Q: The Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra says that “the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra emerges from the Prajn͂ā-pāramitā Sūtras.” Why does it not mention the Lotus Sutra? Why is the Lotus Sutra analogous to ghee?

A: The Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra is called “ghee,” and the Lotus Sutra is called “a meal fit for the great King.”

Q: Although you quote the phrase “a meal fit for the great King,” this is evidence for the meaning but not the text.

A: The Saddharma-puṇḍarīka-sūtra Upadeśa says [in reference to the Lotus Sutra], “Of these Five Flavors, ghee is supreme.” Therefore we know that the two Sūtras are both analogous to ghee. Also, the Buddha Dīpa [Moon and Sun Glow] expounded the Lotus Sutra and then proclaimed that at midnight he would enter Nirvāṇa. In the same way this Buddha [Śākyamuni] also first expounded the Avataṃsaka Sūtra and later expounded the Lotus Sutra. When the Buddha was Kāśyapa he also did the same thing; in all cases he did not explain the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra. In all these cases the Lotus Sutra is the last teaching and the last flavor. Now the Buddha utilizes the Lotus Sūtra as ghee in order to bring to maturity those who are ready. He then [in the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra] leads the remaining [sentient beings] to maturity through repeating [teachings concerning] prajña-wisdom and leads those [of the fourth Prajn͂ā-pāramitā period] to enter Nirvāṇa. Thus the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra is used as the last teaching and last flavor. Also, the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra says, “By receiving an assurance of Buddhahood in the Lotus Sūtra, one perceives one’s potential for enlightenment, attains the great fruit [of Buddhahood], and undertakes no more action, as when the autumn harvest is done and placed in winter storage.”