Dharma of Sentient Beings

The subtlety of the Dharma of Sentient Beings (Chung-sheng-fa Miao) is also portrayed in the passage of the Lotus Sūtra regarding the material eyes of beings (Ch., Jou-yen; Skt., māṃsacakṣus) which enjoy an equivalent status with either the heavenly eye (Ch., T’ien-yen; Skt., divyacakṣus) or the wisdom-eye (Ch., flui-yen; Skt., prajn͂ācakṣus), or the Dharma-eye (Ch., Fa-yen; Skt., dharmacakṣus), or the Buddha-eye (Ch., Fo-yen; Skt., buddhacakṣus). This proves that Dharma of Sentient Beings is subtle. This is to say that the five eyes are fundamentally one unity, and one inherently possesses them all. From within oneself, one is able to open the Buddha’s knowledge and insight, and perceive the worldly phenomena correctly with one’s own material eyes. Basically, the category Dharma of Sentient Beings concerns the doctrine of the Buddha nature that is possessed by all beings, with which the Buddhahood as the ultimate goal for universal salvation is sustained. (Vol. 2, Page 68-69)

The Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra: Tien-tai Philosophy of Buddhism