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The Lotus Sutra
Chapter 1, Introduction, Page 3
There were Bodhisattva Mahasattvas, eighty thousand in all, none of them regressing in their quest for supreme universal enlightenment. They all attained dharanis with eloquence and skill, and they all turned the wheel of the Dharma without regressing, offering service to limitless hundreds of thousands of Buddhas. In the presence of the Buddhas they had planted roots of virtue and they were always praised by them. By cultivating a life of compassion they had skillfully entered into the spiritual insight of the Buddhas, penetrating their great wisdom and reaching to the other shore. Their names were known everywhere in the immeasurable worlds and they were able to deliver countless living beings.
Their names included the Bodhisattva Manjusri, the Bodhisattva Observing the Sounds of the World, the Bodhisattva Endowed With Great Power, the Bodhisattva Ever Diligent, the Bodhisattva Never Resting, the Bodhisattva Treasure at Hand, the Bodhisattva Medicine King, the Bodhisattva Valiant Offering, the Bodhisattvas Precious Moon, Moonlight and Full Moon, the Bodhisattvas Greatness of Courage, Limitless Courage and Courage in the Threefold Realm, the Bodhisattva Bhadrapala, the Bodhisattva Maitreya, the Bodhisattva Gathering of Treasure, and the Bodhisattva Guide & Teacher.
There were many Bodhisattva Mahasattvas such as these, eighty thousand all together.
F. The Audience, continued...
2. The Bodhisattvas:
The Bodhisattvas were not actual known historical figures
that lived at the time of Sakyamuni. Rather they are allegorical (or possibly composite)
figures that personify the virtues and wisdom of the Buddhism of the Great Vehicle
(S. Mahayana).
Eighteen are named in the Sutra's introduction, just a
sampling of the 80,000 said to be in attendance.
A. The Bodhisattva
Manjusri: (Manju = wonderful Sri = virtue): One of the most prominent
Bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism, Manjusri personifies the perfection of
spiritual wisdom (Prajna Paramita) and seeing the Buddha nature. In this chapter
he helps the others resolve their doubts by predicting the
teaching of The Lotus Sutra by Sakyamuni. Manjusri also appears in the
12th, 14th & 24th Chapter of The Lotus Sutra as well as many other Mahayana
Sutras.
B. The Bodhisattva Observing the Sounds of the World (S.
Avalokitesvara): The Bodhisattva of Compassion (Karuna) - One of the best known
and most often worshipped of the Mahayana Bodhisattvas. The 25th Chapter of The
Lotus Sutra is devoted to this Bodhisattva. Sakyamuni explains that calling out
the Bodhisattva’s name will protect one from all kinds of dangers, afflictions,
and sufferings, and will provide every manner of benefit, worldly or spiritual.
The Bodhisattva comes and goes by manifesting all kinds of incarnations and
bestows benefits by taking away the fear of living beings. This Bodhisattva is
called The Bestower of Fearlessness. Nichiren calls this Bodhisattva The Eyes
of The Lotus Sutra.
C. The Bodhisattva Endowed With Great Power (S.
Mahasthama-prapta): This Bodhisattva personifies the spiritual power of wisdom
that
penetrates and transcends the threefold realm. Sakyamuni addresses this Bodhisattva in the
20th Chapter (The Bodhisattva Never Belittling). This Bodhisattva and the
Bodhisattva Observing the Sounds of the World are often paired as the attendants
of the Buddha Amitabha (Infinite Light).
D. & E. The Bodhisattvas Ever
Diligent (S. Nityodyukta) and Never Resting (S. Aniksipta-dhura) personify the
virtues of steadfastness and non-retreating. The Bodhisattva Ever Diligent
expresses this in teaching the Dharma whereas the Bodhisattva Never Resting
expresses this in cultivating virtues and serving the Buddhas.
F. The
Bodhisattva Treasure at Hand (S. Ratnapani) personifies the benefits attained
from practice that can be given to others. This Bodhisattva is said
to have learned the 42 Mudras for the Dharani of Great Compassion.
G. The
Bodhisattva Medicine King (S. Bhaisajya-raja): The Bodhisattva of Healing. This
Bodhisattva appears in the 10th, 13th, 23rd, 24th, 26th & 27th chapters of
the Sutra, and is featured in Chapters 23 (The History of the Bodhisattva Medicine King)
and 27 (History of King Wonderful Adornment). In a former life he was known as
Eye of Purity (as in ‘diagnosis’), the older brother of Treasury of Purity (as
in ‘treatment’). Later, learning the Samadhi of Manifesting Incarnations, he
burned himself as a sacrifice in life after life and through his devotions he
became the Bodhisattva Medicine King, the Bodhisattva of Healing.
H. The
Bodhisattva Valiant Offering (S. Pradhanasura) personifies the perfection of
generosity (Dana Paramita) and apears in the 26th Chapter of the Sutra (On Dharanis).
I. - K. The Bodhisattvas Precious Moon (S.
Ratnacandra), Moonlight (S. Ratnaprabha) and Full Moon (S. Purnacandra)
personify the perfection of morality (Sila
Paramita) in deeds, words and thought respectively.
L - O. The Bodhisattvas Greatness of
Courage (S. Maha-Vikramin), Limitless Courage (S. Ananta-Vikramin) and Courage
in
the Threefold Realm (S. Trailokya-Vikramin) personify the perfection of
steadfastness, endurance (Ksanti Paramita), diligence (Virya Paramita), and
non-regression (S. Avaivitarka).
P. The Bodhisattva Bhadrapala (meaning ‘Good
or Virtuous Protector’) personifies the perfection of meditation (Dhyana Paramita), the
serenity that protects Bodhisattvas from turning and retreating in their practice.
Q.
The Bodhisattva Maitreya (meaning ‘Kindness’). Often called Ajita (‘Invincible’)
by Sakyamuni because those that are hateful and angry could not overcome him, he
is prominent in many Mahayana Sutras and throughout The Lotus Sutra (in Chapters
1, 15, 16, 17, 18 & 28). He personifies the qualities of benevolence,
kindness, and mercy. In overcoming anger and hate he personifies the perfection
of endurance (Ksanti Paramita). He often speaks for the Bodhisattvas when they
want to learn from the Buddha. He is said to be waiting in the Tusita Heaven to
become the next Buddha, as alluded to in Chapter 1 (The Intrduction) and Chapter
28 (Encouragement of the
Bodhisattva Universal Virtue) and elsewhere in the Sutras.
R. The Bodhisattva Gathering of Treasure
(S. Ratnakuta) personifies the accumulation of spiritual merits and
virtues.
S. The Bodhisattva Guide & Teacher (S. Susarthavaha)
personifies the Bodhisattva who out of compassion helps prevent living beings from
falling into evil and helps them enter into the true path.
Next: those in the audience
from the realms of Life & Death…
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