1. Preface
“Reading the Lotus Sutra as a Drama“
When you read the Lotus Sutra for the first time, you might think, “How does this grand story relate to our lives?”
Sakyamuni Buddha reveals in Chapter 10 “Teacher of the Dharma” of the Lotus Sutra that the Lotus Sutra is the foremost of all sutras. People praise the Lotus Sutra as the King of all sutras.
However, if we read the Lotus Sutra as just a grand story and don’t see the teaching in our daily life, it is not the Buddha’s true intent.
The Lotus Sutra has been read from various perspectives such as literature, history, art, and science. But the person who read the Lotus Sutra from the view of the Buddha was Nichiren Shonin. Nichiren Shonin was born in 13th century in Japan. He called himself the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra.
Nichiren Shonin saw the entire Lotus Sutra as one drama and projected himself into every scene in the sutra.
Because he read the Lotus Sutra in this way, he was able to dedicate himself to realizing the Buddha Land in this Saha World preached in the Lotus Sutra, by fighting against many persecutions and temptations.
The way Nichiren Shonin read the teaching of Lotus Sutra in the real world is called “Shikidoku,” which means to read the teaching with one’s body. This is the way Sakyamuni Buddha wants us to read the Lotus Sutra.
Let’s project ourselves into the story of the Lotus Sutra. It might seem unrelated to our real life at the first glance. But it surely will help us to gain vibrant energy in our daily life.
We are going to focus on the essential points of the Lotus Sutra, and summarize the drama from the sutra. It is important to imagine that you are sitting in front of the Buddha right now. Let’s listen carefully to the Buddha’s voice.
2. Chapter 1, “Introduction”
“The Light between Buddha’s Eyebrows“
The scene is now set on Eagle Peak. We are transported back over 2000 years.
Sakayamuni Buddha is sitting quietly in the center atop of the mountain. The Buddha is 72 years old.
More than ten thousand crowds come to listen the Dharma from Sakyamuni Buddha. Many of them are monks, nuns, and lay followers. Their age and occupations vary widely. Even King Ajatasatru, who killed his father, joins with his attendants.
It seems that many heavenly deities who reside in heaven, on the ground, in the water and in the air have appeared here as well, although it is very difficult for us to see them with our eyes.
The Lotus Sutra mentions that these deities are gods, dragons, yaksas, gandharvas, asuras,garudas, kimnaras, and mahoragas.
As we look at the congregation, there are all kinds of people such as young and old, good and evil, benevolent and malevolent deities. All of them have their own circumstances and perspectives. However, they all are fans of Sakyamuni Buddha.
Sakyamuni Buddha deeply respects the diversity of personalities. It is the Buddha’s vast compassion. The gate opens for everyone. It is the entrance of the Lotus Sutra.
At this moment, flower petals fall down from the sky. The ground trembles gently. Sakyamuni Buddha emits the light from his eyebrows. And its light illuminates the far east.
Maitreya Bodhisattva is amazed by this. He asks Manjusri Bodhisattva about the reason behind this phenomenon. Manjusri Bodhisattva answers, “Well, this is the sign that Sakyamuni Buddha is going to reveal the most important teaching for us.”
These various wonderful phenomena in the sutra show the state of our mind in visible form. Many flower petals from sky represents people’s joy and appreciation to the Buddha before the Buddha starts preaching his great Dharma. And the earth’s shake expresses everyone’s huge anticipation. The beautiful light emitted from the Buddha’s eyebrows is the sacred sign to describes people’s boundless possibility.
The great light of the Buddha’s wisdom and compassion brightens all the goodness and evilness of human beings in order to save them. Finally, the teaching of the Lotus Sutra is about to begin.
3. Chapter 2, “Expedient”
“Unification of Teachings“
Sakyamuni Buddha stands up quietly and starts speaking to his disciple, Sariputra, the leader of the Buddha’s disciples.
“There is only one true Dharma I have realized. It is so profound. It is difficult for you to understand, Sariputra.” This first voice from the Buddha surprises all the disciples because Sariputra is known as the foremost in wisdom among all of them.
