The Buddhas, the Tathāgatas, teach only Bodhisattvas. All they do is for one purpose, that is, to show the insight of the Buddha to all living beings, to cause them to obtain the insight of the Buddha. The Buddha speaks these words in Chapter Two of the Lotus Sutra. Here he emphasizes the importance of … Continue reading Daily Dharma – Sept. 15, 2020
Day 5 begins Chapter 3, A Parable Having last month heard reaction of the great multitude to Śāriputra’s prediction, we consider Śāriputra’s doubts. Thereupon Śāriputra said to the Buddha: “World-Honored One! Now my doubts are gone. You assured me of my future attainment of Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi. These twelve hundred people now have freedom of mind. When … Continue reading Day 5
Day 4 concludes Chapter 2, Expedients, and completes the first volume of the Sūtra of the Lotus flower of the Wonderful Dharma. Having last month considered the Buddha’s initial decision to use expedients, we consider the Buddha’s decision to teach Bodhisattvas. Śāriputra, know this! Then I saw many sons of mine, Thousands of billions in … Continue reading Day 4
Śāriputra! Some disciples of mine, who think that they are Arhats or Pratyekabuddhas, will not be my disciples or Arhats or Pratyekabuddhas if they do not hear or know that the Buddhas, the Tathāgatas, teach only Bodhisattvas. The Buddha makes this declaration to his disciple Śāriputra in Chapter Two of the Lotus Sutra. When the … Continue reading Daily Dharma – April 22, 2020
Therefore, anyone who has wisdom should copy this sūtra with all his heart, cause others to copy it, and also keep, read and recite it, memorize it correctly, and act according to it. The Buddha declares this to Universal-Sage Bodhisattva in Chapter Twenty-Eight of the Lotus Sūtra. It is important to remember that early in … Continue reading Daily Dharma – March 23, 2020
Day 4 concludes Chapter 2, Expedients, and completes the first volume of the Sūtra of the Lotus flower of the Wonderful Dharma. Having last month considered how all past and future Buddhas use expedients, we consider the Buddha’s initial decision to use expedients. Śāriputra, know this! Seeing with the eyes of the Buddha The living … Continue reading Day 4
Day 3 covers the first half of Chapter 2, Expedients. Having last month considered the teachings of the one vehicle by the present Buddhas, we consider why the Buddha teaches only Bodhisattvas and conclude today’s portion of Chapter 2, Expedients. “Śāriputra! The Buddhas appear in the evil worlds in which there are the five defilements. … Continue reading Day 3
As long as even a man of great wisdom, such as Śāriputra, only desired to obtain enlightenment for himself and to be saved for his own sake, he could not possibly bridge the great gulf between his own and the Buddha’s enlightenment, though he had already nearly attained the Buddha’s enlightenment. However, he was able … Continue reading Realizing Real Salvation
Day 3 covers the first half of Chapter 2, Expedients. Having last month learned that the Buddhas teach only Bodhisattvas, we consider the teachings of the one vehicle by the present Buddhas. “Śāriputra! The present Buddhas, the present World-Honored Ones, of many hundreds of thousands of billions of Buddha-worlds of the ten quarters benefit all … Continue reading Day 3
Day 4 concludes Chapter 2, Expedients, and completes the first volume of the Sūtra of the Lotus flower of the Wonderful Dharma. Having last month learned of Śākyamuni’s old vow, we consider the ways of attaining the Buddha path. The number of the Buddhas who passed away During the past innumerable kalpas was Hundreds of … Continue reading Day 4