In the ten similes praising the Lotus Sutra, this sutra is repeatedly stated to be the supreme and the most sublime of all sutras. This illustrates the Buddha’s intention to cause us to write indelibly on our hearts that our practice of the Law is the first essential for the accomplishment of the way to buddhahood.

Noteworthy among these similes is the following: “Just as the Great Brahma Heavenly King is the father of all living beings, so is it also with this sutra; it is the father of all the wise and holy men, of those training and the trained, and of the bodhisattva-minded.” In India, for a long time before Sakyamuni Buddha appeared in this world, people believed that the Great Brahma Heavenly King is the father of all living beings and that this heavenly king governs all creatures. In the simile mentioned above the Buddha does not say specifically that this is a mistaken idea, but preaches: “Just as all living beings regard the Great Brahma Heavenly King as their father, so this sutra is the father of them all.” It is a characteristic of Buddhism to lead ordinary people to the path of the truth in the gentle way shown here by the Buddha. He preaches, gently but firmly, “The truth is the father of all living beings.”