Sariputra and other disciples belong to the Two Vehicles. They are called as Sravakas and Pratyekabuddha, who have extinguished their desires in their mind. People believe that those of the Two Vehicles are divine practitioners.
Sariputra pleads three times to Sakyamuni Buddha, “Please teach the truth for us. We believe in the Buddha’s words.”
Sakyamuni Buddha feels relieved by Sariputra’s words “we believe”, because the Lotus Sutra is not a teaching to understand logically, but a teaching with a meaning obtained by our faith.
“Well, I will unveil the only purpose that I was born in this world. The purpose is to cause all of you to become Buddhas. All living beings have the possibility to become Buddhas. So, what exactly is a Buddha? My life’s mission is to show the Buddha to as many people as possible, explain about the Buddha to them, provide experiences for them, and cause them to walk in their own Buddha’s Path.”
The main theme of the Lotus Sutra is “Everyone can become a Buddha.” It is the fundamental point of the teachings of Buddhism.
However, great the practitioners of Two Vehicles such as Sariputra think that they cannot become Buddhas like Sakyamuni Buddha, as they deeply respect the Buddha too much.
The Buddha’s first voice in Chapter 2 is his skillful means to make all the disciples free from their attached mindset and tell them that they can also become Buddhas. This skillful means to lead them to the truth is called “Expedients”. All the expedient teachings Sakyamuni Buddha has expounded before are unified in the true teaching of the Lotus Sutra.
4. Chapters 10, “the Teacher of Dharma” and 11, “Beholding Stupa of Treasures”
“The Opening of the Lotus Sutra Summit“
The disciples of the Buddha accept the teaching “Everyone can become a Buddha”. Those of the Two Vehicles including Sariputra and Four Great Sravakas such as Subhuti, Kasyapa, Katyayana, and Maudgayayana receive the Buddha’s message that you will become a Buddha. It is called the Assurance of Future Buddhahood. Sakyamuni Buddha gives a Buddha name for each of them.
“Even after I pass away, anyone who rejoices at hearing even a single verse of the Lotus Sutra will receive an assurance of the Future Buddhahood.”
Sakyamuni Buddha bestows the assurance to all those gathered in the Lotus Sutra. What a surprise! A magnificent and grand stupa with many treasures appears from underground. This stupa hangs in the air. And a solemn and clear voice is heard from the stupa.
“Excellent! Excellent! Honorable Sakyamuni Buddha. All of what the Lotus Sutra tells is true.” The owner of this voice is the Buddha of Many Treasures.
Sakyamuni Buddha calls in all the Buddhas existing throughout the universe to gather at Eagle Peak. The door of Many Treasures Stupa in the air opens, and Sakyamuni Buddha sits beside Many Treasures Tathagata.”
At this moment, all the Buddha’s disciples at Mt. Sacred Eagle also float in the air.
This ceremony in the air is called “Koku”. From this part, the scene where the Lotus Sutra is preached is a place beyond time and space.
Sakyamuni Buddha teaches the congregation from the stupa. “Is there anyone who will preach and expound the Lotus Sutra after my extinction?”
When I look at this scene, I feel that it is like a summit conference. The Lotus Sutra is the conference bringing Buddhist teaching to the future. The symbol of the conference is the stupa. The countless Buddhas are the special guests.
One of the themes in the Lotus Sutra is “who will spread the Lotus Sutra after Buddha’s extinction. This Lotus Sutra conference starts only now.
5. Chapter 12, “Devadatta”
“The Buddhahood of the Evil Devadatta and the Dragon King’s Daughter“
The Lotus Sutra reveals the teaching that everyone can become a Buddha. Chapter 12 of the Lotus Sutra explains this clearly.
Devadatta, cousin of Sakyamuni Buddha, is known as an evil man with a strong jealous mind, so that he has harmed the Buddha repeatedly and he even attempted to kill the Buddha. However, Sakyamuni Buddha has a different perspective.
The Buddha reveals, “In a past life, Devadatta was my teacher who taught the Lotus Sutra. In the future, he will become Buddha named Heavenly King Tathagata.”
