Day 9 covers Chapter 5, The Simile of Herbs, and introduces Chapter 6, Assurance of Future Buddhahood.

Having last month completed Day 9’s portion of the Assurance of Future Buddhahood, we return to The Simile of Herbs.

Thereupon the World-Honored One said to Mahā-Kāśyapa and other great disciples:

“Excellent, excellent! You spoke of my true merits very well. My true merits are just as you said. In reality, however, I have more merits. They are innumerable, asaṃkhya. You will not be able to describe all of them even if you try to do so for many hundreds of millions of kalpas.

“Kāśyapa, know this! I, the Tathāgata, am the King of the Dharma. Nothing I say is false. I expound all teachings with expedients by my wisdom in order to lead all living beings to the stage of knowing all things. I know what region a living being will be taken to by what teaching, and what a living being has deep in his mind. I am not hindered by anything in knowing all this. I know all things clearly, and show my knowledge of all things to all living beings.

This setup for the Simile of the Herbs underscores what we will learn: It is not the teaching that changes; it is the capacity of people. The fruits and flowers are different because of the species; all receive the same water of the Dharma.