The Diamond Sutra, 3. The Bodhisattva's Vow.The Buddha said to Subhūti: “The bodhisattvas and mahāsattvas should subdue their thoughts like this: All the different types of sentient beings, whether they be born from eggs, born from a womb, born from moisture or born spontaneously; whether or not they have form; whether they abide in perceptions or no perceptions; or without either perceptions or non-perceptions, I save them by causing them to enter nirvana without remainder. And when these immeasurable, countless, infinite number of sentient beings have been liberated, in actuality, no sentient being has attained liberation. Why is this so? Subhūti, If a bodhisattva abides in the signs of self, person, sentient being, or life-span, she or he is not a bodhisattva.”
Yet here in the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha is speaking in terms of Life-Span, in and in terms of saving sentient beings. Is this to be regarded as Upaya? For those that have taken the Bodhisattva Vows, and know their compassion as Bodhisattvas, is this type of thinking considered Upaya and once selfless service begins and one enters into Anatta, what the Diamond Sutra mentions as the process of consciousness (and not-consciousness), the blowing out of the process of blowing out considered to be the true connection and full aspect of Buddha-Nature, while Upaya is the Means? This is my question. Any form of answer would be appreciated. Thank you!
-The Lotus Sutra, Chapter 16, The Life Span of the Thus Come One"Thus, since I attained Buddhahood, an extremely long period of time has passed. My life span is an immeasurable number of asamkhya kalpas, and during that time I have constantly abided here without ever entering extinction. Good men, originally I practiced the bodhisattva way, and the life span that I acquired then has yet to come to an end but will last twice the number of years that have already passed. Now, however, although in fact I do not actually enter extinction, I announce that I am going to adopt the course of extinction. This is an expedient means which the Thus Come One uses to teach and convert living beings.
....
....
Always I am aware of which living beings
practice the way, and which do not,
and in response to their needs for salvation
I preach various doctrines for them.
At all times I think to myself:
How can I cause living beings
to gain entry into the unsurpassed way
and quickly acquire the body of a Buddha?
Om.