As we learn in the ‘Parable of the Rich Man and his Son’ told in Chapter IV the son did not know the rich man was his father he had left many years before. The son did not know he was heir to great wealth and fortune.

Over many years the father gradually raised up the condition of the son, teaching him and training him in the ways of the household. Eventually as the father nears his death and the son has been successfully managing the entire fortune for the old man, the old man reveals that he is none other than the father of the young man who will now inherit the entire estate.

In this parable the rich man represents the Buddha and the poor son represents us. We are naturally endowed, with Buddhahood; it is our natural condition, yet we do not realize it. The Buddha in his compassion to make us equal to him slowly guides and instructs us thereby elevating our life to the point where we can eventually realize our innate Buddha condition.