Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: The Dragon Girl Presents a Pearl to the Buddha (龍女獻珠 以智契理)
Date: May.25.2018
“In her profound wisdom, the dragon girl sensed that Wisdom Accumulated Bodhisattva was Many Treasures Buddha’s successor and that Sariputra was Venerable Sakyamuni’s senior disciple. Wisdom Accumulated was slightly doubtful, but Sariputra had deep doubts. Knowing the two sages felt like this, one can imagine how beings of other capabilities must have felt.”
From this, we can understand that the dragon girl, with her profound wisdom, was already able to realize that Wisdom Accumulated Bodhisattva was “Many Treasures Buddha’s successor.” This means that dragon girl knew this because she had profound wisdom. Her wisdom was also very profound. She could understand that among the disciples of Many Treasures Buddha, Wisdom Accumulated Bodhisattva was closet to Many Treasures Buddha. This was like how in our Saha World, among the Buddha’s monastic disciples, Sariputra was “the foremost in wisdom” as well as one of the most senior disciples. Thus, she understood that these two sages acted as representatives for these Buddhas in teaching and transforming others. In order to hear the Lotus Sutra, Many Treasures Buddha came to the Saha World. The stupa of treasures is said to have manifested in order for Him to listen to the sutra. Actually, He came to affirm that the Lotus Sutra is the king of all sutras. [He also wanted to affirm that] everyone intrinsically has Buddha-nature. Our Buddha-nature is intrinsic; we are innately equal to the Buddha. This is what the Buddha tells us, that everyone intrinsically has Buddha-nature. So, the stupa of treasures appearing in our minds indicates that we have heard the Dharma and understood that “The nature of all phenomena is empty.”
However, “The empty nature of all things is True Suchness.” This nature is like an ocean of Dharma. This wisdom is like an ocean. The vast ocean of wisdom is something that everyone intrinsically has. We simply must put our heart into being mindful. Our innate wisdom has always been the same [as the Buddha’s]. This is something everyone intrinsically has. For Many Treasures Buddha, it was like this. The disciple who traveled with Him was Many Treasures Buddha’s senior disciple. He was called a Bodhisattva. He was that ancient Buddha’s attendant. Clearly, he had been continuously practicing right next to Many Treasures Buddha. What about Sariputra? In the Saha World, he still took the form of a Hearer. Hearers are practitioners who are still practicing only for their own benefit. The Buddha encouraged these practitioners to form great aspirations and go among people to benefit both others and themselves. Sariputra had begun to form aspirations, so the Buddha bestowed a prediction of Buddhahood on him. However, he had only just formed aspirations. He still was a very long way from attaining Buddhahood. This means he had not yet put the teachings into practice. However, he was already the foremost in wisdom. Among all the disciples of the Buddha, he was the one who could understand the Buddha’s teachings as soon as he heard them. He just had not put the teachings into practice by going among people and forming great aspirations. He had not done this part yet. Actually, he already had a full understanding of the Buddha-nature; he had just not put the teachings into practice. However, he was still very far from [attaining Buddhahood]. He had not fully actualized the Six Paramitas in all actions and had not yet put the teachings into practice. So, he was a senior disciple. Compared with other disciples, he was already in a senior position.
It is kind of like calling this person someone’s “distinguished disciple”. When we call someone a “distinguished disciple,” we mean he is more senior than other disciples. Thus, he was a distinguished disciple, also known as a senior disciple. This is to say that he had already heard and accepted the teachings of the Buddha. However, when it came to actualizing the Six Paramitas in all actions, he had not yet put the teachings into practice, so he was still a Hearer. As for Wisdom Accumulated, he was “slightly doubtful,” meaning he had less doubts. This was because he had more experience. He had followed the ancient Buddha in the causal practice of the Six Paramitas. So, he had gone through the causal practice of the Six Paramitas. Yet he still had some doubts. The dragon girl was a non-human being, she was very young and she was moreover female. How could she be able to comprehend such profound principles, not to mention attain Buddhahood so quickly? Thus, Wisdom Accumulated had some doubts.
