Q: What doctrines are being compared to these Five Flavors?

A: It is an analogy for the sequence of the Buddha’s teachings.

Q: What is this sequence?

A: The Avataṃsaka Sūtra is analogous to the flavor of milk. The Agamas are analogous to the flavor of cream. The Vaipulya texts are analogous to the flavor of curds. The Prajn͂ā-pāramitā Sūtras are analogous to the flavor of butter. The Lotus and Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtras are analogous to the flavor of ghee.

Q: Why is the Avataṃsaka Sūtra analogous to milk, and so forth to the Lotus and Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtras being analogous to ghee?

A: When the Buddha sat on the seat of enlightenment and first perfected complete awakening, he expounded purely on the Mahāyāna for the sake of the Bodhisattvas. This was like the sun, which upon rising first illumines the tall mountains. Milk is the beginning of all the flavors. It is analogous to the direct teachings [of the Buddha immediately after his enlightenment] being the core of all the teachings. Also, the analogy of the flavor of milk has two other meanings. First, it is the beginning of all his great deeds; and second, it is What the Buddha Taught, p
for the sake of those of inferior capabilities have not yet been taught. Therefore the [teachings of] the Avataṃsaka Sūtra are analogous to milk. Next, without moving from his place of enlightenment he magically went to the Deer Park and preached the sermon on the Four Noble Truths as arising and perishing. This is analogous to cream emerging from milk. Next, he expounded the teachings of the Vaipulya texts, the “Great Collection of Sutras,” the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa Sūtra, the Viśeṣcinta-brahmaparipṛcchā Sūtra and so forth, which praise the perfect and criticize the one-sided, extol the Mahāyāna and impugn the Hinayāna. This is analogous to curds emerging from cream. Next he preached all of the Prajn͂ā-pāramitā Sūtras, in which the explanation is left to Śāriputra, as the rich man passes on the household treasures to his son, and distinctions as to superior and inferior are integrated. This is analogous to butter emerging from curds. Next, the first four flavors are exposed as belonging ultimately to the Buddha-vehicle. This is analogous to ghee emerging from butter.