Frontispiece for the Lotus Sutra, China, Song Dynasty, 12th century, handscroll, gold ink on indigo paper.

Selections from the Saddharmapuëòaréka-Sütra Sütra on the Lotus of the True Dharma The Lotus Sutra

[Certainly one of the most important and revered scriptures in Chapter One all of East Asia, the Lotus Sütra is most famous for its doctrine Introduction of ekayäna, the “One Vehicle,” which became the distinctive teaching of the T’ien-tai School of Buddhism as it developed in This is what I heard: At one time the Buddha was in China (Tendai in Japan). Bewildered by the wide diversity of Rajagriha, staying on Mount Gridhrakuta. Accompanying Indian Buddhist scriptures, and attempting to reconcile the him were a multitude of leading monks numbering seeming contradictions in the Buddha’s Dharma that arose as twelve thousand persons. All were arhats whose outflows a result of the three vehicles of Indian Buddhism, the Hénayäna, had come to an end, who had no more earthly desires, Mahäyäna, and Vajrayäna, the teachers of the T’ien-tai who had attained what was to their advantage and had emphasized that there is really only one vehicle as taught in the put an end to the bonds of existence, and whose minds Lotus Sütra. While on the lower levels of knowledge and truth had achieved a state of freedom. . . . there are different vehicles and different paths, on the highest third level of knowledge and truth there is only one path, one At that time the World-Honored One, surrounded by vehicle. All the various teachings found in the different the four kinds of believers, received offerings and tokens scriptures are merely strategies, or ‘expedient means’ (upäya), of respect and was honored and praised. And for the sake by which the Buddha adapted his teachings to suit the needs of of the bodhisattvas he preached the Great Vehicle sutra particular individuals in their own particular situation. This entitle Immeasurable Meanings, a Law to instruct the notion of ‘skill-in-means’ emphasized in the Lotus Sütra is one bodhisattvas, one that is guarded and kept in mind by the of the key concepts of Mahäyäna Buddhism. Buddhas. This opening chapter presents the striking image, captured When the Buddha had finished preaching this Sutra, in this frontispiece, of the Buddhha’s teachings or Dharma as he sat with his legs crossed in lotus position and entered a beam of light emitting from between the eyebrows of the into the samadhi of the place of immeasurable meanings, Buddha, lighting up all the worlds. Seeking to understand this his body and mind never moving. At that time heaven magical beam of light, the bodhisattva Maitreya turns to the rained down mandarava flowers, great mandarava bodhisattva Maïjuçré, especially known for his great wisdom. flowers, manjushaka flowers, and great manjushaka The beam of light is a simile for the unsurpassed enlightenment flowers, scattering them over the Buddha and over the of a Buddha (anuttara-samyak-sambodhi). As Maïjuçré great assembly, and everywhere the Buddha world explains it, since the enlightened mind knows all things quaked and trembled in six different ways. everywhere, and the dharmakäya universally fills the dharma At that time the monks, nuns, laymen, laywomen, realm, the Dharma penetrates everywhere and rains down upon heavenly beings, dragons, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, all equally, according to their needs.] garudas, kimnaras, mahoragas, human and nonhuman History of Buddhist Philosophy The Lotus Sütra—2 beings in the assembly, as well as the petty kings and saying, "What is the cause of these auspicious portents, wheel-turning sage kings—all those in the great these signs of transcendental powers, this emitting of a assembly, having gained what they had never had before, great beam of brightness that illumines the eighteen were filled with joy and, pressing their palms together, thousand lands in the eastern direction so we can see all gazed at the Buddha with a single mind. the adornments of the Buddha worlds there?" At that time the Buddha emitted a ray of light from the Then Bodhisattva Maitreya, wishing to state his tuft of white hair between his eyebrows, one of his meaning once more, asked the question in verse form: characteristic features, lighting up eighteen thousand worlds in the eastern direction. There was no place that Manjushri, the light did not penetrate, reaching downward as far as Why from the white tuft between the eyebrows the Avichi hell and upward to the Akanishtha heaven. of our leader and teacher From this world one could see the living beings in the does this great light shine all around? six paths of existence in all of those other lands. One Why do mandarava could likewise see the Buddhas present at that time in and manjushaka flowers rain down those other lands and could hear the sutra teachings and breezes scented with sandalwood which those Buddhas were expounding. At the same time delight the hearts of the assembly? one could see the monks, nuns laymen, and laywomen Because of these who had carried out religious practices and attained the the earth is everywhere adorned and purified way. One could also see the bodhisattvas and and this world mahasattvas who, through various causes and conditions quakes and trembles in six different ways. and various types of faith and understanding and in At this time the four kinds of believers various forms and aspects were carrying out the way of are all filled with joy and delight, the bodhisattva. And one could also see the Buddhas who they rejoice in body and mind, had entered parinirvana, towers adorned with the seven having gained what they never had before. treasures were erected for the Buddha relics. The beam of brightness from between the eyebrows At that time the Bodhisattva Maitreya had this illumines the eastern direction thought: Now the World-Honored One has manifested and eighteen thousand lands these miraculous signs. But what is the cause of these are all the color of gold. auspicious portents? Now the Buddha, the World From the Avichi hell Honored One, has entered into samadhi. An upward to the Summit of Being, unfathomable event such as this is seldom to be met with. throughout the various worlds Whom shall I question about this? Who can give me an the living beings in the six paths, answer? the realm to which their births and deaths are tending, And again he had this thought: this Manjushri, son of their good and bad deeds, a Dharma King, has already personally attended and and the pleasing or ugly recompense they receive— given offerings to immeasurable numbers of Buddhas in all these can be seen from here. the past. Surely he must see these rare signs. I will now We can also see Buddhas, question him. those sage lords, lions, At this time the monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen, expounding and preaching sutras as well as the heavenly beings, dragons, spirits, and the that are subtle, wonderful and foremost. others all had this thought: this beam of brightness from Their voices are clear and pure, the Buddha, these signs of transcendental powers— now issuing in soft and gentle sounds, whom shall we question about them? as they teach bodhisattvas At that time Bodhisattva Maitreya wished to settle his in numberless millions. doubts concerning the matter. And in addition he could Their Brahma sounds are profound and wonderful, see what was in the minds of the four kinds of believers, making people delight in hearing them. the monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen, as well as the Each in his own world heavenly beings, dragons, spirits and the others who preaches the correct Law, made up the assembly. So he questioned Manjushri, following various causes and conditions History of Buddhist Philosophy The Lotus Sütra—3 and employing immeasurable similes, in their search for the Buddha wisdom. illuminating the Law of the Buddha, guiding living beings to enlightenment. Manjushri, If a person should encounter troubles, I see kings loathing old age, sickness and death, going to visit the place of the Buddha the Buddhas preach to him on nirvana, to ask him about the unsurpassed way. explaining how he may put an end to all troubles. They put aside their happy lands, If a person should have good fortune, their palaces, their men and women attendants, having in the past made offerings to the Buddhas, shave their hair and beard determined to seek a superior Law, and don the clothes of the Dharma. the Buddhas preach the way of the pratyekabuddha. Or I see bodhisattvas If there should be Buddha sons who become monks, who carry out various religious practices, living alone in quietude, seeking to attain the unsurpassed wisdom, delighting in chanting the sutras. the Buddhas preach the way of purity. Again I see bodhisattvas bravely and vigorously exerting themselves, Manjushri, entering the deep mountains, I have been dwelling here, their thoughts on the Buddha way. seeing and hearing in this manner And I see them removing themselves from desire, many things numbering in the thousands of millions. constantly dwelling in emptiness and stillness, Numerous as they are, advancing deep into the practice of mediation I will now speak of them in brief. until they have gained the five transcendental powers. I see in these lands And I see bodhisattvas bodhisattvas numerous as Ganges sands, resting in meditation, palms pressed together, according with various causes and conditions with a thousand, ten thousand verses and seeking the way of the Buddha. praising the king of the doctrines. Some of them give alms, Again I see bodhisattvas, gold, silver, coral, profound in wisdom, firm in purpose, pears, mani jewels, who know how to question the Buddhas seashell, agate, and accept and abide by all they hear. diamonds and other rarities, I see Buddha sons men and women servants, carriages, proficient in both meditation and wisdom, jeweled hand carriages and palanquins, who use immeasurable numbers of similes gladly presenting these donations. to expound the Law to the assembly, Such gifts they give to the Buddha way, delighting in preaching the Law, desiring to achieve the vehicle converting the bodhisattvas, that is foremost in the threefold world defeating the legions of the devil and praised by the Buddhas. and beating the Dharma drum. There are some bodhisattvas And I see bodhisattvas who give jeweled carriages drawn by teams of four, profoundly still and silent, with railings and flowered canopies honored by heavenly beings and dragons adorning their top and sides. but not counting that a joy. Again I see bodhisattvas And I see bodhisattvas who give their own flesh, hands and feet, living in forests, emitting light, or their wives and children, saving those who suffer in hell, seeking the unsurpassed way. causing them to enter the Buddha way. I also see bodhisattvas And I see Buddha sons who happily give who have never once slept, heads, eyes, bodies and limbs who keep circling through the forest History of Buddhist Philosophy The Lotus Sütra—4 diligently seeking the Buddha way. who use this wonderful wisdom And I see those