Lecture on the Lotus Sutra Chapter 1, Part 1
Chapter 1 Introductory The Lotus Sutra shamon (Rev. Tsuchiya) 2008/04/18 23:21
[Essential sentence] 1
"Thereupon the four kinds of devotees, who were surrounding the World -
Honored One, made offerings to him, respected him, honored him, and
praised him. The World-Honored One expounded a sutra of the Great
Vehicle called the“Innumerable Teachings, the Dharma for Bodhisattvas,
the Dharma Upheld by the Buddhas,” Having expounded this sutra, the
Buddha sat cross-legged, and entered into the samadhi for the purport
of the innumerable teachings. His body and mind became motionless."
[The gist]
Introduction is to let us predict roughly contents that will be preached in the sutra from now on. Introduction of the Lotus sutra shows that this sutra reveals the sole purpose of the Buddha in this world and the truth of the Buddha in this world. Therefore, all representatives of the world audience attended at this assembly on the Vulture Peak and were surrounding the Buddha Shakamuni, strewing Mandara flowers from the heavens and playing music. Because this preaching was very important and it was not for specific person, not about specific instance. At the time, Sravaka-yana and Pratyekabuddha-yana that were called as the two vehicles had been belittled by Mahayana. Because their practice to renounce worldly desires was so personal that it was impossible to become Buddha. But the Lotus sutra is preached equally for not only Bodhisattva-yana but Sravaka-yana and Pratyekabuddha-yana because it is for all Buddhists.
Sitting cross-legged means to sit silently with a calm mind. And Samadhi(Sammai) is to try to banish worldly thoughts by gathering your thoughts, concentrating your attention on a subject. The purport of the innumerable teachings is the relation between an unified law and all things in nature, the whole of creation that come into existence from a law of nature. If you say on the Buddha's teachings, it is the relation between a perfect unified Saddharma and infinite varieties of sutras and doctrines. You should consider to how to settle various opinions systematically at first whether on a study of the truth or on a study of ideology. As long as you stick to fragmentary thoughts and argue with others, you can not get out of its confusions. Even if you learn as well as you can Buddhism, morality and philosophy, you are called immature person as long as you can not put those thoughts together.
[Essential sentence] 2
"Thereupon the Buddha emitted a ray of light from the white curls between
his eyebrows, and illumined all the corners of eighteen thousand worlds in
the east."
[The gist]
If you want to explain everything about something systematically, it will be a very long talk. But it is instant if you can illumine that matter. Illumining is the best method for taking a large view. For example, you have to take a lot of time for walking around in every corner of the town if you want to know the whole town. But if you go up to the highest place of the town, you can see the whole town all at once. All sufferings are caused by Mumyo[avhidya] that is ignorance of the true nature of existence and life. There is a very large number of sutra which includes 84,000 of the teachings of the Buddha to get rid of those sufferings. If you want to know about everything, you have to spend enormous time. But if you could illumine the real state of all things and the truth like the Buddha, it would be instant.
Teachings of Buddhism is not formed if you seek enlightenment without respecting important sutras and its doctrine. Buddhas who know the truth clearly might nod to their enlightenment mutually, but it is nonsense and useless that conceited persons are nodding together like Buddha. There is the Buddha who illumines the truth. And there are ignorant people about the truth on the other hand. Teachings are preached there consequently. And if preached teachings from the truth coincide with the fact, you must trust it as the good teachings. The truth is described by teachings, but needless to say, teachings are not the truth. Teachings are somethings to show the truth.
The east is a starting point on all sides. The ray of Tathagata Shakamuni shining on the east means that he clearly illumine the state of the world from infinite past to the present time. Each audience could observe all life in the hell, in the world of hungry demons, animals, asuras, men and heaven, and also watched preaching of various Buddha, training of monks and believers and practice of bodhisattvas. Then, the Lotus sutra started to be preached by Buddha Shakyamuni for every one that wanted to hear the purport of those scenes.
*[I have not enough capability on English. So, I might cause misunderstanding for you on explanation of Lotus sutra and Nichiren's doctrine. Please ask me freely to solve your doubt at any time.]
Posted by markrogow at April 29, 2008 01:47 PM