The Prose & Verse of The Lotus Sutra

Measuring the Life of The One That Has Come - Chapter 16

Page 3

And the different situations were the source of the doctrines. The different situations mandated differently teachings. Some teachings were in accordance with feelings and desires, some with opportunities, some with healing and some with awakening. Upon being awakened there was the reaching of enlightenment. Why bother to go out on the streets any more in search of enlightenment? And so the Sutra says:
"Nirvana is the genuine treasure of the Dharma. Living beings enter into it through different doors."
This is the idea here.

And the words on this are either many or few:

• The Nirvana Sutra discusses on the principle of permanently abiding in the future. The words in the Sutra on this are many. Its principle idea was not on that attained long ago in the past. Its words on this are few. In following that on which there are many words but neglecting that on which there are few words there is the teaching of the devil, not the Buddha.
• The Lotus Sutra discusses on the principle of that attained long ago in the past. On the number of spiritual realms that are comparable to the number of specks of dust, the words are many. The words on that permanently abiding in the future are few. If one neglects that on which there are few words because of that on which there are many words, one's head will break into seven pieces like the arjaka branch¹. This like when the son of heaven decreed that whether there are many or few, they were not different from each other. In being differing from one another, it was sinful.

The Chapter on Ways & Means says:
       "The Spirituality of the Dharma is ever abiding in this world.
         Recognizing this at the site of enlighenment,
         Its Masters and Guides teach of it with ways & means."
These words are on that which is permanently abiding into the future without extinction.

And this Chapter on Measuring the Life says:
     "I will always abide in this world."

And this chapter says:
     "Always here on Holy Vulture Peak² as well as many other dwelling places."

The Sutra on the Observation of the Bodhisattva Universal Virtue says:
       Accomplished in the Paramita of Permanence,
       Securely established in the Paramita of Self-Identity."

Like this there are words on that which is permanent and eternal, and they are not few. And there are various places in the Sutra that clarify the Spiritual Body. The Spiritual Body - is this not that which is permanent and eternal?

Question:
Having already clarified the Spiritual Body, can you discourse on The Three Virtues?⁴
Answer:
a. The dual wisdom of provision and reality - is this not Prajna?
b. Being manifested and revealed in the past, present and future - is this not Liberation?
c. The original ground that is the true spiritual aspect of reality - is this not The Spiritual Body?
These words clarify The Three Virtues.

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Footnotes:

1. One's head will break into seven pieces like the arjaka branch: Quote from the twenty-sixth chapter of The Lotus Sutra on Dharanis. This quote is also found on many of Nichiren's Gohonzons. The large arjaka blossom falls off with its branch and breaks apart. The symbolism of the seven pieces is likened to The Three Obstacles and the Four Devils:
The Three Obstacles: Obstructing enlightenment
#1 Karmas; Thoughts, words and deeds that will have spiritual consequences (causes)
#2 Duhkha: Suffering (effects)
#3 Klesas; Emotional Desire & Distress
The Four Devils: Luring one away from the Path of Enlightenment
#1 The Devil that is Emotional Desire & Distress - Hunger, lust & its attendant sufferings
#2 The Devil that is The Aggregates of Self – The self or ego that one serves
#3 The Devil that is Mortality (The end of the self) – The fear of death that holds one back
#4 The Devil that is The Lord and Master of Desire - The use of desire to control others.

2. Holy Vulture Peak: (Mt. Gridhaukuta) There were five mountains that surrounded the ancient city of Rajagriha . The largest of these five mountains is Vulture's Peak (Mt. Gridhakuta), about four miles northeast of the ancient city. The peak of the mountain is said to look something like a vulture’s head, and at the time of the Buddha the south face of the mountain was said to have had a charnel ground (crematorium) that attracted vultures. The vultures here symbolize the impermanence of all living beings that live in this world of Life & Death. The Buddha spent much of His time teaching here. He will reveal the Treasure Tower and the eternal Buddha at this very site. This mountain will symbolize permanence in the fom of the eternal presence of the Three Treasures in the Saha World - the 'endured' world in which we all equally reside.

3. "Composed of the Paramita of Permanence, stabilized by the Paramita of Self-Identity." Expressing two of The Four Virtues of Nirvana, as expressed by the four leaders of The Bodhisattvas Springing Forth From the Earth. The Four Virtues:

A fuller quote of The Sutra on the Observation of the Bodhisattva Universal Virtue says:
     "The a voice spoke up from space, saying:
       The Buddha Sakyamuni is called 'Vairocana, Everywhere in all Places'.
       The place where this Buddha abides is called 'The Ever Serene Light'.
       Accomplished in the Paramita of Permanence,
       Securely established in the Paramita of Self-Identity,
       Extinguishing the aspects of existence in the Paramita of Purity, and
       Not abiding in the aspects of the body or the mind in the Paramita of Bliss."

4. The Three Virtues: The trinity of enlightenment

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