Chapter 4 is entitled Understanding by Faith but in many respects a better example of how faith enables understanding is found in Chapter 7, The Parable of a Magic City, in the story of the 16 sons of Great-Universal-Wisdom-Excellence Buddha who each became bodhisattva-śramaṇeras.
The sons, realizing there was more to learn than what the Śrāvakas had been taught, asked their father to expound the teaching of Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi – unexcelled perfect enlightenment. Twenty thousand kalpas later, the Buddha finally expounded the “Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma, the Dharma for Bodhisattvas, the Dharma Upheld by the Buddhas.”
“It took the Buddha eight thousand kalpas to complete the expounding of this sūtra. During that time he did not take a rest. Having completed the expounding of this sūtra, the Buddha entered a quiet room and practiced dhyāna-concentration for eighty-four thousand kalpas. Seeing him practicing dhyāna-concentration quietly in the room, the sixteen Bodhisattva-śramaṇeras each sat on a seat of the Dharma, expounded the Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma to the four kinds of devotees for eighty-four thousand kalpas, and saved six hundred billion nayutas of living beings, that is, as many living beings as there are sands in the River Ganges. They showed them the Way, taught them, benefited them, caused them to rejoice and to aspire for Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi.”
In Buddhism for Today, Nikkyō Niwano explains the significance of the Bodhisattva-śramaṇeras’ sequence of instruction.
Buddhism for Today, p116-117“These words indicate the order of preaching the Law. First, one must show the general meaning of the teaching to people. Then, when one knows that they have generated the desire to enter the teaching, one must teach its profound meaning. Next, seeing that they appear to understand it, one must lead them to practice it and to obtain the benefit of the teaching. Lastly, one must so act toward them as to gladden them in keeping the teaching.”
That “desire to enter the teaching” is the essence of faith. The 16 sons received the sutra by faith and, in expounding the teachings, inspired faith.
“These sixteen Bodhisattvas willingly expounded the Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma. Each of them taught six hundred billion nayutas of living beings, that is, as many living beings as there are sands in the River Ganges. Those living beings were always accompanied by the Bodhisattva, by whom they were taught, in their consecutive existences. In each of their consecutive existences, they heard the Dharma from him, and understood it by faith.”
All we need now is to remember.
As Nichiren says in his Treatise on the Essence of the Lotus Sutra:
“Since time immemorial all the people on the earth have been the Buddha Śākyamuni’s beloved children. We had not realized the relationship because we had been undutiful children. It is a unique relationship. As the moon reflects on calm water, the Buddha appears in our calm mind.”
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