However, the appearance of the dragon girl completely eliminated his doubts. This proved that the dragon girl had already attained great wisdom, that she had truly comprehended the great path. She had already formed the supreme aspiration, so she had such abilities. As the two Bodhisattvas were conversing, she suddenly appeared in front of them. This is a case of facts speaking louder than words. Thus, Wisdom Accumulated’s doubts were dispelled. Sariputra still had very deep doubts. However, the dragon girl understood that Sariputra from the Saha World and the disciple of Many Treasures Buddha from the east were both “sages”. So, “Knowing the two sages felt like this, one can imagine how beings of other capabilities must have felt.” We can imagine that since Sariputra still had such deep doubts, the sentient begins of the Saha World must still have had many questions. “In her profound wisdom, the dragon girl sensed [this]”. In her wisdom, the dragon girl was already about to provide proof. The ordinary people of the Saha World had doubts. Due to these doubts, they were unable to understand this. Thus, “If she persisted in further debate, her words would ultimately seem meaningless.”
If she persisted in further debate, her words would ultimately seem meaningless. Therefore, she sincerely offered a precious pearl, which the Buddha accepted. She did this to demonstrate that the intrinsic nature of True Suchness is equal in all and that all sentient beings can attain Buddhahood. She offered the pearl to show how swiftly she would attain realization.
The dragon girl wanted to provide proof. Wisdom Accumulated Bodhisattva and Manjusri Bodhisattva were there, having a discussion. [Wisdom Accumulated] wished for Manjusri to answer his question. But rather than letting Manjusri Bodhisattva answer the question, it was better for the dragon girl to appear to eliminate Wisdom Accumulated’s doubts. Now, the dragon girl had appeared, and the doubts of Wisdom Accumulated had already been eliminated. However, Sariputra’s brought up his doubts again. So, it says that after the dragon girl prostrated to the Buddha and spoke in verse to praise the Buddha, Sariputra still did not believe. He could not comprehend the state of the dragon girl. Thus, he was still trying to argue, using rhetoric to make unfounded statements. So, next the dragon girl, with a sincere heart, presented a precious pearl to the Buddha, and the Buddha gladly accepted her offering.
Because of the dragon girl’s sincerity, the Buddha gladly accepted her offering. This was to show the equality of True Suchness. All sentient beings are equal. We must simply be sincere in our aspiration and put effort into transforming sentient beings. Thus, we have already talked about “sincerity, integrity, faith and steadfastness” and “the Four Great Vows”. Only with sincerity can we vow to transform sentient beings. Without sincerity in our minds, if we say we wish to make the Four Great Vows, “I vow to deliver countless sentient beings,” how could we transform sentient beings? We must be sincere in serving other people. We need to use our sincerity in helping others. This sincerity must not be short-lived; it should be a long-term sincerity that lasts over many lifetimes. With such long-term sincerity, the dragon girl was also one who had “actualized the Six Paramitas in all actions” by serving others for a long time. She had already showed her sincerity by actualizing the Six Paramitas in all actions. So, in the following passage, the dragon girl presents the pearl [to the Buddha] to who her sincerity, sincerity from the bottom of her heart. She had already actualized the Six Paramitas in all actions. “I vow to deliver countless sentient begins.” So, [we know] she had already “actualized the Six Paramitas in all actions”. The Buddha immediately accepting the precious pearl from her showed that she had already finished her journey of spiritual practice. The Buddha accepted her sincerity. Although her sincere offering was brief, the Buddha immediately accepted her offering. This very brief time was actually indicative of a very long time. We need to mindfully comprehend this. The more we understand the Lotus Sutra, the more we are filled with Dharma-joy. Our sincerity should not be short-lived. Instead, it should last many lifetimes. [We must] constantly go among people, sincerely delivering sentient beings and serving them with sincerity. I always ask Tzu Chi volunteers to be “sincere, upright, faithful and steadfast”. Our thoughts need to be “upright”. In addition to being sincere, we must also [be upright] with right mindfulness. Only by having right mindfulness can we eliminate our afflictions. We need to have “faith”. Only with deep faith will we be able to vow to learn the boundless Buddha-Dharma. There is so much Buddha-Dharma that we must learn. We also need to be steadfast and grounded. We must keep our feet on the ground as we move forward, step by step. The path to attaining Buddhahood requires us to put the teachings into action. It is not enough to just listen to and understand the teachings. We also need to put them into practice. Going among people to give of ourselves is “true emptiness,” yet the Dharma-affinities we form are what is called “wondrous existence”. We need to mindfully comprehend “wondrous existence and true emptiness”. Therefore, when the dragon girl offered the pearl, the Buddha accepted it. “She did this to demonstrate that the intrinsic nature of True Suchness is equal in all”. In this way, we are able to comprehend that. “The mind, the Buddha and sentient begins are no different [in their nature].” All it takes is one thought of sincerity. With this thought, the three are no different. The mind, the Buddha and sentient beings are all equal. So, “All sentient beings can attain Buddhahood”. Since all sentient beings can attain Buddhahood, how could the dragon girl not have been able to attain Buddhahood? She was able to attain Buddhahood. “She offered the pearl to show how swiftly she would attain realization”. The time it took to offer the pearl to the Buddha was the same time it would take for her to attain Buddhahood. “Due to my sincerity, the Buddha was able to accept it so quickly. For me to realize the state of Buddhahood will be just as quick”.
