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The Lotus Sutra. Full name: The Sutra of the Lotus of the Wonderful Law Content and structure 28 chapters all chapters consist of prose and verse passages “Thus have I heard” begins every chapter stories transcend real world to fantastic and infinite cosmic world .
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TheLotus Sutra • Full name: The Sutra of the Lotus of the Wonderful Law • Content and structure • 28 chapters • all chapters consist of prose and verse passages • “Thus have I heard” begins every chapter • stories transcend real world to fantastic and infinite cosmic world
One vehicle and three vehicles • The Buddha’s supreme and unfathomable wisdom • Four holy states added to Six realms • voice-hearers (shravakas), self-enlightened ones (pratyekabuddhas), bodhisattvas, the Buddhas
One Vehicle: the Great Vehicle • Universal Buddhahood • millions of Buddhas • the Buddha prophesized that Sariputra would become the Buddha Flower Glow • the Bodhisattva Vehicle: (for teaching and converting the bodhisattvas) • the true, correct, wonderful, and superior dharma (law) • The 4 noble truths and nirvana • wisdom and emptiness
other vehicles • expedient means • provisional teachings
The Buddha’s Law (Dharma) • Two Periods of the Law • Correct Law (32 small kalpas=32x16 million years) • living being will be saved • Counterfeit Law (32 small kalpas) • the Buddha’s relics will be circulated • heavenly and human beings will make offerings to them • Three periods of the Law • Correct Law • Counterfeit Law • The Latter Days of the Law
The Parable of the Burning House • ThreeVehicles (based on the process of enlightenment) • the Bodhisattva-yana, or Buddha-yana (the vehicle of the bodhisattva) • the Pratyekabuddha-yana (the vehicle of solitary Buddhas), • the Sravaka-yana (the vehicle of disciples or of voice “hearers”
The rich man and the burning house (chapter 3) • rich man=Buddha • three kinds of carts=three yanas (ox-carts, goat-carts, deer-carts) • children=all sentient beings • burning house=samsara • large ox-cart=the bodhisattva-yana • other carts=expedient means, not falsehood
The Parable of the Rich Man and His Impoverished Son • The parable: (chapter 4) • the rich man: the Buddha • the son: all sentient beings • the son’s wandering experience: sufferings • process of accepting his son: expedient means • the son’s menial labor: effort to reform • The Buddhas • preached one vehicle as three • voice hearer attained nirvana