Dharma
Master Jingjie
The explanation in the Lotus Sutra is presented through a parable. It says that there was a highly skilled physician with several sons who were all strong and healthy. One day, these children went out to play and accidentally consumed poison.
This poison was a slow-acting toxin and as there was no immediate effects, the children did not feel it was anything to be concerned with. Their father then prescribed different medicines for each of them: one was for the eldest, another for the second and so forth, writing their names on each packet of medicine and distributing them to his sons.
These sons said, "What is there to fear? My father is a great doctor anyway, what is there to worry about?" They procrastinated about taking the medicine and left it aside.
The father thought to himself that this could not go on as these children were too dependent on him and took their health for granted. Therefore, he came up with a plan. He gathered all his sons together and said, "I am going to travel to other countries. Your medicines have all been stored away for you in the cabinet and I have labelled them with your names. If you need to take them, go take them yourselves."
The sons were still indifferent. So, this doctor took his attendant and traveled to other countries. After some time, the attendant returned and said, "Your father has died abroad."
Once the children heard this news, they got anxious about the situation. “Before, our father was around to cure any illness. Now our father is dead!" They rushed to the cabinet to get their own medicine, because their father was dead and they had to take the medicine immediately.
What does this show? It illustrates that if the Buddha remained in the world for a long time, it would bring less benefit to sentient beings. Disciples become complacent and unwilling to study and practice diligently and earnestly. They think that the Buddha will always be there to depend upon. They rely on the person, rather than the Dharma.
Thus, the Buddha manifested his parinirvana so that everyone would develop a sense of crisis. With no Buddha to rely on, the only thing we can do is to study the Dharma to realize the Dharma. Then everyone is made aware of impermanence.
No one else can study or practice on your behalf. Let me say it again: no one can walk the Dharma path for you and hand you the results, it's impossible!
Lama Tsongkhapa said, "The Buddhas do not wash away the sins of sentient beings with water, nor do they remove the sufferings of beings with their hands; they do not transfer their own enlightened qualities onto others, it is only by teaching the Dharma that they guide beings towards liberation."
If you study and practice Dharma earnestly, the Buddha remains in the world as far as you are concerned; if you do not study earnestly, being around the Buddha is of not much benefit. Look at Buddha’s disciples during his lifetime. Two disciples fell into the three lower realms even though they lived with the Buddha and took ordination under him.
The success or failure of your practice does not depend on whether the Buddha remains in the world, but it depends on the Dharma —the true refuge is the Dharma…The Buddha's appearance in the world is only to speak the Dharma—whether you transform your mind or not depends on your own efforts.