who observe the precepts, to seek the unsurpassed way. no flaw in their conduct, pure as jewels and gems, Manjushri, and in that manner seeking the Buddha way. there are also bodhisattvas And I see Buddha sons who after the Buddha has passed into extinction abiding in the strength of fortitude, make offerings to his relics. taking the abuse and blows I see Buddha sons of persons of overbearing arrogance, building memorial towers willing to suffer all these, as numberless as Ganges sands, and in that manner seeking the Buddha way. ornamenting each land with them, I see bodhisattvas jeweled towers lofty and wonderful, removing themselves from frivolity and laughter five thousand yojanas high, and from foolish companions, their width and depth befriending persons of wisdom, exactly two thousand yojanas, unifying their minds, dispelling confusion, each of these memorial towers ordering their thoughts in mountain and forest with its thousand banners and streamers, for a million, a thousand, ten thousand years with curtains laced with gems like dewdrops in that manner seeking the Buddha way. and jeweled bells chiming harmoniously. Or I see bodhisattvas There heavenly beings, dragons, spirits, with delicious things to eat and drink human and nonhuman beings, and a hundred kinds of medicinal potions, with incense, flowers and music offering them to the Buddha and his monks; constantly making offerings. fine robes and superior garments costing in the thousands or ten thousands, Manjushri, or robes that are beyond cast, these Buddha sons offering them to the Buddha and his monks; in order to make offerings to the relics a thousand, ten thousand, a million kinds adorn the memorial towers of jeweled dwellings made of sandalwood so that each land, just as it is, and numerous wonderful articles of bedding, is as outstandingly wonderful and lovely offering them to the Buddha and his monks; as the heavenly king of trees immaculate gardens and groves when its flowers open and unfold. where flowers and fruit abound, When the Buddha emits a beam of light flowing springs and bathing pools, I and the other members of the assembly offering them to the Buddha and his monks; can see these lands offerings of this kind, in all their various outstanding wonders. or many different wonderful varieties The supernatural powers of the Buddhas presented gladly and without regret and their wisdom are rare indeed; as they seek the unsurpassed way. by emitting one pure beam of light, Or there are bodhisattvas the Buddhas illuminate countless lands. who expound the Law of tranquil extinction, I and the others have seen this, giving different types of instruction have gained something never known before. to numberless living beings. Buddha son, Manjushri, Or I see bodhisattvas I beg you to settle the doubts of the assembly. viewing the nature of all phenomena The four kinds of believers look up in happy anticipation, as having no dual characteristics, gazing at you and me. as being like empty space. Why does the World-Honored One And I see Buddha sons emit this beam of brightness? whose minds have no attachments, Buddha son, give a timely answer, History of Buddhist Philosophy The Lotus Sütra—5 settle these doubts and occasion joy! by expounding the Law of the twelve-linked chain of What rich benefits will come causation. For the sake of the bodhisattvas he responded from the projecting of this beam of brightness? by expounding the six paramitas, causing them to gain It must be that the Buddha wishes to expound anuttara-samyak-sambodhi and to acquire the wisdom the wonderful Law he gained that embraces all species." when he sat in the place of practice. "Then there was another Buddha who was also named He must have prophecies to bestow. Sun Moon Bright, and then another Buddha also named He has showed us Buddha lands Sun Moon Bright. There were twenty thousand Buddhas with their adornment and purity of manifold treasures, like this, all with the same appellation, all named Sun and we have seen their Buddhas— Moon Bright. And all had the same surname, the this is not done for petty reasons. surname Bharadvaja. Maitreya, you should understand Manjushri, you must know. that from the first Buddha to the last, all had the same The four kinds of believers, the dragons and spirits appellation, all were named Sun Moon Bright. They were gaze at you in surmise, worthy of all the ten epithets and the Law they wondering what explanation you will give. expounded was good at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end." At that time Manjushri said to the bodhisattva and "The last Buddha, when he had not yet left family life, mahasattva Maitreya and the other great men: "Good had eight princely sons. The first was named Having men, I suppose that the Buddha, the World Honored One, Intention, the second Good Intention, the third wishes now to expound the great Law, to rain down the Immeasurable intention, the fourth jeweled intention, the rain of the great Law, to blow the conch of the great Law, fifth Increased Intention, the sixth Cleansed of Doubt to beat the drum of the great Law, to elucidate the Intention, the seventh Echoing Intention, and the eighth meaning of the great Law. Good men, in the past I have Law Intention. Dignity and virtue came easily to them, seen this auspicious portent among the Buddhas. They and each presided over a four-continent realm." emitted a beam of light like this, and after that they "When these princes heard that their father had left expounded the great Law. Therefore we should know family life and had gained anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, that now, when the present Buddha manifests this light, they all cast aside their princely positions and followed we will do likewise. He wishes to cause all living beings him by leaving family life. Conceiving a desire for the to hear and understand the Law, which is difficult for all Great Vehicle, the constantly carried out Brahma the world to believe. Therefore he has manifested this practices, and all became teachers of the Law. They had auspicious portent. already planted good roots in the company of a thousand, "Good men, once, at a time that was an immeasurable, ten thousand Buddhas." boundless, inconceivable number of asamkhya kalpas in "At that time the Buddha Sun Moon Bright preached the past, there was a Buddha named Sun Moon Bright, the Great Vehicle sutra entitled Immeasurable Meanings, Thus Come One, worthy of offerings, of right and a Law to instruct the Bodhisattvas, one that is guarded universal knowledge, perfect clarity and conduct, well and kept in mind by the Buddhas. When he had finished gone, understanding the world, unexcelled worthy, preaching the sutra, he sat cross-legged in the midst of trainer of people, teacher of heavenly and human beings, the great assembly and entered into the samadhi of the Buddha, World-Honored One, who expounded the place of immeasurable meanings, his body and mind correct Law. His exposition was good at the beginning, never moving. At this time heaven rained down good in the middle, good at the end. The meaning was mandarava flowers, great mandarava flowers, profound and far-reaching, the words were skillful and manjushaka flowers, and great manjushaka flowers, wondrous. It was pure and without alloy, complete, clean scattering them over the Buddha and the great assembly, and spotless, and bore the marks of Brahma practice." and everywhere the Buddha world quaked and trembled "For the sake of those seeking to become voice-hearers in six different ways." he responded by expounding the Law of the four noble "At that time the monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen, truths, so that they could transcend birth, old age, heavenly beings, dragons, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, sickness and death and attain nirvana. For the sake of garudas, kimnaras, and mahoragas, the human and those seeking to become pratyekabuddhas he responded nonhuman beings in the assembly, as well as the petty History of Buddhist Philosophy The Lotus Sütra—6 kings and wheel-turning sage kings—all those in this "After the Buddha had passed away, Bodhisattva great assembly gained what they had never had before Wonderfully Bright upheld the Sutra of the Lotus of the and, filled with joy, pressed their palms together and Wonderful Law, for a period of fully eighty small kalpas gazed at the Buddha with a single mind. expounding it for others. The eight sons of the Buddha "At that time the Thus Come One emitted a ray of light Sun Moon Bright all acknowledged Wonderfully Bright from the tuft of white hair between his eyebrows, one of as their teacher. Wonderfully Bright taught and converted his characteristic features, lighting up eighteen thousand them and roused in them a firm determination to gain Buddha lands in the eastern direction. There was no place anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Those princely sons gave that the light did not penetrate, just as you have seen it offerings to immeasurable hundreds, thousands, ten light up these Buddha lands now." thousands, millions of Buddhas, and after that all were "Maitreya, you should understand this. At that time in able to achieve the Buddha way. The last to become a the assembly there were twenty million bodhisattvas who Buddha was named Burning Torch." were happy and eager to hear the Law. When these "Among the eight hundred disciples of Wonderfully bodhisattvas saw this beam of light that illuminated the Bright was one named Seeker of Fame. He was greedy for Buddha lands everywhere, they gained what they had gain and support, and though he read and recited never had before. They wished to know the causes and numerous sutras, he could not understand them, but for conditions that had occasioned this light." the most part forgot them. Hence he was called Seeker of "At that time there was a bodhisattva named Fame. Because this man had in addition planted various Wonderfully Bright who had eight hundred disciples. At good roots, however, he was able to encounter this time the Buddha Sun Moon Bright arose from his immeasurable hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, samadhi and, because of the bodhisattva Wonderfully millions of Buddhas, to make offerings to them, revere, Bright, preached the Great Vehicle sutra called the Lotus honor and praise them." of the Wonderful Law, a Law to instruct the bodhisattvas, "Maitreya, you should understand this. Bodhisattva one that is guarded and kept in mind by the Buddhas. For Wonderfully Bright who lived then—could he be known sixty small kalpas the Buddha remained in his seat to you? He was no other than I myself. And Bodhisattva without rising, and the listeners in the assembly at that Seeker of Fame was you." time also remained seated there for sixty small kalpas, "Now when I see this auspicious portent, it is no their bodies and minds never moving. And yet it seemed different from what I saw before. Therefore I suppose that to them that they had been listening to the Buddha peach now the Thus Come One is about to preach the Great for no more than