As we previously mentioned, females have “the Five Hindrances”. “One, the cannot become King Braham. Two, they cannot become Sovereign Sakra. Three, they cannot become King Mara. Four, they cannot become a wheel-turning sage king. Five, they cannot become a Buddha”. This is what the previous sutra passage states. “How can you, as a woman, possibly say that you will swiftly attain Buddhahood?”
Sariputra had this kind of doubt. From the next sutra passage we will understand this. This sutra passage states, “At that time the dragon girl had a precious pearl worth as much as the great trichiliocosm. She presented it before the Buddha, and the Buddha immediately accepted it. The dragon girl said to Wisdom Accumulated Bodhisattva and Venerable Sariputra….”
It was useless for her to argue. Instead, she took practical action and presented a precious pearl to the Buddha. The Buddha immediately accepted it. Then, the dragon girl turned around and began to talk to Wisdom Accumulated Bodhisattva and Venerable Sariputra. We need to mindfully comprehend this passage. The dragon girl presented her pearl [to the Buddha]. The spiritual powers of dragons are completely contained within their peals. This means this pearl is the most precious objects a dragon has.
At that time the dragon girl had a precious pearl worth as much as the great trichiliocosm: The spiritual powers of dragons are completely contained within their pearls; these are extremely precious.
There is a saying, “two dragons fighting over a pearl”. This shows how important these pearls are in the realm of dragons. All their spiritual powers are completely contained within their pearls. In the dragon realm, these pearls are supremely precious. The dragon girl presented her pearl to the Buddha. This was an offering of a most precious treasure to Sakyamuni Buddha. The dragon girl “presented it before the Buddha”. This offering to Sakyamuni Buddha represents the practice of giving. “The Buddha immediately accepted it”. Sakyamuni Buddha immediately accepted the precious pearl presented by the dragon girl because He could feel her sincerity. We talked about “sincerity” a moment ago. I first explained this so you would all understand what “sincerity” is. That the Buddha accepted the pearl proved the dragon girl’s sincerity in going among people lifetime after lifetime. She had completely actualized the Six Paramitas in all actions. The Buddha accepted her pearl. The pearl symbolizes wisdom. “Buddha” means “enlightenment”; this represents the principles. Wisdom and principles had now converged; the principles resonated with her wisdom. So, “Wisdom resonated with the principles”. Her wisdom resonated with the principles, meaning, “Her causes would quickly come to fruition”. It means her causes came to fruition. Speaking of her cause, she had already actualized the Six Paramitas in all actions. Because she had fully actualized them, she was perfect in both causes and effects. Because she had completed the causes, she was about to attain the fruition. Thus, “Her cause quickly came to fruition. She was already close to reaching the effect.
The Buddha immediately accepted it: That the dragon girl offered the pearl demonstrated her perfect understanding. That the Tathagata accepted it testified to her aspiration. The pearl represents wisdom and the Buddha represents the principles. Her wisdom resonated with the principles, thus her causes quickly came to fruition.
When the dragon girl offered this pearl to the Buddha, it symbolized the path she had walked and the practice she had engaged in. She had completed the Bodhisattva-path. Then, she turned to Wisdom Accumulated Buddha and Venerable Sariputra to let them witness this state to let them witness this state. Wisdom Accumulated Bodhisattva had already seen it. Venerable Sariputra must also have seen this, so she wanted to ask him, “Do you see this?”
The dragon girl said to Wisdom Accumulated Bodhisattva and Venerable Sariputra…: Having offered the pearl, she then spoke to Wisdom Accumulated and Sariputra. What the dragon girl meant was that Wisdom Accumulated was the successor of Many Treasures and that Son-of-Body was one of Sakyamuni ’s senior disciples. Wisdom Accumulated was slightly doubtful, but Son-of-Body was even more skeptical. Knowing that these two sages felt like this, we can imagine how the other sages must have felt. If she persisted in further debate, her words would ultimately have seemed meaningless. Thus, by offering the precious pearl, she demonstrated her intrinsic nature, hoping to show that she would swiftly attain realization.
