Nothing tells you more about the Lotus Sutra’s definition of faith than the fact that the chapter entitled Understanding by Faith does not contain the word faith.
In the first three chapters of the Lotus Sutra, the necessity of understanding by faith is underscored but not explained.
“Śāriputra, know this!
The Buddhas do not speak differently.
Have great power of faith
In the Dharma expounded by the Buddhas!
As a rule, the World-Honored Ones expound the true teaching
Only after a long period [of expounding expedient teachings].”
We are warned repeatedly that the true teaching is difficult to understand. After all, the goal is not simply personal nirvāṇa. This was too much for the old men living the life of wisdom:
“You expounded the wisdom of the Buddha[, that is, the Great Vehicle] with expedients, but we did not aspire for that vehicle because, when we had obtained the day’s pay of Nirvāṇa from the Buddha, we thought that we had already obtained enough.”
I have great affinity for these old men. I can imagine hearing that the goal posts have been moved. I’m happy where I am. Why trudge on further? Of course, the Buddha will reveal that Magic City later. For now, we are learning how faith and practice move together, and the Buddha’s role.
“By his wisdom the rich man succeeded
In leading his son into his household.
Twenty years after that
He had his son manage his house.”
And later:
“The rich man knew
That his son was base and mean.
Therefore, he made him nobler
With expedients,
And then gave him
All his treasures.”
And finally:
“The Buddhas are the Kings of the Dharma
They are free from āsravas, from cause and effect.
The Buddhas practice patience
In order to save inferior people.
They expound the Dharma according to the capacities
Of the ordinary people who are attached to forms.”
For T’ian T’ai, the Rich Man’s transformation of his Poor Son follows five sequential events – providing, inviting, encouraging, purifying and revealing. These events correspond to five flavors T’ian T’ai used to classify the Buddha’s teachings.
For the Poor Son, the first step of faith was accepting the offer of a job at a double-day’s pay. And through his daily work, his faith grew – “After a while the father noticed that his son had become more at ease and peaceful, that he wanted to improve himself, and that he felt ashamed of the thought that he was base and mean.” In the end, the Poor Son was not frightened at the prospect of taking over the family business. He was happy: “I never dreamed of having this store of treasures myself. It has come to me unexpectedly.”
As the Introduction of the Lotus Sutra explains:
“Faith appears in an honest heart. Neither logic nor reason can awaken faith in us. Faith grows beyond reason when we encounter someone beyond our capacities, or when we unexpectedly touch something absolute in our lives or in the cosmos.”
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