the space of a meal. At this time in the Vehicle sutra called the Lotus of the Wonderful Law, a assembly there was not a single person who in body or Law to instruct the bodhisattvas, one that is guarded and mind had the least feeling of weariness." kept in mind by the Buddhas." "When the Buddha Sun Moon Bright had finished At that time Manjushri, wishing in the presence of the preaching this sutra over a period of sixty small kalpas, great assembly to state his meaning once more, spoke in he spoke these words to the Brahmas, devils, shramanas verse form, saying: and Brahmans, as well as to the heavenly and human beings and asuras in the assembly, saying, 'tonight at I recall that in a past age midnight the Thus Come One will enter the nirvana of no immeasurable, innumerable kalpas ago remainder." there was a Buddha, most honored of men, "At this time there was a bodhisattva named Virtue named Sun Moon Bright. Storehouse. The Buddha Sun Moon Bright bestowed a This World-Honored One expounded the Law, prophecy on him, announcing to the monks, "This saving immeasurable living beings bodhisattva Virtue Storehouse will be the next to become and numberless millions of bodhisattvas, a Buddha. He will be called Pure Body, tathagata, arhat, causing them to enter the Buddha wisdom. samyak-sambuddha." The eight princely sons whom this Buddha sired "After the Buddha had finished bestowing this before taking leave of family life, prophecy, at midnight he entered the nirvana of no when they saw that the great sage had left his family remainder." did likewise, carrying out brahma practices. At that time the Buddha preached the Great Vehicle, History of Buddhist Philosophy The Lotus Sütra—7 a sutra named Immeasurable Meanings, entering deep into meditation practices, and in the midst of a great assembly their bodies and minds still and unmoving, for the sake of the people established broad distinctions. in that manner seeking the unsurpassed way. When the Buddha had finished preaching this sutra One could also see bodhisattvas he sat in the seat of the Law, who knew that phenomena are marked by tranquility sitting cross-legged in the samadhi and extinction, called the place of immeasurable meanings. each in his respective land The heavens rained mandarava flowers, preaching the Law and seeking the Buddha way. heavenly drums sounded of themselves, At that time the four kinds of believers and the heavenly beings, dragons and spirits seeing the Buddha Sun Moon Bright made offerings to the most honored of men. manifest his great transcendental powers, All the Buddha lands all rejoiced in their hearts, immediately quaked and trembled greatly. and each one asked his neighbor The Buddha emitted a light from between his eyebrows, what had caused these events. manifesting signs that are rarely seen. The one honored by heavenly and human beings This light illumined the eastern direction, just then arose from his samadhi eighteen thousand Buddha lands, and praised Bodhisattva Wonderfully Bright, saying, showing how all the living beings there "You are the eyes of the world, were recompensed in birth and death for their past deed. one whom all can take faith in and believe, That one could see how these Buddha lands, able to honor and uphold the storehouse of the Dharma. adorned with numerous jewels, The law that I preach- shone with hues of lapis lazuli and crystal you alone know how to testify to it." was due to the illumination of the Buddha's light. The World-Honored One, having bestowed this praise, One could also see the heavenly and human beings, causing Wonderfully Bright to rejoice, dragons, spirits, many yakshas, preached the Lotus Sutra gandharvas and kimnaras, for fully sixty small kalpas. each making offerings to his respective Buddha. He never rose from this seat, One could also see Thus Come Ones and the supreme and wonderful Law that he preached naturally attaining the Buddha way, was accepted and upheld in its entirety their bodies the color of golden mountains, by the Dharma teacher Wonderfully Bright. upright, imposing, very subtle and wonderful. After the Buddha had preached the Lotus, It was as though in the midst of pure lapis lazuli causing all the assembly to rejoice, there should appear statues of real gold. on that very same day In the midst of the great assembly the World-Honored he announced to the assembly of heavenly and human Ones beings, expounded the principles of the profound Law. "I have already expounded for you In one after another of the Buddha lands the meaning of the true entity of all phenomena. the voice-hearers in countless multitudes Now when midnight comes through the illumination of the Buddha's light I will enter nirvana. all became visible with their great assemblies. You must strive with all your hearts There were also monks and remove yourselves from indulgence and laxity, residing in the midst of forests, it is very difficult to encounter a Buddha— exerting themselves and keeping the pure precepts you meet one once in a million kalpas." as though they were guarding a bright jewel. When the children of the World-Honored One One could also see bodhisattvas heard that the Buddha was to enter nirvana, carrying out almsgiving, forbearances, and so forth, each one was filled with sorrow and distress, their number like Ganges sands, wondering why the Buddha should so quickly seek due to the illumination of the Buddha's light. extinction. One could also see bodhisattvas The sage lord, king of the Law, History of Buddhist Philosophy The Lotus Sütra—8 comforted and reassured the countless multitude, and thus was able to meet with innumerable Buddhas. saying, "When I enter extinction He made offerings to the Buddhas you must not be concerned or fearful! and followed them in practicing the great way, This bodhisattva Virtue Storehouse carrying out all the six paramitas, has already fully understood in his mind and now he has met the lion of the Shakyas. the true entity that is without outflows. Hereafter he will become a Buddha He will be next to become a Buddha, whose name will be Maitreya, bearing the name Pure Body, who will save living beings extensively and he too will save immeasurable multitudes." in numbers beyond calculation. That night the Buddha entered extinction, After that Buddha passed into extinction, as a fire dies out when the firewood is exhausted. that lazy and slothful one-he was you, They divided and apportioned his relics and the Dharma teacher Wonderfully Bright— and built immeasurable numbers of towers, that was the person who is now I myself. and the monks and nuns I saw how the Buddha Torch Bright (Sun Moon Bright) whose number was like Ganges sands earlier manifested an auspicious portent like this. redoubled their exertions, And so I know that now this present Buddha thereby seeking the unsurpassed way. is about to preach the Lotus Sutra. This Dharma teacher Wonderfully Bright The signs now are like those of the earlier auspicious honored and upheld the Buddha's storehouse of the portent, Dharma this is an expedient means (upäya) used by the Buddhas. throughout eighty small kalpas, Now when the Buddha emits this beam of brightness broadly propagating the Lotus Sutra. he is helping to reveal the meaning of the true entity of These eight princely sons phenomena. whom Wonderfully Bright converted Human beings now will come to know it. held firmly to the unsurpassed way Let us press our palms together and wait with a single and were thus able to encounter innumerable Buddhas. mind. And after they had made offerings to these Buddhas The Buddha will rain down the rain of the Law they followed them in practicing the great way to fully satisfy all seekers of the way. and one after the other succeeded in becoming a You who seek the three vehicles, Buddha, if you have doubts and regrets, each in turn bestowing a prophecy on his successor. the Buddha will resolve them for you, The last to become a heavenly being among heavenly bringing them to an end so that nothing remains. beings was named the Buddha Burning Torch. * * * As leader and teacher of seers [In this selection from the second chapter, the Buddha explains he saved immeasurable multitudes. to Shariputra the meaning of expedient means (upäya).] This Dharma teacher Wonderfully Bright at that time had a disciple Chapter Two whose mind was forever occupied with laziness and Expedient Means sloth, who was greedy for fame and profit. At that time the World-Honored One calmly arose from He sought fame and profit insatiably, his samadhi and addressed Shariputra, saying: "The often amusing himself among clansmen and those of wisdom of the Buddhas is infinitely profound and other surnames. immeasurable. The door to this wisdom is difficult to He threw away what he had studied and memorized, understand and difficult to enter. Not one of the neglected and forgot it, failed to understand it. voice-hearers or pratyekabuddhas is able to comprehend Because of this it. he was named Seeker of Fame. "What is the reason for this? A Buddha has personally But he had also carried out many good actions attended a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, a million, History of Buddhist Philosophy The Lotus Sütra—9 a countless number of Buddhas and has fully carried out countless expedient means, discussing causes and an immeasurable number of religious practices. He has conditions and using words of simile and parable to exerted himself bravely and vigorously, and his name is expound the teachings. This Law is not something that universally known. He has realized the Law that is can be understood through pondering or analysis. Only profound and never known before, and preaches it in those who are Buddhas can understand it. Why is this? accordance with what is appropriate, yet his intention is Because the Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, appear difficult to understand. in the world for one great reason alone. Shariputra, what "Shariputra, ever since I attained Buddhahood I have does it mean to say that the Buddhas, the World-Honored through various causes and various similes widely Ones, appear in the world for one great reason alone? expounded my teachings and have used countless "The Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones , wish to expedient means to guide living beings and cause them open the door of Buddha wisdom to all living beings, to to renounce attachments. Why is this? Because the Thus allow them to attain purity. That is why they appear in Come One is fully possessed by both expedient means the world. They wish to show the Buddha wisdom to and the paramita of wisdom. living beings, and therefore they appear in the world. "Shariputra, the wisdom of the Thus Come One is They wish to cause living beings to awaken to the expansive and profound. He has immeasurable [mercy], Buddha wisdom, and therefore they appear in the world. unlimited [eloquence], power, fearlessness, concentration, They wish to induce living beings to enter the path of emancipation, and samadhis, and has deeply entered the Buddha wisdom, and therefore they appear in the world. boundless and awakened