The dragon girl’s intent was that Wisdom Accumulated was the successor of Many Treasures Buddha, His senior disciple. “Son-of-Body” refers to Sariputra. Sariputra was one of the senior disciples of Sakyamuni Buddha. He was a very senior disciple. Wisdom Accumulated ’s doubts were less severe; they had already been more or less eliminated. Sariputra [however] still raised questions in order to resolve his serious doubts. Clearly, we need to truly understand [the mindset of] these two sages. Beyond “sagehood” is the state of Buddhahood. “Knowing that these two sages felt like this, we can imagine how the other sages must have felt. Wisdom Accumulated was the Bodhisattva of the ancient Buddha, the attendant Bodhisattva Many Treasures Buddha He had attained the level of a sage. The ancient Buddha had already taught and transformed sentient beings. [In that place], a group of sentient beings could be represented by one person. Wisdom Accumulated represented the people who had been taught and transformed by Many Treasures Buddha. Sariputra represented the people who were being taught and transformed by Sakyamuni Buddha. So, “Knowing the two sages felt like this…. These two sages had doubts. Wisdom Accumulated had less doubts. That meant that the representative of those who had already been transformed had less doubts, meaning their wisdom was more abundant. However, those represented by Sariputra were the sentient beings in the Saha World. Those were the ones who would be transformed by the Buddha in the future. Of these transformed during the Buddha’s time and those to be transformed then belonged to the same era as Sariputra. Those who were yet to be transformed refers to the people living in our present era. Thus, we who live in this era are ordinary people who have the Five Hindrances. In addition to greet, anger and ignorance was also have severe arrogance and doubt. So, if she persisted in further debate, her words “would ultimately have seemed meaningless.” Sariputra still had many doubts. Because he represented the sentient beings who were being taught and transformed by the Buddha, he still had many doubts. It would be useless for the dragon girl to argue. Instead, she used this scene of presenting the precious pearl [to the Buddha] as a symbol of her true essence, the actual nature of True Suchness. For our nature of True Suchness [to manifest], we must out the teachings into practice. We need to sincerely actualize the Six Paramitas in all actions, life after life. We need to go among people to transform sentient beings. by walking this path, with perfect causes, we will naturally be replete in the effects. This is just like a pearl. The dragon girl presented this pearl to the Buddha. the pearl represents wisdom and the Buddha represents principles. In this way, in her wisdom she had constantly maintained her sincerity without any defilement. She had completely eliminated her greed, anger, delusion, arrogance and doubt. Her ignorance and afflictions had completely disappeared. She had completed her affinities with other people. She had already reached the state of “wondrous existence and true emptiness. Thus, by offering the precious pearl, she demonstrated her intrinsic nature.” She had expressed her utmost sincerity for everyone to see. “Thus, by offering the precious pearl she demonstrated her intrinsic nature, hoping to show that she would swiftly attain realization.” This means she could very swiftly attain Buddhahood. Here, “offering the precious pearl” was closely related to how swiftly she was able to attain Buddhahood.
The following sutra passage states, “’I offered this precious pearl and the World-Honored One accepted it. Did this happen quickly? “They replied, ‘Very quickly!’ The girl said, Use your spiritual powers and watch as I attain Buddhahood even quickly than that!’”
After the dragon girl offered the pearl and the Buddha accepted it, she turned around to Wisdom Accumulated and Sariputra and asked, “The pearl I now offered, was already accepted by the World-Honored One. Look, this happened so fast. Did you witness this actual event? The Buddha immediately accepted my precious pearl. Did you see this? Did it happen quickly? When I wanted to offer it to the Buddha, the Buddha did not have any hesitation; He immediately accepted my pearl. Didn’t this happen very quickly?” How did they answer? They replied, “Very quickly! As soon as you offered the pearl, the Buddha immediately accepted it. The girl said, ‘Use your spiritual powers and watch as I attain Buddhahood even quickly than that!’” The Dragon girl showed them what she could do. “When I offered the precious pearl to the Buddha, the Buddha immediately accepted it. Watch me as I attain Buddhahood even faster than that.”
