Selected Passages of the Lotus Sutra
"If I convert by a smaller vehicle
Even but one human being,
I shall fall into grudging
A thing that can not be."(Lotus Sutra Chapter 2)
"Honestly discarding the provisional teachings, I will now expound the
Supreme Way".(ibid Ch.2)
"Wherefore? [Because] there is no such thing as a bhikshu who has really
obtained arhatship if he has not believed this Law."(ibid Ch.2)
"These nine divisions of my Law
Preached according to the [capacity] of all creatures
Are [but] the introduction of the Great-vehicle
Hence I preach this sutra."(ibid Ch. 2)
"[if} sravakas or bodhisattvas
Hear the Law which I preach
Even be it one verse,
all, without doubt, become buddhas......
In the appearing of the buddhas in the world
Only this One is the real fact."(ibid Ch. 2)
"There is One only and no second vehicle."(ibid Ch 2)
"The reason why the Tathagata appears
Is for preaching the Buddha-wisdom;
Now is the very time.'
Know, Sariputra!
The stupid and those of little wit,
The tied to externals and the proud
Cannot believe this Law
But now I am glad and fearless;
In the midst of the bodhisattvas
Frankly put aside tactfulness
And only proclaim the Supreme Way."(ibid Ch. 2)
"Now again desiring to cause you to recollect the way which you originally
resolved to follow, I preach for all the sravakas this Great-Vehicle sutra
called the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law."(ibid Ch. 3)
"Whether during the Buddha's lifetime
Or after his extinction
If there be any who slander
Such a sutra as this,
Who, seeing those who read and recite,
Write or hold this sutra, scorn and despise, hate and envy them
And bear them a tenacious grudge.
Concerning the recompense of such people's sin,
After their lifetimes end
They will enter into the Avici hell."(ibid Ch.3)
"Great Power Obtained! At that time the four groups, bhikshus, bhikshunis,
upasakas, and upasikas, with angry minds slighted and condemned me therefore for two hundred kotis of kalpas they never met a buddha, heard the Law, never saw a sangha, and for a thousand kalpas underwent great sufferings in the Avici hell."(ibid Ch. 20)
"These people though they conceive the idea of extinction and enter[what they call] nirvana, yet in those lands will seek after the Buddha-wisdom and succeed in hearing this sutra. Only by the Buddha-vehicle will they attain real extinction."(Ch. 7)
"Whoever resists our spell
And troubles a preacher,
May his head be split in seven
Like an arjaka sprout."(ibid Ch. 26)
"Again, if anyone offers a three-thousand-great-thousandfold world full of the seven precious things in homage to the Buddha, great bodhisattvas, pratyekabuddhas, and arhats, the merit this man gains is not equal to the surpassing happiness of him who receives and keeps but a single fourfold verse of this Law-Flower Sutra."(Lotus sutra Chapter 23)
"In the last five hundred years, after my extinction, proclaim and spread it abroad in Jambudvipa, lest it be lost and Mara the Evil [One], his Mara-prople, gods, dragons, yakshas, kumbhandas, and others gain their opportunity."
Posted by markrogow at March 26, 2008 03:12 PM