The “Lotus” is a gospel of universal salvation and its purpose is to interpret the life and personality of the historical Buddha Sākya-muni as a manifestation of eternal truth (Dharma) working ever to bring all beings without exception into the all-embracing way (Eka-yāna) of salvation and enlightenment. His power of saving all is likened to the rainwater which, being one and homogeneous in itself, nourishes all plants and herbs of diverse sorts according to their respective natures and capacities. Not only was Buddha himself an example of Buddhist perfection but he also guides and inspires everyone who is ready to follow him. His working is not limited to his lifetime. He is an eternal and omnipresent Lord of the Universe, and besides his own direct instruction and inspiration, he sends innumerable saints, Bodhisattva, for the salvation of all throughout the ages. Thus we can see why Prince Shōtoku selected this book as the central theme of his lectures. His life was an emulation of this work of Buddha, and considering himself to be a Bodhisattva, he derived inspiration from those passages where Buddha’s saints were depicted as working incessantly for perfecting themselves by saving others and inducing others to take the same way to perfection.