The ferocious dragon. In terms of inner character, a malicious heart is the ferocious dragon. And according to prophecy, near the end of the world, a beast (a crocodile transforming into a dragon) will appear to kill the wicked: “At that time, a storm will rise, and a vicious beast will devour the wicked” (Oracle, Vol I).
In the past, on his path to salvation, the Buddha subdued a vicious dragon in a cave near where Kasyapa lived. As the Buddha approached the cave, the dragon immediately spewed fire to harm him. He then used the Samadhi fire to burn down the cave and captured the dragon in his alms bowl. Later, during the time of the Sixth Patriarch Huineng, he also captured a ferocious dragon. The Platform Sutra clearly records this story as follows:
In those days, before the main hall of Buu Lam Pagoda, there was a large pond. In the pond lived a dragon that often appeared, shaking the trees of the forest. One day, the dragon transformed into a colossal form, causing waves to surge, the water to surge, and dark clouds to obscure the sky. The disciples were terrified. Hearing this, the Grand Master stepped out and rebuked it, saying, “You can transform into a large form, but you cannot transform into a small form. If you are truly a Divine Dragon, then you can transform: small into large, large into small—try it!”
The dragon immediately submerged itself, and after a moment, transformed into a small form and leaped ashore. The Grand Master held out his alms bowl and challenged, “Surely you dare not share my alms bowl?” The dragon eagerly leaped before the Grand Master. The Grand Master collected it into his alms bowl and took it back to the pagoda to preach to the dragon. After hearing the sermon, the dragon shed its skin and disappeared. The dragon’s skeleton was seven inches long; its head, tail, horns, and legs were intact and preserved at the pagoda.
Today, the Supreme Leader has been born, and he also has the responsibility of capturing the evil dragon; this is a common duty of the Patriarchs and Masters when they descend to earth to save the world.
He also prophesied that later, on this river (Vam Nao), a monstrous beast would rise up and torment the wicked, causing unspeakable suffering, and He Himself would have to capture it. Only when the beast submits will the people know who He is; but for now, they do not know, so they continue to criticize and slander, disregarding the scriptures and hymns.
“The river flows in a circle,
Later, there will be a great calamity here.
Then a storm will rise,
A monster will devour the wicked.
When the beast submits,
The masses will know who the Madman is.”
(Oracle, Vol I)
Commentary on the Oracle Vol IV (1975)
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