This chapter is about Gadgadasvara (Wonderful Sound) Bodhisattva. The final few chapters all describe the deeds of several great Bodhisattvas. Actually, the Lotus Sutra is very simple. You see, the first part consists of the Buddha bestowing predictions of enlightenment upon his disciples, while the Small Vehicle disciples continuously share their realizations. Then the Buddha … Read more
Chapter 23. Former Affairs of Medicine King Bodhisattva This chapter recounts the past deeds of Medicine King Bodhisattva as told by the Buddha during the Lotus Assembly. In the era of the Buddha Sun Moon Pure Bright Virtue—immeasurable kalpas ago— this Bodhisattva was named “Gladly Seen by All Beings.” After hearing the Lotus Sutra, he … Read more
Chapter 21. The Spiritual Powers of the Tathagata At this point in the assembly, a multitude of great Bodhisattvas, numbering like the dust motes of a thousand worlds, surged forth from the earth. They stood before Shakyamuni Buddha, palms joined, gazing intently at the World-Honored One, and said: “After your parinirvana, we vow to receive, … Read more
Chapter 17. Distinction of Merits In this chapter, the Buddha states that if we hear these teachings without doubt, we will gain immense merit. If one hears of the long life span of the Tathagata and understands its profound meaning, the merit they obtain will be limitless, and they will certainly open the same unexcelled … Read more
Chapter 16. The Life Span of the Tathagata Exactly how long is the life span of the Tathagata? From the moment of his enlightenment to his teaching of the Dharma, was it merely those few decades we witnessed in India? The Tathagata addressed Maitreya Bodhisattva and the entire assembly, saying: “In truth, it has been … Read more
Chapter 15. Emerging from the Earth At this time, from other lands—what we might consider other planets —many great Bodhisattvas came to the Saha World. Their number exceeded the total sum of the sands of eight Ganges Rivers—too many to count, so the sands of the Ganges are used as a metaphor. When these Bodhisattvas … Read more
Chapter 14. Peaceful Practices When these great Bodhisattvas vowed to preach the Lotus Sutra in future ages, the Buddha explained in Chapter 14 how one should preach the Lotus Sutra in this world without encountering obstacles. This is the chapter on Peaceful Practices. The Buddha said: When a great Bodhisattva preaches the Lotus Sutra in … Read more
Chapter 13. Encouragement to Uphold the Sutra As we have studied the first twelve chapters of the Lotus Sutra, some students have come to me and asked, “We truly believe what the Buddha says—that we are all Tathagatas and are originally Buddhas —but what exactly is a ‘Buddha’? It seems like the Buddha is just … Read more
Chapter 12. Devadatta Among the predictions of enlightenment in this chapter, there is one that is particularly unexpected for the Sravaka disciples. Devadatta was a cousin of the Buddha. After following the Buddha into the monastic life, he repeatedly tried to harm the Buddha out of jealousy for the respect the Buddha received. As is … Read more
Chapter 11. The Appearance of theTreasured Tower Prior to this point, the Buddha had been continuously bestowing predictions of future Buddhahood upon his Sravaka disciples. These disciples, in turn, shared various parables with the Buddha as he elucidated why he first taught the vehicles of the Sravaka and the Pratyekabuddha rather than directly revealing the … Read more