The Parable of the Fantastic Castle-City

[The Buddha said:]

Suppose there was a steep, bad road,
Remote and teeming with dangerous beasts,
With neither water nor grass,
and terrifying to people.

An innumerable multitude of tens of millions of people
Wanted to go over this steep road,
A road reaching far into the distance,
Stretching over five hundred leagues.

There was a leader and teacher,
A guide who was knowledgeable and wise,
Clearheaded and determined,
One who could save people in danger from many troubles.

The people became tired and discouraged
And said to the guide:
"Now we are exhausted
And want to turn back."

The guide thought:
"These people are to be pitied.
How can they want to turn back
And give up such great, rare treasures ahead?"

Then he thought of a skillful means.
Using divine powers,
He conjured up a great walled castle-city
With splendidly adorned houses.

Surrounded with gardens and groves,
Brooks and ponds,
With double gates and tall pavilions,
It was filled with both men and women.

Having created this illusion,
He comforted the group, saying:
"Don't be afraid! You can enter this city
And enjoy yourselves as you like."

When they had entered the city,
All their hearts were filled with great joy.
They felt calm and comfortable,
Thinking they had been saved.

When the guide knew they were rested,
He assembled them and said,
"Now we should go forward!
This city is only a fantasy.

"Seeing that you were exhausted
And wanted to turn back midway,
I used my power of skillful means
To conjure up this castle-city for the time being.

"Now you must try very hard
So that together
You can reach the place
Where the treasure is."

I, too, in the same way,
Am a guide for all.

I see seekers of the Way
Becoming discouraged midway through
And unable to cross the steep road
Of birth and death and afflictions.

So by power of skillful means
I taught nirvana so they could rest, saying:
"Your suffering is ended;
You have finished your work."

When I know they have reached nirvana
And all have become arhats,
Then I gather everyone together
And teach the real Dharma.

Through their powers of skillful means,
Buddhas make distinctions and teach three vehicles.
But there is really only One Buddha—Vehicle.
It is for a resting-place that the other two are taught.

Now I teach the truth for you:
What you have reached is not extinction.
To gain a buddha's comprehensive wisdom,
You have to make a great effort.

When you gained comprehensive wisdom
And the ten powers of the Buddha-dharma,
And acquired the thirty-two characteristics,
Then that is real extinction.

The buddhas, as guides,
Teach nirvana to provide rest.
But seeing that you are rested,
They lead you on to Buddha-wisdom.

                                                      ---The Lotus Sutra---