Though there are many different kinds of plants
described in this parable—inferior, intermediary and superior medicinal herbs, and both large and small trees—representing the different capacities of people, each is nurtured by the rain, which falls equally upon them and is "of one form, one flavor." The quantity of the rain absorbed by each kind of plant, however, differs and each grows in its own way. Likewise, people understand and respond to the Buddha's teaching in different ways. In this sense, the various kinds of plants also represent the various schools and interpretations of Buddhism, while the rain is the essence of the Buddha's teaching, which is encapsulated in the Lotus Sutra.President Ikeda states, "The Buddha's preaching begins from a recognition of human diversity. The Buddha asks the question: How can I enable each person to attain Buddhahood, notwithstanding differences in circumstance, temperament and capacity? The Lotus Sutra, without departing in the least from the reality of the individual, clarifies the path to Buddhahood for all."From a more general perspective, the parable of the three kinds of medicinal herbs and two kinds of trees acknowledges human diversity and demonstrates how treasuring a person—by deeply considering how best to enable someone to become truly happy and bring forth their unique potential—is the key to treasuring all life. "Human beings nourish human beings. Life nourishes life," states President Ikeda. Treasuring life is the path to Buddhahood and the basis for building peace in our diverse world.
https://lse.sg/the-lotus-sutra/7-parables/the-three-kinds-of-medicinal-herbs/
