Before leaving the Sutra of Innumerable Meanings I want to touch on how faith and practice can open the gateway to faith for others. Consider the eighth beneficial effect of the Sutra of Innumerable meanings:
“Among men and women of good intent—either during or after the lifetime of a buddha—if there are those who are able to obtain this sutra and revere it, trust it, and look upon it as being nothing less than the actual person of a buddha, such people will come to love and take joy in this sutra, accept and keep faith with it, internalize it, recite it, make records of it, and respectfully embrace it.”
To “revere it, trust it, and look upon it as being nothing less than the actual person of a buddha” is the definition of having faith. And that faith makes it possible to practice: “love and take joy in this sutra, accept and keep faith with it, internalize it, recite it, make records of it, and respectfully embrace it.”
“Following and practicing the way of its teaching, they will strengthen their spiritual attitudes regarding the behavioral principles and forbearance while also perfecting their practice of having consideration for others.”
As we learned in the seventh beneficial effect of this sutra, “even though they do not practice to perfect the six spiritual attitudes, perfection in the six spiritual attitudes will naturally come to them.”
Thus with faith and practice:
“Compassion will awaken from deep within them through this unmatched all-ferrying Infinite Meanings Sutra, and they will expound it widely for people’s benefit. If someone has long since completely disbelieved that there are things like impurities and virtues, their presentation of this sutra—employing various skillful means—will have the powerful effect of inspiring such a person to belief. Through the influence of the sutra they will awaken that person’s mind, and he or she will spontaneously experience a change of heart. With the now-awakened trusting mind, that person, through dauntless effort, can acquire this sutra’s dynamic power for great beneficial effect, and he or she will be able to realize the Way and attain its fruits.”
Note that the new convert manifests a “now-awakened trusting mind” and with “dauntless effort” is “able to realize the Way and attain its fruits.”
Through faith and practice a circle is joined between the first person who had faith and the person whom he awakened and that person goes on to inspire another person thus creating another circle and with these circles a chain is formed.
The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings closes with this:
“Well done, you of good intent! Well done! Truly you are now successors of the Buddha! You are surely the ones capable of thoroughly eliminating suffering and alleviating misfortune with great kindness and compassion! You will be bountiful spheres of kindness for all living beings, excellent guides who benefit all far and wide, sources of great support for all living beings, and all living beings’ great benefactors!”
Table of Contents Next Essay