Kempon Hokke

To Cure that Which Is Incurable

To Cure That Which Is Incurable

"Tientai says, "The icchantika nevertheless have minds, and so it is still possible for them to attain Buddhahood. But persons of the two vehicles have annihilated consciousness, and therefore cannot arouse the mind which aspires to enlightenment. And yet the Lotus Sutra can cure them, which is why it is called myo." Miao-lo comments on this as follows: 'The reason that the other sutras are called dai or 'great' but not myo is simply that it is easy to cure those who have a mind, but difficult to cure those who are without a mind. Because it[the Lotus Sutra] can cure that which is thought to be incurable, it is called myo or mystic."

"Thus, with the other sutras, persons who should become buddhas are unable to do so. But with the Lotus sutra, even those who would ordinarily find it impossible to do so can attain Buddhahood, not to mention those for whom it is relatively easy. This being the case, in the time since the Lotus Sutra was preached, there ought not to be a single person who puts faith in the other sutras." (Both quotes from, The Daimoku Of The Lotus Sutra, ND)