The congregation is so shocked with this Buddha’s words. But, thanks to this teaching, people realize the important point of the Lotus Sutra that everyone equally has potential. All of us can become an evil person through wrong teachings, but will become a Buddha through right teachings.
At that moment, Manjusri Bodhisattva, who has had plenty of experiences, talks to Accumulated-Wisdom Bodhisattva. “The daughter of Dragon King living in the ocean aspired for the true teaching of Sakyamuni Buddha at the age of eight. She became a Buddha instantly by hearing the Lotus Sutra.”
Accumulated-Wisdom Bodhisattva and Sariputra, the foremost in wisdom, can’t believe this story because they were previously told that women would not be able to become Buddhas. Therefore, they have unconsciously had some kind of prejudice and discrimination against women.
This young Dragon King Daughter appears joyfully and says, “Please watch carefully.” She quickly changes herself to the person expounding the Lotus Sutra and guiding people. It is very clear to everyone that this young Dragon Daughter became a honorable Buddha.
Sariputra and Accumulated-Wisdom Bodhisattva, who initially questioned the Buddhahood of the Dragon Daughter, have witnessed this scene. They accept it at last.
It is important for us to note that this dragon daughter is a young child. And not only is she not a human being, but she is a dragon. This Buddhahood of the Dragon Daughter proves the teaching of the Lotus Sutra that everyone including women, children and animals will become Buddhas.
6. Chapter 15, ”The Appearance of Bodhisattvas from Underground”
“The Arrival of Superheroes“
Sakyamuni Buddha asks, “Who will expound this Lotus Sutra after my extinction?” Many Bodhisattvas have raised their hands, but the Buddha kindly refuses their offer. And the Buddha mentioned that they don’t need to do.
The Buddha says, “There are countless Bodhisattvas in this Saha World already. They will expound the Lotus Sutra after my extinction.”
The ground of Mt. Sacred Eagle is split as if it responds to Sakyamuni Buddha’s voices. Countless brilliant Bodhisattvas appear from there.
They are the superheroes, the Bodhisattvas from Underground, preached in the Lotus Sutra. Sakyamuni Buddha has secretly trained special people who will spread the Lotus Sutra and obtain World Peace and Buddha Land in this Saha World.
It is very important point that those Bodhisattvas sprang up from the ground. Those who will save this land are not like sacred beings, but they were born in this land. This shows that we human beings should stand up with our strong determination.
Therefore, Bodhisattvas from Underground are none other than ourselves, representing every one of us.
There are four leaders among the Bodhisattvas from Underground. They are Superior Practice Bodhisattva, Limitless Practice Bodhisattva, Pure Practice Bodhisattva, and Steadily Established Practice Bodhisattva. Superior Practice Bodhisattva is our great leader.
An interesting thing is that nobody knows about these Bodhisattvas, except Sakyamuni Buddha. Even Maitreya Bodhisattva, who will appear in this world as the future Buddha after Sakyamuni preached in another sutra, doesn’t know any of them. Maitreya Bodhisattva asks his question to the Buddha. “It has passed about 40 years since you attained enlightenment under Bodhi Tree. How could you teach all these noble Bodhisattvas in such a short time?”
This question of Maitreya Bodhisattva will reveal the new fact in the following chapter regarding the life span of Sakyamuni Buddha.
7. Chapter 16, “Duration of the Life of The Tathagata”
“Unity of the Buddhas“
In response to Maitreya Bodhisattva’s question, Sakyamuni Buddha begins revealing the truth he has never preached before.
“Everyone may think that I gave up my position as a prince of Sakya Clan, left my home town of Kapilavastu, became a monk, attained the enlightenment for the first time under Bodhi Tree. But, in reality, I attained enlightenment in a distant past, many hundred thousand billion nayuta asamkhya kalpas ago.”
Sakyamuni Buddha explains that the Buddha’s lifespan has extended both to the past and the future.
“I have expounded the Buddha Dharma in various worlds during this eternal period. I appeared as a Buddha named Burning-Light Buddha one time. All the Buddhas that preached before were the provisional manifestations of myself.