to the Law never before Shariputra, this is the one great reason for which the attained. Buddhas appear in the world." "Shariputra, the Thus Come One knows how to make The Buddha said to Shariputra, "The Buddhas, the various kinds of distinctions and to expound the Thus Come Ones, simply teach and convert the teachings skillfully. His words are soft and gentle and Bodhisattvas. All the things they do are at all times done delight the hearts of the assembly. for this one purpose. They simply wish to show the "Shariputra, to sum it up: the Buddha has fully Buddha wisdom to living beings and enlighten them to it. realized the Law that is limitless, boundless, never "Shariputra, the Thus Come Ones have only a single attained before. Buddha vehicle which they employ in order to preach the "But stop, Shariputra, I will say no more. Why? Law to living beings. They do not have any other vehicle Because what the Buddha has achieved is the rarest and a second one or a third one 1. Shariputra, the Law most difficult-to-understand Law. The true entity of all preached by all the Buddhas of the ten directions is the phenomena can only be understood and shared between same as this. Buddhas. This reality consists of the appearance, nature, "Shariputra, the Buddhas of the past used countless entity, power, influence, inherent cause, relation, latent numbers of expedient means, various causes and effect, manifest effect, and their consistency from conditions, and words of simile and parable in order to beginning to end." . . . expound the doctrines for the sake of living beings. These doctrines are all for the sake of the one Buddha vehicle. [After further questioning from Shariputra, the Buddha goes on These living beings, by listening to the doctrines of the to explain further this notion of the skillful or expedient means Buddhas, are all eventually able to attain wisdom of the Dharma.] embracing all species. Shariputra, when the Buddhas of the future make their The Buddha said to Shariputra, "A wonderful Law such appearance in the world, they too will use countless as this is preached by the Buddhas, the Thus Come Ones, numbers of expedient means, various causes and at certain times. But like the blooming of the udumbara, conditions, and words of simile and parable in order to such times come very seldom. Shariputra, you and the expound the doctrines for the sake of living beings. These others must believe me. The words that the Buddhas doctrines will all be for the sake of the one Buddha preach are not empty or false. vehicle. And these living beings, by listening to the "Shariputra, the Buddhas preach the Law in doctrines of the Buddhas, will all eventually be able to accordance with what is appropriate, but the meaning is attain wisdom embracing all species. difficult to understand. Why is this? Because we employ History of Buddhist Philosophy The Lotus Sütra—10

"Shariputra, the Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, there was no Buddha present in the world. Why is this? who exist at present in the countless hundreds, Because after the Buddha has passed away it will be thousands, ten thousands, and millions of Buddha lands difficult to find anyone who can embrace, recite, and in the ten directions, benefit and bring peace and understand the meaning of sutras such as this. But if happiness to living beings in large measure, these persons at that time encounter another Buddha, then they Buddhas too use countless numbers of expedient means, will attain decisive understanding with regard to this various causes and conditions, and words of simile and Law. parable in order to expound the doctrines for the sake of "Shariputra, you and the others should with a single living beings. These doctrines are all for the sake of the mind believe and accept the words of the Buddha. The one Buddha vehicle. And these living beings, by listening words of the Buddhas, the Thus Come Ones, are not to the doctrines of the Buddhas, are all eventually able to empty or false. There is no other vehicle, there is only the attain wisdom embracing all species. one Buddha vehicle. "Shariputra, these Buddhas simply teach and convert the Bodhisattvas. They do it because they wish to show * * * the Buddha wisdom to living beings. They do it because [In this selection from the third chapter, the Buddha tells the they wish to use the Buddha wisdom to enlighten living story about a father trying to save his three sons from a burning beings. They do it because they wish to cause living house. Knowing his sons well, and knowing what toys they like beings to enter the path of Buddha wisdom. to play with, he uses three different toys, goat-carts, deer-carts "Shariputra, I too will now do the same, I know that and ox-carts, in order to lure the children from the burning living beings have various desires. Attachments that are house. The burning house is obviously a simile for samsara and deeply implanted in their minds. Taking cognizance of the goat-carts, deer-carts and ox-carts are similes for the three this basic nature of theirs, I will therefore use various vehicles of the Dharma. While the Buddha may have employed causes and conditions, words of simile and parable, and the teaching of three vehicles, as expedient means of meeting the power of expedient means and expound the Law for different needs, there is really only one, the ‘Great Vehicle’ them. Shariputra, I do this so that all of them may attain (ekayäna).] the one Buddha vehicle and wisdom embracing all species. Chapter Three "Shariputra, when the age is impure and the times are Simile and Parable chaotic, then the defilements of living beings are grave, they are greedy and jealous and put down roots that are At that time Shariputra said to the Buddha: not good. Because of this, the Buddhas, utilizing the "World-Honored One, now I have no mere doubts or power of expedient means, apply distinctions to the one regrets. In person I have received from the Buddha this Buddha vehicle and preach as though it were three. prophecy that I will attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. "Shariputra, if any of my disciples should claim to be These twelve hundred persons here whose minds are free an arhat or a pratyekabuddha and yet does not heed or —in the past they remained at the level of learning, and understand that the Buddhas, the Thus Come Ones, the Buddha constantly taught and converted them, simply teach and convert the bodhisattvas, then he is no saying, 'My Law can free you from birth, old age, disciple of mine, he is no arhat or pratyekabuddha. sickness and death and enable you at last to achieve "Again, Shariputra, if there should be monks or nuns nirvana.' These persons, some of whom were still who claim that they already have attained the status of learning and some who had completed their learning, arhat, that this is their last incarnation, that they have each believed that, because he had shed his views of 'self,' reached the final nirvana, and that therefore they have no and also his views of 'existing' and 'not existing,' he had further intention of seeking anuttara-samyaksambodhi, attained nirvana. But now from the World-Honored One then you should understand that such as these are all they hear what they had never heard before, and all have persons of overbearing arrogance. Why do I say this? fallen into doubt and perplexity. Because if they are monks who have truly attained the "Very well, World-Honored One. I beg that for the sake status of arhat, then it would be unthinkable that they of the four kinds of believers you will explain the causes should fail to believe this Law. The only exception would and conditions and make it possible for them to shed be in a time after the Buddha had passed away, when their doubts and regrets." History of Buddhist Philosophy The Lotus Sütra—11

At that time the Buddha said so Shariputra, "Did I not games and unwilling to heed them. They had no alarm, tell you earlier that when the Buddhas, the no fright, and in the end no mind to leave the house. World-Honored Ones, cite various causes and conditions Moreover, they did not understand what the fire was, and use similes, parables, and other expressions, what the house was, what the danger was. They merely employing expedient means to preach the Law, it is all raced about this way and that in play and looked at their for the sake of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi? Whatever is father without heeding him. preached is all for the sake of converting the "At that time the rich man had this thought: the house bodhisattvas. is already in flames from this huge fire. If I and my sons "Moreover, Shariputra, I too will now make use of do not get out at once, we are certain to be burned. I must similes and parables to further clarify this doctrine. For now invent some expedient means that will make it through similes and parables those who are wise can possible for the children to escape harm. obtain understanding. "The father understood his sons and knew what "Shariputra, suppose that in a certain town in a certain various toys and curious objects each child customarily country there was a very rich man. He was far along in liked and what would delight them. And so he said to years and his wealth was beyond measure. He had many them, 'The kind of playthings you like are rare and hard fields, houses and menservants. His own house was big to find. If you do not take them when you can, you will and rambling, but it had only one gate. A great many surely regret it later. For example, things like these people--a hundred, two hundred, perhaps as many as goat-carts, deer-carts and ox-carts. They are outside the five hundred--lived in the house. The halls and rooms gate now where you can play with them. So you must were old and decaying, the walls crumbling, the pillars come out of this burning house at once. Then whatever rotten at their base, and the beams and rafters crooked ones you want, I will give them all to you!' and aslant. "At that time, when the sons heard their father telling "At that time a fire suddenly broke out on all sides, them about these rare playthings, because such things spreading through the rooms of the house. The sons of were just what they had wanted, each felt emboldened in the rich man, ten, twenty perhaps thirty, were inside the heart and, pushing and shoving one another, they all house. When the rich man saw the huge flames leaping came wildly dashing out of the burning house. up on every side, he was greatly alarmed and fearful and "At that time the rich man, seeing that his sons had thought to himself, I can escape to safety through the gotten out safely and all were seated on the open ground flaming gate, but my sons are inside the burning house at the crossroads and were no longer in danger, was enjoying themselves and playing games, unaware, greatly relieved and his mind danced for joy. At that time unknowing, without alarm or fear. The fire is closing in each of the sons said to his father, "the playthings you on them, suffering and pain threaten them, yet their promised us earlier, the goat-carts and deer-carts