I'm Always Here

Then, all those gathered there, in accordance with the wish of the Buddha, thought so: ‘The Tathagata now accepts our offerings. Before long, he will enter Nirvana.’

Thinking thus, they were both glad and sad. Through the divine power of the Buddha, in a space the size of the tip of a needle, there were gathered together innumerable Buddhas and their retinues, who all sat and ate. What they ate was all equal [the same food], without difference.

Then the devas, asuras and all others wept and were sad. They said: ‘The Tathagata has received our final offerings. Having received them, he will enter Nirvana. To whom can we make offerings now? Now, with the unsurpassed Trainer parted from us, we are all like blind men.’

Then the World Honored One, in order to comfort all those gathered there, spoke in a gatha:

"Do not weep! The Dharma of all Buddhas is thus.
There are already innumerable kalpas since I entered Nirvana.
I have reached the best of the Bliss
and rested myself forever in the peace.

Now, listen with all your heart!
I shall now speak about Nirvana.
I am now segregated from the sense of [the tasting] food;
I now do not feel thirsty.
I shall now, for your sake,
Speak about the vows, step by step

and cause all to be blessed with peace

Listen carefully and practice the eternal Dharma of all Buddhas.
If crows and owls live in a tree
and become friends of each other like brothers,
I will enter Nirvana for eternity.
The Tathagata sees all beings as he sees Rahula.
I will always be the most honored to all beings.
How could I enter Nirvana for eternity?

If snakes, rats and wolves live in a hole
and become friends of each other like brothers,
I will enter Nirvana for eternity.
The Tathagata sees all beings as he sees Rahula.
He always becomes the most honored by the beings.
How can he stay long in Nirvana?

If saptaparna [a bitter plant] transmutes into varsika [jasmine],
if karu [gentian] transmutes into tinduka [diospyros embryoteris],
then I might well enter Nirvana.
The Tathagata sees everyone as he sees Rahula.
How could he abandon compassion
and enter Nirvana for a long time?

If an icchantika could, in his present body,
attain Enlightenment and Bliss in first-grade,
then surely I would enter Nirvana.
The Tathagata sees everyone as he sees Rahula.
How could he abandon compassion
and enter Nirvana for a long time?

If everyone at once attain Enlightenment,
and abandon all evils,
I certainly would reach Nirvana.
The Tathagata sees everyone as he sees Rahula.
How could he abandon compassion
and enter Nirvana for a long time?

If the water (impure) of mosquitoes and flies
could indeed wet the whole earth
and fill the rivers, valleys and seas,
I would enter Nirvana.
My compassionate heart sees everyone as I see Rahula.
I'm always the most honored of all beings,
How could I stay long in Nirvana?

For this reason, seek deeply for the Wonderful Dharma.
Do not be overmuch worried, do not cry, do not weep.
If you desire to act properly,
practice the eternity of the Tathagata;
keep the thought that such a Dharma lives long
and that there is no change.

Also, be aware of the fact that the Three Treasures are all eternal.
This will beget a great protection.
It is as in the case of a dead tree
which, as a result of magic charms, brings forth fruit.
These are the Three Treasures.
 
All of you, the four classes of people! Listen up!
On listening well, the joy will arise and Bodhicitta will come about.
If the Three Treasures come about as (being) eternals
and are like 'Paramartha-satya’ [Ultimate Reality],
This is the utmost of vows of all the Buddhas."

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 17 - On the Questions Raised by the Crowd.