain buddhahood.
Thank you.