and minds have no sense of loathing or peril and they do not ox-carts—please give them to us now!' think of trying to escape! "Shariputra, at that time the rich man gave to each of "Shariputra, this rich man thought to himself, I have his sons a large carriage of uniform size and quality. The strength in my body and arms. I can wrap them in a robe carriages were tall and spacious and adorned with or place them on a bench and carry them out of the house. numerous jewels. A railing ran all around them and bells And then again he thought, this house has only one gate, hung from all four sides. A canopy was stretched over the and moreover it is narrow and small. top, which was also decorated with an assortment of My sons are very young, they have no understanding, precious jewels. Ropes of jewels twined around, a fringe and they love their games, being so engrossed in them of flowers hung down, and layers of cushions were that they are likely to be burned in the fire. I must explain spread inside, on which were placed vermillion pillows. to them why I am fearful and alarmed. The house is Each carriage was drawn by a white ox, pure and clean in already in flames and I must get them out quickly and hide, handsome in form and of great strength, capable of not let them be burned up in the fire! pulling the carriage smoothly and properly at a pace fast "Having thought in this way, he followed his plan and as the wind. In addition, there were many grooms and called to all his sons, saying, 'You must come out at once!" servants to attend and guard the carriage. But though the father was moved by pity and gave good "What was the reason for this? This rich man's wealth words of instruction, the sons were absorbed in their was limitless and he had many kinds of storehouses that History of Buddhist Philosophy The Lotus Sütra—12 were all filled and overflowing. And he thought to stupidity, misunderstanding, and the three poisons; to himself, 'There is no end to my possessions. It would not teach and convert them and enable them to attain be right if I were to give my sons small carriages of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. inferior make. These little boys are all my sons and I love "He sees living beings seared and consumed by birth, them without partiality. I have countless numbers of old age, sickness and death, care and suffering, sees them large carriages adorned with seven kinds of gems. I undergo many kinds of pain because of their greed and should be fair-minded and give one to each of my sons. attachment and striving they undergo numerous pains in I should not show any discrimination. Why? Because their present existence, and later they undergo the pain of even if I distributed these possessions of mine to every being reborn in hell or as beasts or hungry spirits. Even person in the whole country I would still not exhaust if they are reborn in the heavenly realm or the realm of them, much less could I do so by giving them to my sons! human beings, they undergo the pain of poverty and "At that time each of the sons mounted his large want, the pain of parting from loved ones, the pain of carriage, gaining something he had never had before, encountering those they detest--all these many different something he had originally never expected. Shariputra, kinds of pain. what do you think of this? When this rich man "Yet living beings drowned in the midst of all this, impartially handed out to his sons these big carriages delight and amuse themselves, unaware, unknowing, adorned with rare jewels, was he guilty of falsehood or without alarm or fear. They feel no sense of loathing and not?" make no attempt to escape. In this burning house which Shariputra said, "No, World-Honored One. This rich is the threefold world, they race about to east and west, man simply made it possible for his sons to escape the and though they encounter great pain, they are not peril of fire and preserve their lives. He did not commit a distressed by it. falsehood. Why do I say this? Because if they were able to Shariputra, when the Buddha sees this, then he thinks preserve their lives, then they had already obtained a to himself, I am the father of living beings and I should plaything of sorts. And how much more so when, rescue them from their sufferings and give them the joy through an expedient means, they are rescued from that of the measureless and boundless Buddha wisdom so that burning house! World-Honored One, even if the rich man they may find their enjoyment in that. had not given them the tiniest carriage, he would still not "Shariputra, the Thus Come One also has this thought: be guilty of falsehood. Why? Because this rich man had if I should merely employ supernatural powers and the earlier made up his mind that he would employ an power of wisdom; if I should set aside expedient means expedient means to cause his sons to escape. Using a and for the sake of living beings should praise the Thus device of this kind was no act of falsehood. How much Come One's insight, power and freedom from fear, then less so, then, when the rich man knew that his wealth was living beings would not be able to gain salvation. Why? limitless and he intended to enrich and benefit his sons Because these living beings have not yet escaped from by giving each of them a large carriage." birth, old age, sickness, death, care and suffering, but are The Buddha said to Shariputra, "Very good, very good. consumed by flames in the burning house that is the In is just as you have said. And Shariputra, the Thus threefold world. How could they be able to understand Come One is like this. That is, he is a father to all the the Buddha's wisdom? world. His fears, cares and anxieties, ignorance and "Shariputra, that rich man, though he had strength in misunderstanding, have long come to an end, leaving no his body and arms, did not use it. He merely employed a residue. He has fully succeeded in acquiring measureless carefully contrived expedient means and thus was able to insight, power and freedom from fear and gaining great rescue his sons from the peril of the burning house, and supernatural powers and the power of wisdom. He is afterward gave each of them a large carriage adorned endowed with expedient means and the paramita of with rare jewels. And the Thus Come One does the same. wisdom, his great pity and great compassion are constant Though he possesses power and freedom from fear, he and unflagging; at all times he seeks what is good and does not use these. He merely employs wisdom and will bring benefit to all. expedient means to rescue living beings from the burning 'He is born into the threefold world, a burning house, house of the threefold world, expounding to them the rotten and old. In order to save living beings from the three vehicles, the vehicle of the voice-hearer, that of fires of birth, old age, sickness and death, care suffering, pratyekabuddha, and that of the Buddha. History of Buddhist Philosophy The Lotus Sütra—13

"He says to them, 'You must not be content to stay in "Shariputra, that rich man, seeing that his sons had all this burning house of the threefold world! Do not be gotten out of the burning house safely and were no greedy for its coarse and shoddy forms, sounds, scents, longer threatened, recalled that his wealth was tastes and sensations! If you become attached to them and immeasurable and presented each of his sons with a large learn to love them, you will be burned up! You must carriage. And the Thus Come One does likewise. He is come out of this threefold world at once so that you can the father of all living beings. When he sees that countless acquire the three vehicles, the vehicles of the voice-hearer, thousands of millions of living beings, through the the pratyekabuddha and the Buddha. I promise you now gateway of the Buddha's teaching, can escape the pains of that you will get them, and that promise will never prove the threefold world, the fearful and perilous road, and false. You have only to apply yourselves with diligent gain the delights of nirvana, the Thus Come One at that effort!' time has this thought: I possess measureless, boundless "The Thus Come One employs this expedient means to wisdom, power, fearlessness, the storehouse of the Law lure living beings into action. And then he says to them, of the Buddhas. These living beings are all my sons. I will 'You should understand that these doctrines of the three give the Great Vehicle to all of them equally so that there vehicles are all praised by the sages. They are free, will not be those who gain extinction by themselves, but without entanglements, leaving nothing further to that all may do so through the extinction of the Thus depend upon or seek. Mount these three vehicles, gain Come One. roots that are without outflows, gain powers, awareness, "To all the living beings who have escaped from the the way, meditation, emancipation, samadhis, and then threefold world he then gives the delightful gifts of the enjoy yourselves. You will gain the delight of meditation, emancipation, and so forth, of the Buddhas. immeasurable peace and safety.' All these are uniform in characteristics, uniform in type, "Shariputra, if there are living beings who are praised by the sages, capable of producing pure, inwardly wise in nature, and who attend the Buddha, the wonderful, supreme delight. World-Honored One, hear the Law, believe and accept it, "Shariputra, that rich man first used three types of and put forth diligent effort, desiring to escape quickly carriages to entice his sons, but later he gave them just the from the threefold world and seeking to attain nirvana, large carriage adorned with jewels, the safest, most they shall be called [those who ride] the vehicle of the comfortable kind of all. Despite this, that rich man was voice hearer. not guilty of falsehood. The Thus Come One does the They are like those sons who left the burning house in same, and he is without falsehood. First he preaches the the hope of acquiring goat-carts. three vehicles to attract and guide living beings, but later "If there are living beings who attend the Buddha, the he employs just the Great Vehicle to save them. Why? The World-Honored One, hear the Law, believe and accept it, Thus Come One possesses measureless wisdom, power, and put forth diligent effort, seeking wisdom that comes freedom from fear, the storehouse of the Law. He is of itself, taking solitary delight in goodness and capable of giving to all living beings the Law of the Great tranquility, and profoundly understanding the causes Vehicle. But not all of them are capable of receiving it. and conditions of all phenomena, they shall be called "Shariputra, for this reason you should understand [those who ride] the vehicle of the pratyekabuddha. They that the Buddhas employ the power of expedient means. are like the sons who left the burning house in the hope And because they do so, they make distinctions in the one of acquiring deer-carts. Buddha vehicle and preach it as three." . . . "If there are living beings who attend the Buddha, the World-Honored One, hear the Law, believe and accept it, * * * and put forth diligent effort, seeking comprehensive wisdom, the insight of the Thus Come One, powers and freedom from fear, who pity and comfort countless living beings, bring benefit to heavenly and human beings, and save them all, they shall be called [those who ride] the Great Vehicle. Because the bodhisattvas seek this vehicle, they are called mahasattvas. They are like the sons who left the burning house in the hope of acquiring ox-carts. History of Buddhist Philosophy The Lotus Sütra—14