She used actual events to prove it. Offering the precious pearl is a metaphor for “[revealing] the intrinsic, pure Tathagata-garbha,” our intrinsic nature of True Suchness. The pearl represents our nature of True Suchness. “[She] revealed it to the Buddha in an instant. [The Buddha] immediately accepting her offering” is a metaphor for her immediate awakening and attainment. “Very soon, my nature of True Suchness will be revealed.” How about us ordinary people? I have asked you so many times, “What does the nature of True Suchness look like? Take it out and show it to me! Where am I supposed to get something to show you?” However, the dragon girl very quickly revealed her pure Tathagata-garbha mind, her nature of True Suchness, to the Buddha in a flash. This shows that the dragon girl’s wisdom and the Buddha’s wisdom had already converged. All Buddhas share the same wisdom and path. This shows that dragon girls was about to attain Buddhahood. Her wisdom was already on par with the wisdom of Sakyamuni Buddha. So, “[The Buddha] immediately accepted her offering.
As soon as the dragon girl offered the pearl, the Buddha accepted it. This was a metaphor for “her immediate awakening and attainment.” She could immediately attain enlightenment and realize the fruit of Buddhahood. That meant it would happen very fast. The meant it would happen very fast. The dragon girl asked the two of them, and both of them answered, “very quickly.” Truly, this all happened very quickly. The Buddha accepted it very quickly. This shows how fast the dragon girl was in realizing the fruit of Buddhahood. The now believe that the dragon girl would be able to realize the fruit of Buddhahood so quickly. The dragon girl immediately answered, saying, “Using your spiritual powers and watch as I attain Buddhahood even quicker than that! I want you two to witness my speed in attaining Buddhahood; it will happen just as swiftly as my offering the pearl [to the Buddha].”
Thus, “The dragon girl did not use words to answer Sariputra. [To demonstrate] the way she would attain Buddhahood in that instant, what could not be revealed with speech but could only be understood through realization, she used the offering and acceptance of a precious pearl to represent the swiftness with which she would attain Buddhahood”.
After the dragon girl prostrated to the Buddha and spoke in verse to praise the Buddha, Sariputra still did not believe her; he was unable to comprehend the dragon girl’s state. So, if she had tried to argue further, nothing would have changed. The dragon girl did not need to answer any more. The state of Buddhahood cannot be [revealed] with words; it requires realization. It requires us to awaken. Those who have truly attained realization and awakening are able to understand this. So, “She used the offering and acceptance of a precious pearl”. The dragon girl offered the pearl, and Sakyamuni Buddha accepted the precious pearl. With a pearl, one made an offering and one accepted it. “The offering and acceptance of a precious pearl” represented the swiftness with which [the dragon girl] would attain Buddhahood.
As for this act of offering and acceptance, a spark from flint or a flash of lightening would not be able to compare with its swiftness. Yet, the swiftness with which the dragon girl attained Buddhahood even surpassed this. This all demonstrates the idea of attaining Buddhahood through sudden realization.
“As for this act of offering and acceptance, a spark from flint or a flash of lightening would not be able to compare with its swiftness.” This demonstrates its swiftness. Do you know about “a spark from flint or a flash of lightening”? In ancient times, people created sparks by rubbing stones together. When you hit a rock with another, sparks are created. These are very hard objects. This is like when people today use a saw to cut marble. As they are sawing the marble, we can see a lot of sparks coming out. When two hard objects hit each other, sparks are generated. However, this only lasts for a moment. After the sparks are ejected, they disappear immediately, very quickly; they do not stay. When there is thunder and lightning, the lightning also disappears very quickly. It is incomparably fast. A second is a very short period of time, but this happens “in a flash”. In a flash, it is over. Therefore, there is nothing we can use to compare to its speed. [This happens] very quickly. It is as fast as lightning. “[These] would not be able to” “compare with its swiftness”. This describes how fast the dragon girl would attain Buddhahood. It would be even faster than this. “This all demonstrates the idea of ataining Buddhahood through sudden realization. The dragon girl did not attain Buddhahood by slowly engaging in spiritual practice. She attained Buddhahood through sudden realization. Actually, it took her a very long time. To accumulate these causes took a very long time. Now, the causes and conditions had matured fully. Therefore, very quickly, her causes and effects were perfected, and she very quickly attained Buddhahood.
So, “The offering of the pearl epresenting her intrinsic nature eant that she had perfected all practices. Through giving without attachment, she exerted little energy while reaping great merits. Why would she need to spend many lifetimes.in the great chiliocosm and practice the Six Paramitas for many kalpas?”
