QUESTION: What then is the Lotus Meditation?
ANSWER: Regarding the practice of the Lotus Sūtra for the ordinary and unenlightened people in these latter days, there are two doctrines, that of “jurui seed” (opening and merging related concepts) and that of “sōtai seed”, (opening and merging of opposite concepts) leading them into the one Buddha vehicle.
QUESTION: What is the source of this information?
ANSWER: It originates from four characters, shu (seed), sō (appearance), tai (entity or body), and shō (nature), found in the fifth chapter of the Lotus Sūtra , “Simile of Herbs.” Jurui seed and sōtai seed are based on the first of the above four characters, seed, the seed of Buddhahood. The Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sūtra comments on jurui seed, thus: “Anyone with a soul possesses the seed of Buddhahood. If one hears but a phrase of the sūtra, one would realize that one has the seed of Buddhahood. Should one put one’s hands together and bow in prayer towards the Buddha, then one is able to advance toward Buddhahood.” Sōtai seed means opening and merging the three paths of evil passions, karma, and suffering into three merits of hosshin (Dharma Body), hannya (wisdom) and gedatsu (salvation), respectively.
Of these two concepts, jurui seed has its basis in the Lotus Sūtra, although some aspects of it can be related to various sutras occurring prior to the Lotus Sutra. Grand Master Miao-lê has observed in his Annotations to the Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sūtra that the “jurui seed but not sōtai seed can be found in distinct teachings.” Distinct teachings, in this case, do not suggest its usual meaning referring to the four teachings, zō (tripiṭaka), tsū (common), betsu (distinct) and en (perfect), but rather it points to the perfect teachings that have existed prior to the Lotus Sūtra or the perfect teachings taught by those other than Grand Master T’ien-t’ai. Even within the theoretical section or the first half of the Lotus Sūtra, verses of the “Expedients” chapter mention the opening and merging of jurui seed of human and heavenly beings. The teaching beginning with the verse “those who pay their respect to the ashes of the Buddha,” followed by twenty or so lines claiming that even a small gesture of goodness would lead to enlightenment amounts to the opening and merging of jurui seed.
Shimon Butsujō-gi, Listening to the Once Buddha Vehicle Teachings for the First Time, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 246