[In this chapter the famous parable of the medicinal herbs is "Kashyapa, you should understand that the Thus used to explain the notion of ‘expedient means’ (upäya). Just Come One is like this. He appears in the world like a as there are many different medicinal herbs from a multitude of great cloud rising up. With a loud voice he penetrates to different plants to treat all the various sicknesses of human all the heavenly and human beings and the asuras of the beings, the Buddha’s teachings, or Dharma, takes many forms entire world, like a great cloud spreading over the to treat each individual according to his or her needs.] thousand-millionfold lands. And in the midst of the great assembly, he addresses these words, saying: " I am the Chapter Five: Thus Come One, worthy of offerings, of right and The Parable of the Medicinal Herbs universal knowledge, perfect clarity and conduct, well gone, understanding the world, unexcelled worthy, At that time the World-Honored One said to trainer of people, teacher of heavenly and human beings, Mahakashyapa and the other major disciples: "Excellent, Buddha, World-Honored One. Those who have not yet excellent, Kashyapa. You have given an excellent crossed over I will cause to cross over, those not yet freed description of the true blessings of the Thus Come One. I will free, those not yet at rest I will put to rest, those not It is just as you have said. The Thus Come One indeed yet in nirvana I will cause to attain nirvana. Of this has immeasurable, boundless, asamkhyas of blessings, existence and future existences I understand the true and though you and the others were to spend circumstances. I am one who knows all things, sees all immeasurable millions of kalpas in the effort, you could things, understands the way, opens up the way, preaches never finish describing them. the way. You heavenly and human beings, asuras and "Kashyapa, you should understand this. The Thus others, you must all come here so that I may let you hear Come One is king of the doctrines. In what he preaches, the Dharma!" there is nothing that is vain. With regard to all the various "At that time living beings of countless thousands, ten doctrines, he employs wisdom as an expedient means thousands, millions of species come to the place where (upäya) in expounding them. Therefore the doctrines that the Buddha is, to listen to the Dharma. The Thus Come he expounds all extends to the point where there is One then observes whether they are diligent in their comprehensive wisdom. The Thus Come One observes efforts or lazy. And in accordance with each is capable of and understands the end to which all doctrines tend. And hearing, he preaches the Law for them in an he also understands the workings of the deepest mind of immeasurable variety of ways so that all of them are all living beings, penetrating them completely and delighted and are able to gain excellent benefits without hindrance. And with regard to the doctrines he there-from. is thoroughly enlightened, and he reveals to living beings "Once these living beings have heard the Law, they the totality of wisdom. will enjoy peace and security in their present existence "Kashyapa, it is like the plants and trees, thickets and and good circumstances in future existences, when they groves, and the medicinal herbs, widely ranging in will receive joy through the way and again be able to hear variety, each with its own name and hue, that grow in the the Law. And having heard the Law, they will escape hills and streams, the valleys and different soils of the from obstacles and hindrances, and with regard to the thousand-millionfold world. Dense clouds spread over various doctrines will be able to exercise their powers to them, covering the entire thousand-millionfold world and the fullest, so that gradually they can enter into the way. in one moment saturating it all. The moisture penetrates It is like the rain falling from that great cloud upon all the to all the plants, trees, thickets and groves, and medicinal plants and trees, thickets and groves, and medicinal herbs equally, to their big roots, big stems, big limbs and herbs. Each, depending upon its species and nature, big leaves. Each of the trees, big and small, depending receives its full share of moistening and is enabled to upon whether it is superior, middling or inferior in sprout and grow. nature, receives its allotment. The rain falling from one "The Law preached by the Thus Come One is of one blanket of clouds accords with each particular species and form, one flavor, namely, the form of emancipation, the nature, causing it to sprout and mature, to blossom and form of separation, the form of extinction, which in the bear fruit. Though all these plants and trees grow in the end comes down to a wisdom embracing all species. same earth and moistened by the same rain, each has its When the living beings hear the law of the Thus Come differences and particulars. One, though they may embrace, read and recite it, and History of Buddhist Philosophy The Lotus Sütra—15 practice it as it dictates, they themselves do not realize or that it is like a great cloud understand the blessings they are gaining thereby. Why that rises up in the world is this? Because only the Thus Come One understands the and covers it all over. species, the form, the substance, the nature of these living beings, he knows what things they dwell on, what things This beneficent cloud is laden with moisture, they ponder, that things they practice. He knows what the lightening gleams and flashes, Law they dwell on, what Law they ponder, what Law and the sound of thunder reverberates afar, they practice, through what Law they attain what Law. causing the multitude to rejoice. "Living beings exist in a variety of environments, but The sun's rays are veiled and hidden, only the Thus Come One sees the true circumstances and a clear coolness comes over the land; fully understands them without hindrance. It is like those masses of darkness descend and spread— plants and trees, thickets and groves, and medicinal herbs you can almost touch them. which do not themselves know whether they are The rain falls everywhere, superior, middling or inferior in nature. But the Thus coming down on all four sides, Come One knows that this is the Law of one form, one its flow and saturation are measureless, flavor, namely, the form of emancipation, the form of reaching to every area of the earth, separation, the form of extinction, the form of ultimate to the ravines and valleys of the mountains and streams, nirvana, of constant tranquility and emptiness. The to the remote and secluded places where grow Buddha understands all this. But because he can see the plants, bushes, medicinal herbs, desires that are in the minds of living beings, he guides trees large and small, and protects them, and for this reason does not a hundred grains, rice seedlings, immediately preach to them the wisdom that embraces all sugar cane, grape vines. species. The rain moistens them all, "You and the others, Kashyapa, have done a very rare none ails to receive its full share, thing, for you can understand how the Thus Come One the parched ground is everywhere watered, preaches the Law in accordance with what is appropriate, herbs and trees alike grow lush. you can have faith in it, you can accept it. Why do I say What falls from the cloud this? Because the fact that the Buddhas, the is water of a single flavor, World-Honored Ones, preach the Law in accordance with but the plants and trees, thickets and groves, what is appropriate is hard to comprehend, hard to each accept the moisture that is appropriate to its portion. understand." All the various trees, At that time the World-Honored One, wishing to state whether superior, middling or inferior, his meaning once more, spoke in verse form, saying: take that is fitting for large or small and each is enabled to sprout and grow. The Dharma King, destroyer of being, Root, stem, limb, leaf, when he appears in the world the glow and hue of flower and fruit— accords with the desires of living beings, one rain extends to them preaching the Law in a variety of ways. and all are able to become fresh and glossy, The Thus Come One, worthy of honor and reverence, whether their allotment is profound and far-reaching in wisdom. of substance, form and nature is large or small, For long he remained silent regarding the essential, the moistening they receive is one, in no hurry to speak at once. but each grows and flourishes in its own way. If those who are wise hear of it they can believe and understand it, The Buddha is like this but those without wisdom will have doubts and regrets when he appears in the world, and for all time will remain in error. comparable to a great cloud For this reason, Kashyapa, that covers all things everywhere, he adjusts to the person to gain a correct view. Having appeared in the world, Kashyapa, you should understand for the sake of living beings History of Buddhist Philosophy The Lotus Sütra—16 he makes distinctions in expounding Eminent and lowly, superior and inferior, the truth regarding phenomena. observers of precepts, violators of precepts, The great sage, the World-Honored One, those fully endowed with proper demeanor, to heavenly and human beings, those not fully endowed, in the midst of all beings, those of correct views, of erroneous views, pronounces these words: of keen capacity, of dull capacity— I am the Thus Come One, I cause the Dharma rain on all equally, most honored of two-legged beings. never lax or neglectful. I appear in the world When all the various living beings like a great cloud hear my Law, that showers moisture upon they receive it according to their power, all the dry and withered living beings, dwelling in their different environments. so that all are able to escape suffering, Some inhabit the realm of human and heavenly beings, gain the joy of peace and security, of wheel-turning sage kings, the joys of this world Shakra, Brahma are the other kings— and the joy of nirvana. these are the inferior medicinal herbs. All you heavenly and human beings of this assembly, Some understand the Law of no outflows, listen carefully and with one mind! are able to attain nirvana, All of you should gather around to acquire the six transcendental powers and observe the one of unexcelled honor. and gain in particular the three understandings, A am the World-Honored One, or live alone in mountain forests, none can rival me. constantly practicing meditation In order to bring peace and security to living beings and gaining the enlightenment of pratyekabuddhas— I have