This means that this pearl “represents her intrinsic nature,” meaning wisdom. This wisdom is united with our nature of True Suchness. The meaning of “offering” is that “she had perfected all practices.” This represents how she had already perfected “actualizing the Six Paramitas in all actions.” She offered a pearl to the Buddha. This meant she had already perfected actualizing the Six Paramitas in all actions. “Through giving without attachment….” She was now free from all attachments. This means her intrinsic nature was pure and that she helped others, seeking nothing in return. She was completely pure. So, having perfected the causes, she very naturally attained perfect fruition. She very naturally returned to her Tathagata-garbha, her pure intrinsic nature. This happened “through giving without attachment.” This means she had perfected giving without attachment to appearances. Giving without attachment to appearances is the Dharma. She had returned to the enlightened nature of the natural world, to the true principles. This is the nature of True Suchness. So, “She exerted little energy while reaping great merits.” When we help others, we need to leverage other people’s strength, meaning take advantage of [the opportunity] to serve among people and thus experience many, many principles. By doing this, we receive truly great merits and virtues. Actually, we also need to be grateful; we must not only give without expectations, we must also be grateful. “Because I have interacted with people, I have realized so much. By going among people, I have perfected my causes and conditions and am thus about to attain Buddhahood.” So, without expending much effort, we receive many benefits. “I wholeheartedly dedicate myself simply to serving others, and I can now return to my pure intrinsic nature.” This is the state [achieved through] spiritual practice. In our spiritual practice, we need to constantly help others without seeking rewards and without defilements. Our giving must not be defiled, but be very pure. By continuously giving, lifetime after lifetime, she had already perfected actualizing the Six Paramitas in all actions. “Why would she need to spend many lifetimes n the great chiliocosm and ractice the Six Paramitas for many kalpas?" We do not have to future mention her past in the Three Realms, in the great trichiliocosm. The Three Realms are the desire, form and formless realms. After walking this path, she had completely eliminated her ignorance and afflictions. She had not hesitated to give her life, going through many kalpas of actualizing the Six Paramitas in all actions. So, she had already done all this. This was it. When we leverage [the opportunity] to go among people to help sentient beings, it is actually we who reap the rewards.
So it is said, “A bird of a thousand years cannot compare to a phoenix born this morning.” A bird of a thousand years is still just a bird. It cannot match a phoenix born this morning. Comparing a phoenix with a bird, the phoenix is very precious. As for birds, you can see birds flying all over the sky. How can you compare birds with a phoenix? “A bird of a thousand years cannot compare to a phoenix born this morning. The difference between perfect and imperfect capabilities” is like [the difference] between a day and a kalpa. If we can clearly understand this, we can immediately recall the things that happened a long time ago.
We can very quickly return to the moments of what Tzu Chi has gone through. In three to five sentences, I can finish speaking of this. The principle is the same. How do we engage in spiritual practice over countless lifetime and kalpas? Actually, it is in that moment of attaining realization; the principle is the same. Instead of talking about how many kalpas it takes, it is better for us to speak of the present moment. So, we say we must seize the present moment, which is to sustain forever the vow we made in that moment. We need to maintain that thought forever and follow that path we have taken until now. The principle is the same. “A bird of a thousand years cannot compare to a phoenix born this morning. The difference between perfect and imperfect capabilities…” is saying that those who have actualized the Six Paramitas in all actions are very far ahead of those who have not put the teachings into practice. Those who have walked the path can naturally be very clear on many things that have happened in the past. We recognize the scenery along the path. Those who have not walked this path need to revisit it. Only after walking it can we speak of it. The principle is the same.
This is why the dragon girl could attain Buddhahood so quickly. Now, Wisdom Accumulated Bodhisattva had no doubts. Sariputra probably also started to believe the past causes of the dragon girl. [They had harbored doubts] because they did not understand the dragon girl’s past causal practice. Therefore, when they [looked at] the physical appearance of the dragon girl, they had doubts. If they had understood her past Great Vehicle practice, how she had gone among people in the Six Realms to serve them, [they would have thought differently.] The teachings we now understand have always been very clear. Manjusri Bodhisattva went to the dragon palace to demonstrate this appearance by guiding the dragon girl to prove to everyone that, when it comes to the nature of True Suchness and the Tathagata-garbha, “The mind, the Buddha and sentient beings are not different”; they are equal. What we are lacking is that we have yet to put the teachings into practice. We have made vows, but we have not started going among people. We have not yet done enough, so we cannot experience [that nature.] That is the reason. With our wisdom, we still cannot be like the dragon girl who presented the pearl that was accepted [so quickly] by the Buddha. For us, our wisdom has not yet resonated with the principles. Therefore, regarding principles and appearances, we must always be mindful!
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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