The Magnificent Field of Weal

The Buddha praised Cunda and said, "Well said, well said! You well know that the Tathagata, following the way of all beings, enters Nirvana for the sake of expediency. Listen to me well! It's like the case in which all birds sarasa [a kind of medium-sized goose found in northern Europe and Asia] gather at Lake Anavatapta [Manasarwar] in the spring months. The same is the case with all Buddhas. Everyone gathers here. Oh Cunda! Think, neither much nor little, regarding the life of all Buddhas. All things are like ghosts. The Tathagata lives in the midst of them. What he has is expedient, he does not cling. Why not? It is thus with the Dharma of all Buddhas. Oh Cunda! I now receive what you offer. This is to allow you to cross the river of birth and death. Human or heavenly (beings) who make offerings [to the Buddha] for the last time, all gain a unshakable reward and will be blessed with happiness. Why? Because I am the best field of weal for all beings. If you desire to become a field of weal for all beings, accept whatever is given you. Do not tarry long."

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The Eyes of Common Mortals

"Oh Manjushri! The garuda flies countless yojanas in the sky. He looks down on the great ocean and sees such things of water as fish, sea turtles, snapping turtles, crocodiles, tortoises, nagas, as well as his own shadow reflected in the water. He sees all these things just as one sees all the visible forms in a mirror. The petty wisdom of the common mortals cannot even consider well what comes to his eyes. The same is the case with me and you too. We cannot consider the Wisdom of the Tathagata."

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The Buddha's Sun and the Clouds of Samsara

"The Tathagata, among the priests, speaks of the superb Dharma.
This can be well compared to Mount Sumeru,
that remains unmolested amidst the great ocean.
The Wisdom of the Buddha thoroughly dispels the gloom of humans.

It's like when the sun rises, all the clouds disperse,
and his light shines on everything.
The Tathagata thoroughly does away with all illusions.

This (the worldly life) is like the coolness that reigns
when the clouds appear in the sky.
All beings love and wail.
All are floundering on the bitter waters of birth and death.

For this reason, I pray, Oh World Honored One!
Stay alive for longer and increase the faith of all beings,
freeing them from the suffering of birth and death!"

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 2 - On Cunda.

The Weed

It's hard to be born as human;
it's harder still encounter the Buddha when he appears in the world.
It's like in the case of a blind turtle who,
in the midst of the ocean, can hit the hole in a piece of floating wood.
I now offer food and pray that I will attain the unsurpassed reward,
that I will destroy the bonds of illusion,
and that it (the illusion) no more will be strong.
I do not seek here to gain a heavenly body.
Even if I had gained it, my mind would not be satisfied.
The Tathagata accepts this offering of mine.
Nothing could ever please me more.
It is like in the case of a stinking weed,
but which exudes a fragrance of sandalwood.
I am the weed.

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 2 - On Cunda.

Offerings of Meals

Then the World Honored One, the All-Knowledge [‘sarvajnana’], the Unsurpassed Trainer, said to Cunda: "This is good, good indeed! I shall now cut off the roots of your poverty and let fall on your field of carnal life the unsurpassed rain of Dharma, and call forth the bud of Dharma. Now, your desire is to get from me the life, body, power, peace, and unhindered speech (eloquence). And I'll give you immortality, body, power, peace, and unhindered speech. Why? Oh Cunda! In offerings of meals there are two fruits that we know have no distinction. What are the two? Firstly, one attains ‘anuttarasamyaksambodhi’ when one receives them; secondly, one enters Nirvana after receiving them. I will now receive your last offerings and let you accomplish the danaparamita."

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The Parable of the Fertile Land

"At that time, was present among the congregation, an upasaka who was the son of an artisan of the fortress town of Kushinagar. Cunda was his name. He was there with his comrades, fifteen in all. In the sense that the world would generate good fruit, he abandoned all bodily adornments, stood up, bared his right shoulder, placed his right knee on the ground, joined his hands and stared at the Buddha. Sad and tearfully, he touched the feet of the Buddha with his head and said: 'Oh World Honored One! Please have pity, accept our latest offerings and succor innumerable beings. Oh World Honored One! From now on, we no longer have a master, no parents, no salvation, no protection, no place wherein to take refuge, nor a place to go; we will become poor and hungry. Following the Tathagata, we desire to gain food for days to come. Please have pity and accept our humble offerings, and then enter Nirvana. Oh World Honored One! It's like in the case of a Kshatriya, Brahmin, Vaishya or Sudra, who being poor, travels to a far-off country. He works at farming and gains a tamed cow. The land is good, flat and wide. There is no poverty or sandy soil, no harmful weeds, no barrenness and no defilements. What is needful is to wait by the rain from heaven. We say 'tamed cow': This may be understood as the seven actions of body and mouth; and good, flat and wide land, can be understood as Wisdom. Ending the poor soil, harmful weeds, barrenness and defilements refers to illusion, which we must do away with. Oh World Honored One! Now we have the tamed cow and good soil, we have cultivated the land and done away with all weeds. Now, We are just waiting for the sweet rain of the Tathagata's Dharma visit us. The four castes of poverty are nothing more than the carnal body that I possess. I am poor because I do not possess the superb treasure of Dharma. I pray, have pity and cut away our poverty, misery, and deliver us, as well all the innumerable beings, of our sorrows and worries. The offerings that I make are paltry. But, I think they will satisfy the Tathagata and the Sangha. Now, I have no master, no parents, and no refuge. Please have pity on us, as you have on Rahula '."

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 2 - On Cunda.