appeared in the world these are the middling medicinal herbs. and for the sake of this great assembly Still others seek the place of the World-Honored One, I preach the sweet dew of the pure Law. convinced that they can become Buddhas, This Law is of a single flavor, putting forth diligent effort and practicing meditation— that of emancipation, nirvana. these are the superior medicinal herbs. With a single wonderful sound Again there are sons of the Buddha I expound and unfold its meaning; who devote their minds solely to the Buddha way, constantly for the sake of the Great Vehicle constantly practicing mercy and compassion, I create causes and conditions. knowing that they themselves will attain Buddhahood, certain of it and never doubting— I look upon all things these I call small trees. as being universally equal, Those who abide in peace in their transcendental powers, I have no mind to favor this or that, turning the wheel of non-regression, to love one or hate another. saving innumerable millions I am without greed or attachment of hundreds of thousands of living beings— and without limitation or hindrance. bodhisattvas such as these At all times, for all things I call large trees. I preach the Law equally; The equality of the Buddha's preaching as I would for a single person, is like a rain of a single flavor, that same way I do for numerous persons, but depending upon the nature of the living being, constantly I expound and preach the Law, the way in which it is received is not uniform, never have I done anything else, just as the various plants and trees coming, going, sitting, standing, each receive the moisture in a different manner. never to the end growing weary or disheartened. The Buddha employs this parable I bring fullness and satisfaction to the world, as an excellent means to open up and reveal the matter, like rain that spreads its moisture everywhere, using various kinds of words and phrases History of Buddhist Philosophy The Lotus Sütra—17 and expounding the single Law, and the same is true of the other Buddhas. but in terms of the Buddha wisdom this is no more than one drop of the ocean. Now for you and the others I rain down the Dharma rain, I preach the utmost truth: filling the whole world, none in the Multitude of voice-hearers and this single-flavored Dharma has entered the stage of extinction. is practiced by each according to the individual's power. What you are practicing It is like those thickets and groves, is the bodhisattva way, medicinal herbs and trees and as you gradually advance in practice and learning which, according to whether they are large or small, you are all certain to attain Buddhahood. bit by bit grow lush and beautiful. * * * The Law of the Buddhas is constantly of a single flavor, [In this final selection, the Buddha tells the story about one of causing the many worlds his previous lives when we was a king and a seer named to attain full satisfaction everywhere; Devadatta introduced him to the great Law (Dharma), which by practicing gradually and stage by stage, now is expounded in the Lotus Sütra. Later when asked all beings can gain the fruits of the way. whether there has been anyone who achieved enlightenment The voice-hearers and pratyekabuddhas through the practice of this sütra, the bodhisattva Maïjuçré inhabit the mountain forests, tells a story of an eight-year old girl who achieved dwelling in their final existence, enlightenment in an instant through the Lotus Sütra. This idea hearing the Law and gaining its fruits— that enlightenment can be obtained by anyone, even an eight- we may call them medicinal herbs year old girl, in an instant would become a major theme of that grow and mature each in its own way, East-Asian Buddhism] if there are Bodhisattvas who are steadfast and firm in wisdom, Chapter Twelve who fully comprehend the threefold world Devadatta and seek the supreme vehicle, these we call the small trees At that time the Buddha addressed the bodhisattvas, the that achieve growth and maturity. heavenly and human beings, and the four kinds of Again there are those who dwell in meditation, believers saying: "Immeasurable kalpas in the past, I who have gained the strength of transcendental powers, sought the Lotus Sutra without ever flagging. During have heard of the emptiness of all phenomena, those many kalpas, I constantly appeared as the ruler of greatly rejoice in it in their minds a kingdom who made a vow to seek the unsurpassed and emit countless rays of light bodhi. His mind never wavered or turned aside, and in to save living beings— his desire to fulfill the six paramitas he diligently these we call large trees distributed alms, never stinting in heart, whether the gift that have gained growth and maturity was elephants or horses, the seven rare articles, countries, In this way, Kashyapa, cities, wife, children, maidservants, or his own head, the Law preached by the Buddha eyes, marrow and brain, his own flesh and limbs. He did is comparable to a great cloud not begrudge even his own being and life. At that period which, with a single-flavored rain, the human life span was immeasurably long. But for the moistens human flowers sake of the Law this king abandoned his kingdom and so that each is able to bear fruit. throne, delegated the government to the crown prince, Kashyapa, you should understand sounded drums and sent out proclamations, seeking the that through various causes and conditions, Law in four directions and saying, 'Who can expound the various kinds of simile and parable, Great Vehicle for me? To the end of my life I will be his I open up and reveal the Buddha way. provider and servant!' This is an expedient means I employ History of Buddhist Philosophy The Lotus Sütra—18

"At that time there was a seer who came to the king The Buddha said to his monks: "The king at that time was and said, "I have a Great Vehicle text called the Sutra of I myself, and this seer was the man who is now the Wonderful Law. If you will never disobey me, I will Devadatta. All because Devadatta was a good friend to expound it for you.' me, I was able to become fully endowed with this six "When the king heard these words of the seer, he paramitas, pity, compassion, joy, and indifference, with danced for joy. At once he accompanied the seer, the thirty-two features, the eighty characteristics, the providing him with whatever he needed, picking fruit, purple-tinged golden color, the ten powers, the four drawing water, gathering firewood, setting out meals, kinds of fearlessness, the four methods of winning even offering his own body as a couch and seat, never people, the eighteen unshared properties, and the stinting in body or mind. He served the seer in this transcendental powers and the power of the way. The manner for a thousand years, all for the sake of the Law, fact that I have attained impartial and correct working diligently acting as a provider and seeing to it enlightenment and can save living beings on a broad that the seer lacked for nothing." scale is all due to Devadatta who was a good friend." At that time the World-Honored One, wishing to state Then the Buddha said to the four kinds of believers: his meaning once more, spoke in verse form, saying: "Devadatta, after immeasurable kalpas have past, will attain Buddhahood. He will be called Heavenly King I recall those departed kalpas of the past Thus Come One, worthy of offerings of right and when in order to seek the great Law, universal knowledge, perfect parity and conduct, well though I was the ruler of a worldly kingdom, gone, understanding the world, on itself worthy, trainer I was not greedy to satisfy the five desires of people, teacher of heavenly and human beings, but instead struck the bell, crying in four quarters, Buddha, World-Honored One. This world will be called "Who possesses the great Law? Heavenly Way, and at the same time Heavenly King If he will explain and preach it for me Buddha will abide in the world for twenty medium I will be his slave and servant!" kalpas, broadly preaching the Wonderful Law for the At that time there was a seer named Asita sake of living beings. Living beings numerous as Ganges who came and announced to this great King, sands will attain the fruit of arhatship. Immeasurable "I have a subtle and wonderful Law, numbers of living beings will conceive that desire to rarely known in this world. become pratyekabuddhas, living beings numerous as If you will undertake religious practice Ganges sands will conceive a desire for the unsurpassed I will expound it for you." way, will gain that truth of birthless-ness, and will never When the king heard the seer's words regress. After Heavenly King Buddha enters parinirvana, his heart was filled with great joy. his Correct Law will endure in the world for twenty Immediately he accompanied the seer, medium kalpas. The relics from his whole body will be providing him with whatever he needed, housed in a tower built of the seven treasures, sixty gathering firewood, fruit and wild rice, yojanas in height and forty yojanas in width and depth. presenting them at appropriate times with respect and All the heavenly and human beings will take assorted reverence. flowers, powdered incense, incense for burning, paste Because the wonderful Law was then his thoughts incense, clothing, necklaces, steamers and banners, he never flagged in body or mind. jeweled canopies, music and songs of praise that offer For the sake of living beings everywhere them with obeisance to the wonderful seven- jeweled he diligently sought the great Law, tower. Immeasurable numbers of living beings will attain taking no heed for himself the fruits of arhatship, numerous living beings will or for the gratification of the five desires. become enlightened as pratyekabuddhas, and Therefore the ruler of a great kingdom unimaginable numbers of living beings will conceive a through diligent seeking was able to acquire this Law desire for bodhi and will in reach the level of no and eventually to attain Buddhahood, regression." as I will now explain to you. The Buddha said to the monks: "In future ages if there are good men or good women who, on hearing the Devadatta Chapter of the Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful History of Buddhist Philosophy The Lotus Sütra—19

Law, believe and revere it with pure hearts and harbor no expounded the practices of the voice-hearer when they doubts or perplexities, they will never fall into hell or the were in the air, but now all were practicing the Great realm of hungry spirits or of beasts, but will be born in Vehicle principle of emptiness. the presence of the Buddhas of the ten directions, and in Manjushri said to Wisdom Accumulated, "The work of the place where they are born they will constantly hear teaching and converting carried out that in the ocean was this sutra. If they are born among human or heavenly as you can see." beings, they will enjoy exceedingly wonderful delights, At that time Bodhisattva Wisdom Accumulated recited and if they are born in the presence of the Buddha, they these verses of praise: will be born by transformation from lotus flowers."

