The first half of the Lotus Sutra is the theoretical section, which is called the Trace or Imprint Gate. The Trace Gate consists of the first 14 chapters in which the Buddha is still seen as the historical Shakyamuni Buddha who attained awakening 2,500 years ago. It is called the Trace Gate because it covers the teaching of the One Vehicle by the historical Shakyamuni Buddha … and these teachings are the traces or imprints of the teaching of eternal life by the Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha. The historical life of the Buddha and his teaching is like a print made of soft wax by a seal, or like traces left in the sand by a person walking on the beach.