Lectures on the Sutra of the Compendium of Father and Son (214)

The Buddha's Guidance and Admonishment to King Śuddhodana

Original Text:

O great King, you should maintain this thought: How can I become the eyes for gods and humans? How can I become the illumination in the long night? How can I become the raft in the river of craving? How can I become the guide in perilous places? How can I become the sovereign for those without refuge? Having attained liberation myself, I will liberate others. Having attained emancipation myself, I will emancipate others. Having attained peace myself, I will bring peace to others. Having realized Nirvāṇa myself, I will enable others to realize it.

O great King, you should not fixate on the present worldly riches, pleasures, and freedom in the five desires. All sensory faculties are illusory; all perceived realms are like dreams. Do not cling insatiably to form, sound, scent, taste, or touch.

Explanation:

The Buddha said: "O great King, you should always harbor this resolve: How can I become the eyes for sentient beings among gods and humans, illuminating the long night of birth and death to guide beings toward liberation? How can I become the raft for sentient beings in the river of craving within the Triple Realm, ferrying them across? How can I become the guide for sentient beings in perilous places, leading them out of danger? How can I become the sovereign for those without refuge, offering them support? How can I first attain liberation myself and then liberate others? How can I first emancipate myself and then emancipate others? How can I first attain peace myself and then bring peace to others? How can I first realize Nirvāṇa myself and then enable others to realize it?"

"O great King, you should not focus solely on the present worldly wealth, pleasures, and freedom in the five desires (wealth, sex, fame, food, and sleep). In truth, the six sense faculties are illusory, and all perceived realms are like dreams. Do not cling insatiably to form, sound, scent, taste, or touch."

This passage is the World-Honored One’s earnest guidance and admonishment to King Śuddhodana, urging his father to generate the great Bodhicitta, take the great vows, transcend birth and death, benefit himself and others, and swiftly realize the great Nirvāṇa. He encouraged him to vow to become the eyes for gods and humans, guiding them toward liberation. Sentient beings remain unawakened, lost in confusion within the cycle of birth and death. With guidance, they will no longer be deluded, thereby abandoning wrong views and misguided paths to walk toward the light.

When can a Bodhisattva who makes this vow accomplish it? One who can serve as the eyes for gods and humans must at least be a Bodhisattva of the First Bhūmi. A First Bhūmi Bodhisattva can become a Teacher of Gods and Humans, a guide for humanity and celestial beings, leading sentient beings toward the path of Buddhahood. A Teacher of Gods and Humans is the eyes for sentient beings. When a Bodhisattva attains the First Bhūmi and enters the Tathāgata’s family, they gain preliminary mastery of the Dharma. Only with this understanding can they guide sentient beings in practice and serve as their eyes.