In the story of King Wonderful-Adornment in Chapter 27, the two sons who vow to practice Buddhism and then vow to convert their father do so because they are able to manifest the benefits of their Buddhist practice. The truth of the teaching enables them to change their lives, giving them the joy of life and the capacity to turn around and save their father. Their faith and seeking spirit led them to Buddhism and their benefit enables them to share it.

We learn of the many protections that come to us naturally by merely upholding this sutra in the Dharanis Chapter. Dharanis are special incantations that were given by various beings solely for the protection of those who practice the Dharma. These protections and merits do not come to us merely because we read of them but are in a sense activated because our practice calls forth the changes in our lives that otherwise would remain dormant.

We learn in Chapter 28 that in order to obtain the dharma there are certain things that must happen in our lives. The distinction here is made that merely hearing and being exposed to the dharma are different from embracing and experiencing the Dharma. When we obtain something it is not a casual experience but a deeper inner life change. It is the difference between thinking and being. Obtaining the Dharma is a life experience.

Wonderful Voice Bodhisattva promises protection for those who call its name. But this Bodhisattva also provides us with a model upon which to base our own actions and we are able to do so because of our faith and practice of the Lotus Sutra. Calling out the name and believing in the name are two actions that seem distinct yet truly one feeds the other. Our own experiences of joy and overcoming of the sufferings of life enables us to foster within ourselves the capability of compassion like this Bodhisattva. A person drowning in suffering lacks the capacity to truly help countless others, but a life of joy and enlightenment has the power and capacity to lift up and save many.

We see the actions of Bodhisattva Never Despise as being of respect for others, yet this respect is based upon the absolute conviction or faith that the other person is also a Buddha worthy of respect. The action is not based upon a theoretical doctrine, but on the realization that within self is Buddha and within the other is Buddha.

Faith and practice in the Lotus Sutra are often presented in similar manner. I believe this is because faith is an actual practice for us. Faith is not simply the absolute belief in the teaching but is an experience of the truth of the teaching. Faith takes root in and grows from our daily practice and study. And yet, faith while growing from practice also nurtures that very same practice. In this way, faith and practice are not two separate activities but one constantly evolving cycle of activity.

In all of our efforts of propagation, we should always keep in mind that we do it for the joy and benefit of the person to whom we are teaching. It isn’t about acquiring points for converting others. It is about bringing joy into the lives of others. We should consider how best to benefit the person, even if it is helping them take small baby steps. There is no need, nor is it appropriate, to bludgeon someone or berate someone, or cajole someone into taking faith. We merely need to plant the seeds of their future enlightenment.

In our efforts to teach others of the truth of the Lotus Sutra, we will encounter some who accept easily. However, there will be some who may not accept or believe in what we teach them. We should not worry or be discouraged because the Buddha has said in those cases we only need to teach them some other of the Buddha’s great teachings, realizing that eventually they can obtain the merit to be able to take faith in the Lotus Sutra. For instance we might teach someone about cause and effect, or we may provide instruction in dependent origination or interconnectedness. We might give to them the message of the Four Noble Truths or even the Eightfold Path. All of these are commonsense teachings, which many people intuitively believe in already. Through gradually leading people, perhaps over many lifetimes, we can help them embrace the teachings in the Lotus Sutra.

In one of his writings, Nichiren says that no matter how long a cave has been dark, the minute a light enters, the darkness is eliminated. The same is true with our lives. The instant we begin practicing, our life begins to change and the dark clouds of suffering begin to roll back. If a candle is lit in a darkened cave immediately there is light, and so it is with our lives. As our faith and practice grows it is as if we light ever more candles to the point where every corner of the cave of suffering is illuminated.

In the special transmission we have the revelation once again that this place, the very place where the Lotus Sutra is practiced, is the place of enlightenment. In other words, there is no greater place to be, there is no greater place to practice than the very place where you are. Through this practice in your life you erect a great treasure tower containing the two Buddhas and you purify your environment revealing the pure land that it already is. We may not be able to perceive the reality of the Buddha’s pure land in our environment, through our practice we begin to manifest our own Buddha life and with the eyes of the Buddha we become, we have the ability to see our world with a new perspetive. As the Buddha says further on, when we practice exactly as the buddha instructs us in the Lotus Sutra we will be able to eliminate darkness in our lives.