The [ten suchnesses in Chapter 2, Expedients,] seem logical and self-explanatory. Its logic, however, is not easy for ordinary people to understand. For example, “as such” implies “as it is,” and refers to an ultimate truth which has been grasped intuitively. It is understood by a religious intuition (called prajna in Sanskrit) entirely beyond our ordinary way of understanding things as this or that. “As such” also represents reality or the ultimate truth—the way something really is, not the way we think it is. These ten perspectives are called the “Ten Suchnesses.” Chih-i of China (538-97) and Nichiren of Japan (1222-82) used them in formulating their philosophical doctrines of “each of the ten realms of existence contains the other nine in itself,” and “one thought is the three thousand worlds.”
Introduction to the Lotus SutraTag Archives: LS03
Day 3
Day 3 covers the first half of Chapter 2, Expedients.
Having last month considered our inability to measure the wisdom of the Buddha, we learn the profound and wonderful Dharma is known only to the Buddhas.
(He said to Śāriputra again:)
I have already attained
The profound and wonderful Dharma,
The Dharma without āsravas, the inconceivable Dharma.
It is known only to me
And to the Buddhas of the worlds of the ten quarters.Śāriputra, know this!
The Buddhas do not speak differently.
Have great power of faith
In the Dharma expounded by the Buddhas!
As a rule, the World-Honored Ones expound the true teaching
Only after a long period [of expounding expedient teachings].(He said to the Śrāvakas
And to those who were seeking the vehicle of cause-knowers:)
I saved all living beings
From the bonds of suffering,
And caused them to attain Nirvāṇa.
l showed to them
The teaching of the Three Vehicles as an expedient
In order to save them from various attachments.
Unity of the Three in the One
In Chapter Two, “Expedients,” the Buddha revealed the three vehicles to be expedients – that is, provisional teachings. He clarified that the unity of the three in the One Buddha Vehicle is the true teaching. This is called “opening the provisional to reveal the truth,” or “opening the three to reveal the one,” or “the three teachings become one.”
Introduction to the Lotus SutraDay 3
Day 3 covers the first half of Chapter 2, Expedients.
Having last month considered the inexplicable nature of the Dharma, we consider the inability to measure the wisdom of the Buddha.
As many people as can fill the world,
Who are as wise as you, Śāriputra, will not be able
To measure the wisdom of the Buddhas,
Even though they try to do so with their combined efforts.As many people as can fill the worlds of the ten quarters,
Who are as wise as you, Śāriputra,
Or as many other disciples of mine
As can fill the ksetras of the ten quarters,
Will not be able to know [the wisdom of the Buddhas]
Even though they try to do so with their combined efforts.As many Pratyekabuddhas as can fill
The worlds of the ten quarters, or as many as bamboo groves,
Who are wise enough to reach
The final stage of their physical existence without āsravas,
Will not be able to know
Even a bit of the true wisdom of the Buddhas
Even though they continue trying to do so with all their hearts
For many hundreds of millions of kalpas.As many Bodhisattvas as rice-plants, hemps, bamboos or reeds,
Or as can fill the ksetras of the ten quarters,
Who have just begun to aspire for enlightenment,
Who made offerings to innumerable Buddhas in their previous existence,
Who understand the meanings of the Dharma [in their own ways],
And who are expounding the Dharma [as they understand it],
Will not be able to know the wisdom of the Buddhas
Even though they continue trying to do so with all their hearts
And with all their wonderful wisdom
For as many kalpas as there are sands in the River Ganges.As many never-faltering Bodhisattvas
As there are sands in the River Ganges
Will not be able to know the wisdom of the Buddhas
Even though they try to do so with all their hearts.
Dividing One Buddha Vehicle Into Three
The Sanskrit word upaya (“expedient”) conveys the meaning of leading to or approaching the goal. The Three Vehicles are such expedients leading to the goal, the true teaching of the One Buddha Vehicle. Expedients are not just means to an end; they have significance in and of themselves. They are valid steps in the process leading to the truth, the insight of the Buddha. Conversely speaking, the One Buddha Vehicle (the final single truth) is revealed in the form of expedient teachings, valid according to the complexity of our world view. So the sutra says, “The Buddhas divide the One Buddha Vehicle into three as an expedient” (p. 33).
Thus expedients equal the truth in essence. It is not true that “a white lie can be an expedient.” A lie, white or black, is not an expedient in the Buddhist sense. An expedient is true within its own context.
