The first three natures belong to those beings who are destined to become Bodhisattvas, sravakas and pratyekabuddhas. These beings cannot change or digress from the course they are on. The fourth nature belongs to beings who are not necessarily destined to attain any of the three vehicles. They may attain enlightenment, or they may not. They can digress from the path. The fifth nature belongs to those who are not destined to attain any of the three vehicles. Such beings have not cultivated good karmic roots or karmic affinity with Buddhadharma. However, according to the Ch'an tradition, anybody, no matter which nature they have at the moment, can attain enlightenment and become a Buddha.

The pinodhi grass in the snow mountains is unmixed;
I often enjoy the pure ghee it produces.


The snow mountains refer to the Himalayas. The Nirvana Sutra mentions an herb called pinodhi grass (fei-ni in Chinese) which grows in these mountains. If a cow eats this grass, then the milk she produces will be like ghee, or refined butter. In this analogy, the pure essence of the pinodhi grass cannot be produced artificially. The pinodhi grass represents the precious essence of Buddhist teachings. Drinking the special ghee has the same effect as sipping ambrosia. A person who practices Ch'an and attains enlightenment will be able to teach the Dharma, and no matter what he says, it will always be the essence of Buddhadharma.

When I lead a Ch'an retreat, I often feel as if I were a mother cow producing milk for her calves. As the calves suck, the mother grows skinny while they grow big and strong. I feel like that mother cow after a Ch'an retreat ─ a little thinner and weaker. It would be great if all I did was eat pinodhi grass and that everything I said was like ghee. But when all is said and done, some people still do not benefit much.