The Lotus Sutra, Chapter 5: "Herbs"

The following post in an excerpt from Chapter 5 of
The Lotus Sutra, as published in Tendai Buddhist Services for Ordained Practitioners: English Language Edition, translated by Shoshin Ichishima, edited by Monshin Naamon and the Tendai-shu New York Betsuin, Tendai Buddhist Institute, Canaan, New York 2005.

The speaker is Shakyamuni Buddha, the historical Buddha, delivering his final sermon on Eagle Mountain.
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"The King of the Dharma,
The destroyer of delusive existence,
Appears in the world
And keeping in mind the aspirations of sentient beings,
Teaches the Dharma in various ways
According to the wishes of sentient beings...

O Kashyapa, you should know
That it is as if a great cloud
Arises in the world
And covers everything.
This beneficent cloud contains moisture
And bright lightening flashes from it.
The sound of its thunder shakes the earth from afar
And gladdens the people...

The spreading cloud hangs so low,
As if it could be touched.
Everywhere, equal and immeasurable
The rain pours down and moistens the earth.
Grasses, herbs, large and small trees,
All kinds of crops, seedlings, sugar cane and grapes
Growing in the depths of the mountains,
In rivers and in precipitous valleys,
All are watered, and completely nourished by the rain...

Out of this cloud the same rain
Waters these grasses, trees and shrubs
Each according to their capacities.
All the trees, small, medium or large
Are able to grow in accordance with their capacities.
The luster and colors of the roots, stems,
Branches, leaves and flowers
Are all freshened by the same rain.
Each of these, although receiving the same moisture,
Reaches a greater or lesser size
In accordance with their different
Dispositions, characteristics and natures.

The Buddha is exactly like this.
He appears in the world as a great cloud
Which covers everything universally.
Once appearing in this world
He illuminates and explains
The essence of the teachings
For the sake of sentient beings.
The Great Seer, the Bhagavat, expounds this
To the great assembly of all the devas and humans.

I am the Tathagata, the Best of Humans.
I appear in the world to nourish sentient beings
Just as the great cloud
Moistens all the withered trees.
I cause everyone to be rid of suffering
And attain ease of heart,
Worldy happiness, and the joy of Nirvana.
This Dharma has a single flavor
Of emancipation and Nirvana.
I expound its meaning with the same subtle voice,
Always making the Mahayana
The subject of my illustrations...

Just like the rain which gives nourishment universally,
I tirelessly rain the rain of the Dharma
Equally on those who are noble or humble,
Superior or inferior, who keep or break the precepts,
Who have good or bad conduct, right or wrong views,
Sharp or dull faculties.
According to their power to understand,
All of the sentient beings who hear my teaching
Dwell in various stages.

O Kashyapa,
The Dharma which the Buddha teaches
is just like the great cloud which enriches human flowers
With the rain of one flavor, so that each attains its fruits.
O Kashyapa!
You should know that I reveal the Buddha-path
Using various explanations and illustrations
And that this is my skillful means.
All of the Buddhas are just like this.

I will now teach the highest truth for your sake:
There are no shravakas who attain Nirvana.
What you practice is the bodhisattva-path;
And if you practice step by step,
You will all become Buddhas."