Famous Buddhas such as Amitabha Buddha in the Pure Land and Medicine King Bodhisattva in Lapis Lazuli World were all manifestation of Sakyamuni Buddha, who possesses eternal life. The Buddha changes his forms and names. Sakyamuni Buddha appears with different appearances in front of us.
Therefore, the Buddha was able to gather all the Buddhas at the Assembly in the Air instantaneously.
This Eternal Sakyamuni Buddha is called the “Original Buddha” in terms of the essence and the foundation of Buddhism. All the Buddhas are unified as the Original Buddha in the Lotus Sutra.
The Bodhisattvas from Underground are the great Bodhisattvas led by the Original Buddha from the remote past. They await the call from Sakyamuni Buddha in the air under the ground. They diligently keep practicing their Bodhisattva ways.
Even Maitreya Bodhisattva has not seen these great Bodhisattvas. However, is it true that the duration of the Buddha’s life is eternal? Historically, Sakyamuni Buddha passed away at the age of 80.
Sakyamuni Buddha has prepared his answer to this question beforehand. “If people believed that my physical body is eternal and immortal, they will think that they can see the Buddha anytime. Therefore, I purposely pass away. People gain their strong faith to meet the Buddha and make their good effort to achieve it. My physical body will disappear, but it is not the actual end. My Dharma will never be extinct.
Furthermore, Sakyamuni Buddha reveals the truth about the world where we all live now. “This land we in live now is the Eternal Pure Land, where heavenly beings and human beings live together peacefully.”
People have misunderstood that the ideal Pure Land is located somewhere far away from this world, and it is very special place. But the Buddha teaches that the Pure Land is this earth where we stand. “I am always with you.” It is the message of the Eternal Original Sakyamuni Buddha. The Buddha stays with us at all times.
8. Chapter 20, “Never Despising Bodhisattva”
“Practicing the Lotus Sutra“
It is very difficult to believe that we all are the Bodhisattvas from Underground guided by Sakyamuni Buddha since the remotest past. Now we know this truth through the Lotus Sutra. We wonder how we should live our lives. Sakyamuni Buddha introduces us to Never Despising Bodhisattva, as his way of living is a good example.
In Chapter 20, Sakyamuni Buddha starts talking about Never Despising Bodhisattva. “This Bodhisattva’s appearance was of a Buddhist monk. However, nobody saw him chanting sutras. His practice was to bow deeply to anyone he met on a street. He would say, ‘I respect you deeply. I will never despise you because you will become a Buddha in future.’ People made a fool of him. They called him ‘Never Despising’ and spoke ill of him. But Never Despising Bodhisattva never gave up his Buddhist practice. People threw stones to him and beat him with sticks. Never Despising Bodhisattva never got angry. He just continued his practice of bowing people with respect.”
Buddhist practices are not only to recite the sutras through mouth. The Buddha wants to tell us that it is important for us to recite the Lotus Sutra with body and heart.
The Lotus Sutra teaches that “All people will become the Buddhas.” Never Despising Bodhisattva read this teaching through his body and mind. It doesn’t mean that he didn’t recite the sutra at all. He had read the sutra thoroughly. The teaching of the Lotus Sutra had become a part of his body and blood. This is why Never Despising Bodhisattva was able to maintain this practice stated in the sutra.
Never Despising Bodhisattva is the great practitioner of the Lotus Sutra. Shall we ourselves strive to practice the Lotus Sutra in our daily life like him? When we practice it, there will be no enemies because all those we meet are Buddhas.
9. Chapter 21, “The Supernatural Power of the Tathagata”
“People like the sun and the moon”
Finally, Sakyamuni Buddha appoints the perfect successors who will expound the Lotus Sutra after the Buddha’s extinction. Of course, they are the Bodhisattvas from Underground.
Sakyamuni Buddha talks to Superior Practice Bodhisattva, the leader of Bodhisattvas from Underground: “I place all the teachings of the Buddha, all the supernatural powers of the Buddha, the entirety of the Buddha, and the truth that the Buddha keeps his compassionate practices into the Lotus Sutra. Bodhisattvas from Underground! Please expound the Lotus Sutra in this world after my extinction.”