At that time there was a bodhisattva who was among Of great wisdom and virtue, brave and stalwart, the followers of Many Treasures World-Honored One you have converted and saved immeasurable beings. from the lower region and whose name was Wisdom Now those in this great assembly, Accumulated. He said to Many Treasures Buddha, "Shall as well as I myself, have all seen them. we return to our homeland?" You expound the principle of the true entity, Shakyamuni Buddha said to Wisdom Accumulated, open up the Law of the single vehicle, 'good man, wait a little while. There is a bodhisattva broadly guiding the many beings, named Manjushri here whom you should see. Debate and causing them quickly to attain bodhi. discuss the wonderful Law with him, and then you may return to your homeland." Manjushri said, "When I was in the ocean I constantly At that time Manjushri was seated on a expounded the Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law alone." thousand-pedaled lotus blossom big as a carriage wheel, Bodhisattva Wisdom Accumulated questioned and the bodhisattvas who had come with them were also Manjushri, saying, "This sutra is a profound, subtle and seated on jeweled lotus blossoms. Manjushri had wonderful, a treasure among sutras, a rarity in the world. emerged in a natural manner from the palace of the Are there perhaps any living beings who, by earnestly dragon king Sagara in the great ocean and was and diligently practicing this sutra, have been able to suspended in the air. Proceeding to Holy Eagle Peak, he attain Buddhahood quickly?" descended from the lotus blossom and, having entered Manjushri replied, "There is the daughter of the the presence of the Buddhas, bowed his head and paid dragon king Sagara, who was just turned eight. Her obeisance to the feet of the two World-Honored Ones. wisdom has keen roots and she is good at the When he had concluded these gestures of respect, he understanding the root activities and of living beings. She went to where Wisdom Accumulated was and exchanged has mastered the dharanis, has been able to accept and greetings with him, and retired then retired and sat at one embrace all the store house of profound secrets preached side. by the Buddhas, has entered deep into meditation, Bodhisattva Wisdom Accumulated questioned thoroughly grasping the doctrines, and in the space of an Manjushri, saying, "When you went to the palace of the instant conceived the desire for bodhi and reached the dragon king, how many living beings did you convert?" level of no regression. Her eloquence knows no Manjushri replied, "The number is immeasurable, hindrance, and she thinks of living beings with incapable of calculation. The mouth cannot express it, the compassion as though they were her own children. She is mind cannot have fathom it. Wait a moment and there fully endowed with blessings, and when it comes to will be proof." conceiving in mind and expounding by mouth, she is Before he had finished speaking, countless subtle, wonderful, comprehensive and great. Kind, bodhisattvas seated on jeweled lotus blossoms emerged compassionate, benevolent, yielding, she is gentle and from the Ocean proceeded to Holy Eagle Peak, where refined in will, capable of attaining bodhi." they remained suspended in the air. These bodhisattvas Bodhisattva Wisdom Accumulated said, "When I all had been converted and saved by Manjushri. They observe Shakyamuni Thus Come One, I see that for had carried out all the bodhisattva practices and immeasurable kalpas he carried out harsh and difficult discussed and expounded the six paramitas with one practices, accumulated merit, piling up virtue, seeking the another. Those who had originally been voice-hearers way to the bodhisattva without ever resting. I observe History of Buddhist Philosophy The Lotus Sütra—20 that throughout the thousand-million fold world there is presented the precious jewel and the World-Honored not a single spot tiny as a mustard seed where this One accepted it— was that not quickly done?" bodhisattva failed to sacrifice body and life the sake of They replied, "Very quickly!" living beings. Only after he had done that was he able to The girl said, "employ your supernatural powers and complete the bodhi way. I cannot believe that this girl in watch me attain Buddhahood. It shall be even quicker the space of the instant could actually achieve correct than that!" enlightenment." At that time the members of the assembly all saw the Before his words had come to an end, the dragon dragon girl in the space of an instant change into a man king's daughter suddenly appeared before the Buddha, and carry out all the practices of a bodhisattva, bowed her head in obeisance, and then retired to one immediately proceeding to the Spotless World of the side, reciting these verses of praise: south, taking a seat on a jeweled lotus, and attaining impartial and correct enlightenment. With the thirty-two He profoundly understands the signs of guilt and good features and the eighty characteristics, he expounded the fortune wonderful Law for all living beings everywhere in the ten and illuminates the ten directions everywhere. directions. His subtle, wonderful pure Dharma body At that time in the saha world to a the bodhisattvas, is endowed with the thirty-two features; voice-hearers, gods, dragons and others of the eight kinds the eighty characteristics of guardians, human and non-human beings all from a adorn his Dharma body. distance saw the dragon girl become a Buddha and Heavenly and human beings gaze up in awe, preach the law to all the human and heavenly beings in dragons and spirits all pay honor and respect; the assembly at that time. Their hearts were filled with among all living beings, great joy and all from a distance paid reverent obeisance. none who do not hold him in reverence. Immeasurable living beings, hearing the Law, understood And having heard his teachings, I have attained bodhi— it and were able to reach the level of no regression. the Buddha alone can bear witness to this. Immeasurable living beings received prophecies that they I unfold the doctrines of the Great Vehicle would gain the away. The Spotless World quaked and to rescue living beings from suffering. trembled in six different ways. Three thousand living beings of the saha world remained on the level of no At that time Shariputra said to the dragon girl, "You regression. Three thousand living beings conceived a suppose that in this short time you have been able to desire for bodhi and received prophecies of attain the unsurpassed way. But this is difficult to believe. enlightenment. Bodhisattva Wisdom Accumulated, Why? Because a woman's body is soiled and defiled, not Shariputra and all the other members of the assembly a vessel for the Law. How could you attain the silently believed an accepted these things. unsurpassed bodhi? The road to Buddhahood is long and far-reaching. Only after one has spent immeasurable * * * kalpas pursuing austerities, accumulating deeds, practicing all kinds of paramitas, can one finally achieve All selections taken from Burton Watson, trans. The Lotus Sutra success. Moreover, a woman is subject to the five (New York: Columbia University Press, 1993). obstacles. First, she cannot become a Brahma heavenly king. Second, she cannot become the king Shakra. Third, she cannot become a devil king. Fourth, she cannot become a wheel-turning sage king. Fifth, she cannot become a Buddha. How then could a woman like you be able to attain Buddhahood so quickly?" At that time the dragon girl had a precious jewel worth as much as the thousand-million-fold world which she presented to the Buddha. The Buddha immediately accepted it. The dragon girl said to Bodhisattva Wisdom Accumulated to the venerable one, Shariputra, "I