The Prose & Verse of The Lotus Sutra

The Prose & Verse of The Lotus Sutra

Chapter 1
The Introduction

Page 3

The Wise One of T’ien T’ai¹ divided the words of the Sutra into three parts:

The first chapter is The Introduction
From the second chapter (Ways & Means) through the nineteen stanzas of verse in chapter seventeen (Distinguishing the Merits & Virtues) is The Main Teaching.
The eleven and a half chapters from the end of the verse in chapter seventeen (Distinguishing the Merits & Virtues) to the end of the Sutra is on The Sutra’s Propagation.

And at the same time the Sutra is divided into two parts:

From Chapter One (The Introduction) through Chapter Fourteen (The Practice of Peace & Contentment) is in terms of The Manifestation of Enlightenment and ‘Opening up the Provisions to Reveal the Reality’
From Chapter Fifteen (Springing Forth from the Earth) to the end of the Sutra is in terms of The Source of Enlightenment and ‘Opening up the Manifestations to Reveal the Source’.

The Parts of the Source and the Manifestation both have an introductory part, a part on the main teaching, and a part on its propagation.

In The Door to the Manifestation²:

The First Chapter (Introduction) is The Introduction
From the Second Chapter (Ways & Means) to the Ninth (Bestowing Prophecies on the Trainees & the Adepts) is The Main Teaching
From the Tenth Chapter (The Master of the Dharma) through the Fourteenth (The Practice of Peace & Contentment) is on Its Propagation.

In The Door to the Source³:

The first half of Chapter Fifteen (Springing Forth from the Earth) through where Maitreya asks the question that the Buddha was now to answer is The Introduction.
From the Buddha’s answer to Ajita⁴ in Chapter Fifteen (Springing Forth from the Earth) through the nineteen stanzas of verse in Chapter Seventeen (Distinguishing the Merits & Virtues) is The Main Teaching.
From after the nineteen stanzas of verse in Chapter Seventeen (Distinguishing the Merits & Virtues) to the end of the Sutra is on Its Propagation.

Now we will narrate on the text to explain the words beginning with the first three parts.

Question:

How can one Sutra have two introductions?

Answer:

The Flower Garland (Avatamsaka) Sutra has various places where different audiences gathered⁵. The Agamas have volume after volume like this. Throughout The Long Chapter⁶ there are the passing of spiritual commissions from Master to disciple from beginning to end. They all do not contradict each other. Why would there be a problem with having two introductions for a single work? However in this Sutra The Door to the Source³ does not even begin with ‘Like this I have heard’ and the other parts of the opening sequence. The Door to the Manifestation² is only partially on the Sutra’s propagation, as the part on the main teaching of the Dharma is not yet complete. The part on the Sutra's propagation is not fully developed until the second half, in The Door to the Source.

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Footnotes:

1. Wise One (Chi-Che): An honorific name given to Chih-I by Prince Yang Kuang of the Sui Dynasty in 591 CE

2. The Door to the Manifestation: (C. Chi-Men, H. Shakumon) The first half of The Lotus Sutra on the historical Buddha and the manifestation of enlightenment.

3. The Door to the Source: (C. Pen-Men, J. Honmon) The second half of The Lotus Sutra on the eternal Buddha and the source of enlightenment.

4. Ajita: A name given to the Bodhisattva Maitreya by Sakyamuni, meaning 'invincible'.

5. The Flower Garland (Avatamsaka) Sutra has a series of in introductions in seven different places and eight or nine audiences (depending on the translation).

6. The Long Chapter: The Pancavimsati Sahasrika Prajna Paramita Sutra translated by Kumarajiva

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