[In Chaper 7, after Great-Universal-Wisdom-Excellence Buddha finally attains enlightenment,] the Buddha then presents some of the most essential teachings of Buddhism, beginning with the four noble truths.

In brief, these are: the truth that life involves suffering; the truth that the cause or origin of suffering is desire or ignorance; the truth that suffering can be overcome, usually understood to be the state of nirvana; and the truth that the way to overcome suffering is the eightfold path. Closely associated with this teaching in classical Buddhism is the teaching of the “twelve causes and conditions.”

In the Dharma Flower Sutra these two teachings are closely associated with the shravaka and pratyekabuddha ways respectively, and they are mentioned frequently. But only here in this story are they actually described. And here both are associated with the shravaka way. In the Dharma Flower Sutra generally, while the bodhisattva way is presented as more inclusive or more far-reaching, there is no intention to disparage the shravaka way as illustrated by this story.