[Among] the teachings of the purification of the six sense-organs, especially important are the words in the section on purification of the mind: “When they expound the scriptures of non-Buddhists, or give advice to the government, or teach ways to earn a livelihood, they will always be in accord with the right teachings of the Buddha.” “To give advice to the government” means to enter into the realm of politics and administration. “To teach ways to earn a livelihood” refers to the realms of industry, economics, and our daily work. Theories of politics and economics belong to the ever-changing secular world. Buddhism, on the other hand, belongs to the eternal world, which lies beneath the transitory. Buddhist teachings and the common law (social rules) are distinct and should not be confused with each other. However, in the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, the Dharma cannot ignore the rules of society. On the contrary, the Dharma (truth) is the basis for social rules. Human society cannot function properly, even in politics or economics, unless it is in accord with the basic law of the universe. This law is what is meant by Dharma.

Many sutras other than this one contain excellent teachings for Bodhisattvas of great ability and “hearers” who abandon the world and join monastic brotherhoods or sisterhoods. However, such sutras are not suitable for ordinary people like us who have no special vocation or ability. The Lotus Sutra is suitable not only for great Bodhisattvas and ascetic Sravakas, as we might expect. This is for ordinary people who have no special abilities. This is the one Sutra with the power to save everyone.

the Teaching of Equality

[T]he Lotus Sutra can be divided into two sections: the first half (Shakumon) and the second half Honmon). Nichiren concluded that the fundamental idea of the Lotus Sutra is manifested more clearly in the latter half than the first half, Furthermore, the central idea of the second half is elaborated in Chapter Sixteen, “The Duration of the Life of the Buddha.” The account in Chapter Sixteen is actually a continuation of the latter half of the previous chapter, “Bodhisattvas from Underground,” and is continued through the first half of the next Chapter, “The Variety of Merits.”

The three parts are closely enough related to form one single chain of thought. In his Kanjin-honzon-sho, Nichiren argues that the quintessence of the teachings of the Primal Mystery lies in this chain of three parts, which he specifically calls the “one chapter and two halves.” In addition, he declares that in our present Age of Degeneration, the teaching of the “one chapter and two halves” should be propagated in the abbreviated form of five Chinese characters, the title MYO-HO-REN-GE-KYO, meaning “The Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma.”

[T]he Sutra says that anyone who reads, recites, and expounds the Lotus Sutra will be attractive in appearance, fearless, safe from accidents, and served by angels from heaven. It goes on to say that the figure of the Buddha will appear in the dreams of such a person, lead him or her to renounce the world, attain enlightenment, and enter Nirvana just as the Buddha does.

This is an outline of the chapter called “Peaceful Practices.” The message of this chapter stands in contrast with that of the previous chapter, “Encouragement for Keeping the Sutra.” In that chapter, we recall, the Sutra tells us that we should be ready to accept any difficulty, and endure patiently if we come under persecution while spreading the Sutra. This also means that, in order to spread the Sutra, we must try to convince and convert someone who may be causing us problems. Later, in Chapter Twenty, “Never-Despise Bodhisattva,” the Sutra will tell us about a Bodhisattva named Never-Despise, who used to bow to and respect everyone he met, preaching the law to them, even when they hit him or threw stones at him.

Great Master Chih-i and Nichiren called such ways of spreading the Dharma, shakubuku, meaning “converting others by persistent preaching.” On the other hand, spreading the law by peaceful practices, as described in this chapter, is called shoju, “accepting.”

Shakubuku is the way to reproach opponents for their errors and make them awaken from their illusions. Shoju is to lead and convince them by respectfully accepting and understanding their viewpoints and situations. The difference between these two ways of propagation depends on the times and the abilities of the hearers to understand. Although the two methods seem to be entirely different, they have the same aim—to save others. Therefore, they share the same spirit.

In the history of Buddhism, Great Master Chih-i generally undertook the way of shoju, and Nichiren generally practiced the way of shakubuku. However, Chih-i also valued the spirit of shakubuku, and Nichiren also gave importance to the spirit of shoju. In our times, the way of shoju seems more appropriate, but it must be flavored with the spirit of shakubuku, too.

The previous chapter [Chapter 13, Encouragement for Keeping this Sutra] has explained that anyone who preaches and spreads the Lotus Sutra in the future, the Age of Degeneration, must have stamina. Such a person must resolve to spread the Sutra even though evil people, known as the Three Strong Enemies, will appear in his or her path to trouble or even persecute him. This way of propagation, by confronting the Three Strong Enemies head-on, may strain the preacher’s relationships with others. By way of contrast, there is another practical way to spread the Dharma, with an attitude that is calmer and more relaxed. This attitude is called, “Peaceful Practices.”

Great-Eloquence Bodhisattva wants to see Many-Treasures for himself, and he makes his desire known to Sakyamuni. The Buddha replies:

Many-Treasures Buddha made another great vow: “If any Buddha wishes to show me to the people when my Stupa of treasures appears before him so that I may be able to hear the Lotus Sutra, all his duplicate Buddhas in the worlds of the ten directions must be recalled. Then I will show myself before the people.”

Then Sakyamuni emitted a ray of light from the white curls between his eyebrows. The ray of light illumined the east, where the people saw innumerable Buddhas of innumerable worlds. Illuminated by the ray of light, those Buddhas of the worlds of the ten directions came pouring into the World of Endurance (our world) to make offerings to Sakyamuni Buddha and Many-Treasures Tathagata. At that moment, the World of Endurance was purified. The ground of the world became lapis lazuli; the roads were marked off by golden ropes; all cities, rushing torrents, and mountains (barriers which divide people from each other) were eliminated. Each of the arriving Buddhas was accompanied by an attending Bodhisattva. They all came to the purified World of Endurance, and sat under jeweled trees on lion-like thrones. All the thrones in the one thousand million Sumeru-worlds (inhabited worlds) were too few to accommodate so many Buddhas, so Sakyamuni purified two hundred billion nayuta [one nayuta is one hundred thousand million] other worlds to receive them. Still there was not enough room for them all, so Sakyamuni purified two hundred billion nayuta more worlds in eight directions of space to receive them (p. 183-4).
This is called the “triple purification of the worlds.”