Day 12 concludes Chapter 7, The Parable of the Magic City, and completes the Third Volume of the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma.

Today’s conclusion of Chapter 7 poses a real dilemma for me since several major points are made, not counting the actual parable for which the chapter is titled. But since this is the first time through with this one-topic limit, I’ll start with the point of the The Parable of the Magic City.

I am like the leader.
I am the leader of all living beings.
I saw that halfway some got tired
With the seeking of enlightenment,
And that they could not pass through the dangerous road
Of birth-and-death and illusions.
Therefore, I expounded to them the teaching of Nirvana
As an expedient to give them a rest, saying:
“You have already eliminated sufferings.
You have done everything you should do.”

Now I see that they have already attained Nirvana
And that they have become Arhats.
Therefore, I now collect the great multitude,
And expound to them the true teaching.

The Buddhas expound the teaching of the Three Vehicles
Only as an expedient.
There is only the One Buddha-Vehicle.
The two [vehicles] were taught only as resting places.

Next month I’ll take on the princes, one of whom is Sakyamuni, and how they convinced the Buddha to expound the Lotus Sutra, and the month after perhaps I’ll point out how we have the same teachers life after life.