The formal name of the Lotus Sutra is “The Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma”. The title of the Lotus Sutra has the five Chinese characters of Myo, Ho, Ren, Ge, and Kyo. These five characters contain all the essence of the Buddha’s teachings and compassion. The Bodhisattvas from the Underground are entrusted by Sakyamuni Buddha to propagate this sutra.
These five characters are the important teaching to save people in the Latter Age of the Dharma. The Buddha says, “I entrust this to you!” This great mission from the Buddha is handed over to the Bodhisattvas from Underground. Those Bodhisattvas will appear and play a meaningful role in the Latter Age of the Dharma, when people live in the roughest period, 2000 years after the Buddha’s extinction.
In fact, Nichiren Shonin encountered many persecutions predicted in the Lotus Sutra. And Nichiren Shonin demonstrated that only the Lotus Sutra can illuminate the world of the Latter Age of the Dharma.
Nichiren Shonin added two words of Na and Mu, which means “Devotion”, into the title of the sutra, “Myo, Ho, Ren, Ge, and Kyo.” For the first time, he chanted the daimoku of Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, and propagated the daimoku to the people. Nichiren Shonin is our great leader, Superior Practice Bodhisattva, with no doubt.
Sakyamuni Buddha explains how a person could achieve his or her mission when the Bodhisattvas from Underground appear in this world. “Just as the light of the sun and the moon eliminates all darkness, he would appear in this world and eliminate the darkness of living beings.”
Superior Practice Bodhisattva, the leader of the Bodhisattvas from Underground, maintained his promise with Sakyamuni Buddha, and appeared in this world as the Lotus Sutra states. This is the obvious proof that the Lotus Sutra upholds the truth of the Dharma.
The world is changing rapidly, and we will not see how the world will be in future. We, as one of the Bodhisattvas from Underground, must follow Nichiren Shonin’s path.
10. Chapter 22, “Transmission”
“The Conclusion of the Lotus Sutra Conference“
Sakyamuni Buddha fulfills his important missions in the Lotus Sutra. All the Buddha’s teachings and all the Buddhas have been unified in the Lotus Sutra. The Buddha has appointed his successors for expounding the Lotus Sutra after the Buddha’s extinction. The story of the Lotus Sutra is going to meet its conclusion.
In Chapter 22 of the Lotus Sutra, Sakyamuni Buddha asks the countless Buddhas assembled in the air to return to their worlds. It is the end of “Lotus Sutra Conference”.
Then, the doors of the Stupa of Treasures floating in the air slowing close. It looks like the closing doors are taking eternal time and space, all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and everything around the universe into this Stupa of Treasures.
We find ourselves standing on the top of Eagle Peak as if we are awaking from our dreams. We come back to the original place.
We began on Eagle Peak when Buddha was first revealing the Lotus Sutra. Then, we headed to the ceremony in the air, the Buddha’s ideal world, and lastly, we returned to Eagle Peak once more.
There is a reason why the Buddha changes the scenes in the Lotus Sutra. It has a very important meaning. Although the Lotus Sutra shows the ideal world in the air for us, it teaches us that the Dharma is always based on the real world where we live. There will be no ideal world without our real life.
We may think that the ceremony in the air is just a fictional scene. But the Buddha tells us in the Lotus Sutra that all the things expounded by the Buddha can be achieved and that the time when the countless Bodhisattvas from Underground will fully flourish will surely come true.
The eternal Sakyamuni Buddha is always beside us in our daily life, teaching us that the ideal and the real are inseparable. But our faith makes both of these firmly connect.
11. Chapter 26, “Dharanis”
“Guardians of the Lotus Sutra“
The last 6 chapters of the Lotus Sutra are the final phase of the Lotus Sutra. These chapters teach about the powerful protections for those who aspire to maintain the practice of the Lotus Sutra.
In Chapter 26 of the Lotus Sutra, someone comes up in front of Sakyamuni Buddha with a strong and resolute mind and declares, “I will protect those who uphold the Lotus Sutra.”
