The Buddha Praised Himself: Why This Was Not Boasting?

Have you ever heard someone praise themselves and felt uncomfortable? You may think that a truly virtuous person must be humble and reserved. Yet in the chapter "The Parable of the Medicinal Herbs" of the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha makes a bold declaration about himself: "I am the all-knowing one..." Why is this not boasting? Let us explore this together.

When the Buddha Spoke of Himself: Boasting or Compassion?

We live in a world where all values are relative. The very same words, spoken by someone still attached to self, become boasting; but spoken by one who is liberated, they become compassion. Thầy Thích Chân Quang explains:

"The very same words. But if I say them, I am a person not yet virtuous enough. Yet if the Buddha says them, it is something beneficial for all beings."

When we still carry self-pride, self-praise arises from arrogance and benefits no one. But the Buddha has completely uprooted attachment to self. When he spoke of his realization, it was not to elevate himself, but to strengthen the faith of his disciples. Knowing that the teacher is truly capable, we want to practice diligently and will not grow careless. That is compassion.

One Flavor of Rain, One Flavor of Liberation

In this sutra, the Buddha compares himself to a great cloud spreading rain across the sky and earth. The same water, yet each plant absorbs it in its own way. The same dharma, yet each person grows differently:

Some love to chant sutras, seeing this as their practice.

Some love to sit in meditation, seeking inner stillness.

Some are moved to generosity, helping the poor, building temples, offering aid.

Some love to teach the dharma, sharing what they have understood.

Some love to go on pilgrimage, seeking opportunities for growth everywhere.

But Thầy Chân Quang emphasizes: all of these must return to one common root. That root is spiritual realization, the taste of liberation. In his words:

"Just as the great ocean has only one taste, the taste of salt, so the teachings of the Tathagata have only one taste, the taste of liberation."

Therefore, we should not divide between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. From the same rainfall, one tree grows into a great ancient tree, another remains only grass. Still, it is one flavor of rain, one flavor of dharma.

Practicing According to the Teachings: More Than Chanting Sutras

Many people believe that chanting thirty copies of the Lotus Sutra is a great accomplishment. But this passage teaches that the true value of a practitioner lies in applying the teachings to daily life. Thầy Chân Quang offers this reminder:

"The Buddha spoke of practicing in accordance with the teachings. It is precisely our practice in everyday life that measures our cultivation, not the number of sutras we chant."

When we step out of the temple gates and face countless worries and difficulties, yet our mind still holds onto virtue, still keeps the spirit of liberation as the Buddha taught, that is truly practicing in accordance with the teachings. The merit of this is boundless, beyond our own measuring.

The Buddha Did Not Rush Into Profound Teachings

Like a skilled physician, the Buddha understood each person's capacity. To those heavy with greed, he taught the practice of letting go; to those prone to anger, he taught compassion and calmness. He did not rush to speak of lofty wisdom, for if taught too soon, listeners might develop pride, digging deep into theory without practicing. In the lecture there is this passage:

"He did not hasten to teach all beings the knowledge of all aspects."

He first built the foundation of liberation, virtue, and meditative concentration. Once liberation is attained, practitioners will naturally see its positive and magnificent aspects. Likewise, as beginners on the path, we should start with the fundamentals, not chase after teachings too lofty, which easily breed self-satisfaction.

The Equal Rain: Loving All Beings

Clouds and rain fall upon every tree and every soil without discrimination. The Buddha is the same; he loves all beings equally. Thầy Chân Quang describes it this way:

"The noble and the lowly, those in high positions and those in low ones, those who keep the precepts and those who have broken them, those of complete deportment and those of incomplete deportment, those with right view who understand the truth, and those with wrong view... all of them, the Buddha loves equally."

We tend to draw near to the capable and avoid the weak; to cherish those who keep the precepts and criticize those who break them. But with the Buddha, there is no such discrimination. It is precisely because of his love that he can liberate all beings. Let us learn from the Buddha's mind of equality: look upon everyone with eyes of compassion, without prejudice.

Let your mind be like a great rain, equally refreshing every kind of being. And remember, your practice is not measured by the number of sutras you chant, but by whether your mind is truly liberated, truly loving. Wishing you a day of peace and diligent effort!