Question: When milk reaches [the level of] ghee, it is in the same way called “complete.” How about this analogy?²⁷⁹

Answer: Now I will use an analogy to explain an analogy. It is like an official who has three ships [great, middle and small-sized] and one private boat for the purpose of taking people from this shore to that shore.

The milk teachings are analogous to using the great and middle-sized ships to help people cross from this shore. The cream teachings are analogous to using the private boat to ferry people to the island in the middle [of the river]. The curds teachings are analogous to using the four types [of boats]: using the small ship and private boat to ferry people to the island in the middle [of the river], and the two [middle- and large-sized] ships to ferry people to the other shore. The butter teachings are analogous to using the three ships, one ship for the island in the middle [of the river] and two for the other shore. The ghee teachings are analogous to the great ship which ferries people to the other shore. The three ships are alike in that they are official property, therefore they deserve the title “complete.” The private boat is not official property, so it is called “incomplete.” Of the official ships, two ships are small with few rooms. The great ship is grand and splendid and with many decorations; only this one can be called “subtle.” Wise men, by means of this analogy, can gain understanding. Thus this analogy is explained.

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In other words, why is only the Lotus Sūtra called “complete” if all the Sūtras implicitly contain the complete truth, as milk can eventually turn into ghee. return