It is not single person. There are two reassuring great Bodhisattvas, Medicine King Bodhisattva and Brave-In-Giving Bodhisattva. They make their vows to the Buddha.
And Vaisravana, the Heavenly King, and World Holding Heavenly King from the Four Heavenly Kings, who guard the north and the east of the universe with sturdy appearances, follow these two above Bodhisattvas and make their vows to the Buddha that they will protect the practitioners of the Lotus Sutra too.
Additionally, Hariti and Ten Raksasis come to the Buddha and vows that they will also protect those who practice the Lotus Sutra. They were previously fierce demons that used to harm people. However, thanks to the guidance from Sakyamuni Buddha, they changed their mind and became good female deities of the Buddha Dharma.
The great Guardians of the Lotus Sutra stand in a row and chant their divine spells, or “Dharanis”. Each of them makes strong vows to the Buddha. Therefore, this chapter of the Lotus Sutra is called the “Dharanis” Chapter.
Since ancient times, chanting these Dharani revealed in the Lotus Sutra possesses wonderful powers. The powers of Dharani are strong. They protect the good in our hearts and remove evils from our hearts. “Good” means here that we maintain our heart to uphold the Lotus Sutra. And “Evil” means the capacity that we have our heart to give up our faith in the Lotus Sutra.
Sakyamuni Buddha speaks to the Guardians of the Lotus Sutra. “Please protect those who keep the name of the Lotus Sutra.” The name of the Lotus Sutra refers to the five syllables of “Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo”. To keep the Lotus Sutra means to dedicate ourselves to the teaching of the Lotus Sutra. The two syllables “Namu” are our devotion to the Buddha Dharma.
When we cultivate our mind to follow the Lotus Sutra and start chanting “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo” even once, the Guardians of the Lotus Sutra will start their mission. They are strong supporters for us practitioners to overcome our difficulties and temptations.
12. Chapter 28, “The Encouragement of Universal Sage Bodhisattva”
“The Beginning of the End”
The story of the Lotus Sutra reaches its final chapter.
Eight years have passed since Sakyamuni Buddha started expounding the Lotus Sutra. The Buddha is now 80 years old.
The Buddha has fully devoted himself to spreading the Lotus Sutra with all his heart. He is about to conclude the teaching.
One Bodhisattva arrives at Eagle Peak from the east. Universal Sage Bodhisattva (Samantabhadra Bodhisattva) rides on his beautiful white elephant with six tusks. He asks his question to the Buddha, which is the perfect question to end the story.
“Please tell me how people should practice Buddhism after the Buddha’s extinction in order to correctly obtain the spirit of the Lotus Sutra.”
Sakyamuni Buddha answers clearly. “First, people should believe that they are always protected by the Buddha. Second, they should make efforts to act in good ways in everyday life. Third, they should seek good companions and join them. Fourth, they should enhance their compassionate hearts to save all beings.”
This is the very last teaching in the Lotus Sutra from Sakyamuni Buddha, called “Shiho Joju, Four Ways to Fulfill Buddhist Practices”.
All of you sitting in front of Sakyamuni Buddha and hearing the teaching of the Lotus Sutra until the end are the Buddha’s children, the Bodhisattvas that were already Underground.
Now, the time that Sakyamuni Buddha finishes his preaching of the Lotus Sutra will come to an end. Sakyamuni Buddha is looking further beyond Eagle Peak. He may see how the Buddha’s children are going to brighten the future of the world.
Eagle Peak is covered with great joy. We deeply pay our respect to Sakyamuni Buddha. We move forward, keeping Sakyamuni Buddha’s words in our heart.
We have been reading the story of the Lotus Sutra. Thank you so much for reading the story all the way through. I truly wish that this summary of the Lotus Sutra gives an opportunity for people around the world to encounter the teaching of the Lotus Sutra and start their Buddhist path to the Buddhahood.
May the teaching of the Lotus Sutra help realize this world gaining World Peace and to become the Buddha Land in the future.
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo with Gassho