While Chapter 8, The Assurance of Future Buddhahood of the Five Hundred Disciples, doesn’t mention faith, it helps illustrate that faith is not for ourselves alone. We are directed to focus on the Mahayana and to avoid simply settling for what is close at hand.
In Chapter 8, the Arhats illustrate their understanding with the parable of a priceless gem sown into the garment of a poor man by his rich friend. The poor man, unaware of the priceless gift, satisfies himself with what little he can earn.
As Ājñāta-Kauṇḍinya and the others explain:
“You, the Buddha, are like his friend. We thought that we had attained extinction when we attained Arhatship because we forgot that we had been taught to aspire for the knowledge of all things by you when you were a Bodhisattva just as the man who had difficulty in earning his livelihood satisfied himself with what little he had earned. You, the World-Honored One, saw that the aspiration for the knowledge of all things was still latent in our minds; therefore, you awakened us, saying, ‘Bhikṣus! What you had attained was not perfect extinction. I caused you to plant the good root of Buddhahood a long time ago. You have forgotten this; therefore, I expounded the teaching of Nirvāṇa as an expedient. You thought that you had attained true extinction when you attained the Nirvāṇa which I taught you as an expedient.’
“World-Honored One! Now we see that we are Bodhisattvas in reality, and that we are assured of our future attainment of Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi. Therefore, we have the greatest joy that we have ever had.”
In Stories of the Lotus Sutra, Gene Reeves emphasizes how a bodhisattva should spend the treasure of the jewel left in the robe.
The Stories of the Lotus Sutra, p105“In this story, using the treasure clearly means using it to enjoy life. Life is difficult, but we are much freer, more able to appreciate, more able to cope with whatever difficulties life presents us if we have an appropriate attitude toward life and toward ourselves. Having a good attitude toward life, for the Dharma Flower Sutra, means seeing everything that comes to us as a gift, more especially as an opportunity, as what we call a ‘learning experience.’ Yes, life can be very difficult, but if we approach the troubles and difficulties that come our way as opportunities for learning, we will enjoy life more fully.
“In Mahayana Buddhism, the importance of helping others is often stressed. But we should know that even helping others is never merely helping others – it always contributes to our own enjoyment of life as well. The Dharma Flower Sutra encourages us to look for and cultivate the good both in ourselves and in others.”
When we realize we are bodhisattvas – when we understand that we cannot advance until we can bring all others along with us – we begin to understand the true treasure we have been given. Properly spent, the whole world can benefit.
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