Introduction to the Lotus SutraDay 3
Day 3 covers the first half of Chapter 2, Expedients.
Having last month considered the depth of the insight of the Tathāgatas in gāthās, we consider that the Dharma is inexplicable by words.
The Dharma cannot be shown.
It is inexplicable by words.
No one can understand it
Except the Buddhas
And the Bodhisattvas
Who are strong in the power of faith.Even the Buddhas’ disciples who made offerings
To the [past] Buddhas in their previous existence,
[Even the disciples] who eliminated all asravas,
[Even the disciples] who are now at the final stage
Of their physical existence,
Cannot understand [the Dharma].
The Buddhas Teach Only Bodhisattvas
Although the Buddha provided the “hearers,” “private Buddhas,” and Bodhisattvas with three different ways, the essence of the three identities is Bodhisattvahood. Those who don’t realize this fact and hold on to their particular beliefs that they are either arhats (perfect ones) or “private Buddhas” (self-enlightened), are neither true arhats nor true “private Buddhas.” When he is teaching them, the Buddha regards them as being Bodhisattvas. They must be Bodhisattvas at heart even if they are “hearers” or “private Buddhas” in appearance. This is why the sutra says, “The Buddhas teach only Bodhisattvas.”
Introduction to the Lotus SutraDay 3
Day 3 covers the first half of Chapter 2, Expedients.
Having last month considered the depth of the insight of the Tathāgatas, we repeat in gāthās.
Thereupon the World-Honored One, wishing to repeat what he had said, sang in gāthās:
The [ wisdom of the] World-Heroes is immeasurable.
None of the living beings in the world,
Including gods and men,
Knows the [ wisdom of the] Buddhas.No one can measure the powers, fearlessness,
Emancipations, samādhis,
And other properties of the [present] Buddhas,
Because they, in their previous existence,
Followed innumerable Buddhas
And practiced the teachings of those Buddhas.The profound and wonderful Dharma
Is difficult to see and difficult to understand.
I practiced the teachings of the [past] Buddhas
For many hundreds of millions of kalpas,
And became a Buddha at the place of enlightenment.
I have already attained the Dharma.l know the various effects, rewards and retributions,
Natures and appearances of all things:
The Buddhas of the worlds of the ten quarters
Also know all this.
Two Identities of the Great Vehicle
[W]e need a central theme or foundation to unify our many theories of the truth—some theme which has already served us well in the past. So we pick out the one which has been of the most value. In Buddhism, the Bodhisattva Vehicle, or Great Vehicle, has been of the most value. Accordingly, the Great Vehicle has two identities: one which is unified as an expedient, and one which unifies the three expedients as the true teaching. The former is the Great Vehicle, the Bodhisattva Vehicle, in relation to the other two vehicles. The latter is the one which is higher in value and embraces the other two by transcending any contrast between them. In this case, the Bodhisattva Vehicle may be a synonym for the One Buddha Vehicle.
Since the Bodhisattva Vehicle is the basis for the unification of the three vehicles, it follows that the “hearers” and “private Buddhas” are themselves really Bodhisattvas without knowing it. So the Buddha says:
“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.”
Introduction to the Lotus SutraDay 3
Day 3 covers the first half of Chapter 2, Expedients.
Having last month been introduced to the idea of expedient teachings, we consider the depth of the insight of the Tathāgatas.
“Śāriputra! The insight of the Tathāgatas is wide and deep. [The Tathāgatas] have all the [states of mind towards] innumerable [living beings,] unhindered [eloquence,] powers, fearlessness, dhyāna-concentrations, emancipations, and samādhis. They entered deep into boundlessness, and attained the Dharma which you have never heard before.
“Śāriputra! The Tathāgatas divide [the Dharma] into various teachings, and expound those teachings to all living beings so skillfully and with such gentle voices that living beings are delighted. Śāriputra! In short, the Buddhas attained the innumerable teachings which you have never heard before. No more, Śāriputra, will I say because the Dharma attained by the Buddhas is the highest Truth, rare [to hear] and difficult to understand. Only the Buddhas attained [the highest Truth, that is,] the reality of all things’ in regard to their appearances as such, their natures as such, their entities as such, their powers as such, their activities as such, their primary causes as such, their environmental causes as such, their effects as such, their rewards and retributions as such, and their equality as such [despite these differences].