Rain Cloud Of The Dhamma

Imagine somewhere in the world, on the mountains, along a river bank, in a valley or on a plain, that there are growing plants, trees, bushes, groves and medical herbs of various types, with different names and a variety of colors. Then imagine that a great cloud spreading over the world pours down rain equally everywhere. Its moisture would equally nourish those plants with their small, medium-sized and large roots, stalks, twigs and leaves. From the rain of this one cloud all these different plants grow each according to their own nature. From the same soil moistened with the same rain, they put forth different flowers and diverse fruits. The Tathagata is like this. He appears in the world like a great rain cloud and he extends his message over the world of gods, humans and asuras…and numberless beings come to hear the Buddha’s Dhamma. Then, observing the natures of these beings – smart and dull, active and passive – the he teaches them the Dhamma according to their capacity so that they rejoice and benefit.
From the Sadharmapundarika Sutra