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The Superiority of the Lotus Sutra
Practices based on Sutras other than the Lotus Sutra are provisional teachings that served to prepare people for the True Teaching.
This isn't my own opinion, it is Shakyamuni's teaching.
The Immeasurable Meanings Sutra (which served as an introduction for the Lotus Sutra) states:
"in these more than forty years [since I began teaching], I have not yet revealed the truth."
The Lotus states:
"The World-Honored One has long expounded his doctrines and now must reveal the truth." - Ch 2
"Honestly discarding expedient means, I will preach only the unsurpassed way."
- Ch 2
"For long he remained silent regarding the essential, in no hurry to speak of it at once." - Ch 5
"Among all the rivers, streams, and other bodies of water, for example, the ocean is foremost. And this Lotus Sutra is likewise, being the most profound and greatest of the sutras preached by the Thus Come Ones." - Ch 23
Ch 16 states:
"In all the worlds the heavenly and human beings and asuras all believe that the present Shakyamuni Buddha, after leaving the palace of the Shakyas, seated himself in the place of practice not far from the city of Gaya and there attained annuttara-samyak-sambodhi [complete awakening]. But good men, it has been immeasurable, boundless hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, millions of nayutas of kalpas since I in fact attained Buddhahood."
If you wish to follow the direct path to Enlightenment, study the Lotus Sutra, take faith in it and chant Namu-myoho-renge-kyo!
This isn't my own opinion, it is Shakyamuni's teaching.
The Immeasurable Meanings Sutra (which served as an introduction for the Lotus Sutra) states:
"in these more than forty years [since I began teaching], I have not yet revealed the truth."
The Lotus states:
"The World-Honored One has long expounded his doctrines and now must reveal the truth." - Ch 2
"Honestly discarding expedient means, I will preach only the unsurpassed way."
- Ch 2
"For long he remained silent regarding the essential, in no hurry to speak of it at once." - Ch 5
"Among all the rivers, streams, and other bodies of water, for example, the ocean is foremost. And this Lotus Sutra is likewise, being the most profound and greatest of the sutras preached by the Thus Come Ones." - Ch 23
Ch 16 states:
"In all the worlds the heavenly and human beings and asuras all believe that the present Shakyamuni Buddha, after leaving the palace of the Shakyas, seated himself in the place of practice not far from the city of Gaya and there attained annuttara-samyak-sambodhi [complete awakening]. But good men, it has been immeasurable, boundless hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, millions of nayutas of kalpas since I in fact attained Buddhahood."
If you wish to follow the direct path to Enlightenment, study the Lotus Sutra, take faith in it and chant Namu-myoho-renge-kyo!
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The practice of chanting Namu-myoho-renge-kyo (devotion/to honour/take refuge in the Wonderful Law of the Lotus Flower Sutra) was established by Nichiren. The entire sutra is contained in its title, just as the word 'Japan' includes all the regions, cities, rivers and mountains.
Only in the Lotus did Shakyamuni teach in accordance with his own mind [and not in accordance with the minds of others, as he had done previously].
"Question: ... But what about the sutras preached before the Lotus Sutra that state, “This is the foremost sutra” or “This is the king of sutras”? If one were to go by what you have said, then one would have to reject these pronouncements, which are the words of the Buddha himself. Is this not so?
Answer: Although these earlier sutras may include such statements as “this is the foremost sutra” or “this is the king of sutras,” they are all nevertheless provisional teachings. One should not rely on such pronouncements. The Buddha himself commented on this point when he said, “Rely on sutras that are complete and final and not on those that are not complete and final.” And the Great Teacher Miao-lo stated: “Though other sutras may call themselves the king among sutras, there is none that announces itself as foremost among all the sutras preached in the past, now being preached, or to be preached in the future. Thus one should understand them according to the principle of ‘combining, excluding, corresponding, and including.’ ” This passage of commentary is saying in essence that even if there should be a sutra that calls itself the king of sutras, if it does not also declare itself superior to those preached before it and those to be preached after, then one should know that it is a sutra belonging to the expedient teachings.
It is the way of the sutras preached before the Lotus Sutra to say nothing concerning the sutras that would be preached in the future. Only in the case of the Lotus Sutra, because it is the final and ultimate statement of the Buddha’s teachings, do we find a clear pronouncement that this sutra alone holds the place of absolute superiority “among the sutras I have preached, now preach, and will preach.”
Hence one commentary states, “Only in the Lotus Sutra did the Buddha explain the meaning of his earlier teachings and clarify the true meaning of this present teaching.” Thus we may see that, in the Lotus Sutra, the Thus Come One gave definite form both to his true intention and to the methods to be used in teaching and converting living beings.
It is for this reason that T’ien-t’ai stated: “After the Thus Come One attained enlightenment, for forty years and more he did not reveal the truth. With the Lotus Sutra, he for the first time revealed the truth.” In other words, for more than forty years after the Thus Come One went out into the world, he did not reveal the true teaching. In the Lotus Sutra, he for the first time revealed the true way that leads to the attainment of Buddhahood."
- From Questions and Answers about Embracing the Lotus Sutra (WND)
And also in the Lotus Sutra, Many Treasures Buddha appeared to confirm Shakyamuni's words, as did all the Buddhas of the Ten Directions.
with perverse wisdom and hearts that are fawning and crooked
who will suppose they have attained what they have not attained,
being proud and boastful in heart."
- Lotus Sutra Ch 13
And you have warmed my day, friend. Thank you.
"You are all no doubt Buddhas!"
All such words of arrogance and contempt
we will endure and accept.
In a muddied kalpa, in an evil age
there will be many things to fear.
Evil demons will take possession of others
and through them curse, revile and heap shame on us.
But we, reverently trusting in the Buddha,
will put on the armor of perseverance.
In order to preach this sutra
we will bear these difficult things."
- Lotus Sutra Ch 13
damn wtf you can't post images??
All I can do pass my love to you, and wish you well once more.
And at that I will leave this thread alone. Thank you for the stimulating discussion.
It seems that your reading of only the Lotus Sutra has taken you on a long path away from enlightenment... For if you were truly getting closer to enlightenment due to this "True Teaching" you surely wouldn't be carrying on like this.
I am but a beginner and of this it is plainly obvious to see... If the Buddha were before you and heard you go on as you have he'd probably tear the Sutra in half and drop it at your feet before turning to go sit under a Bodhi tree.
I have not insulted anyone, it is me who has been insulted and ridiculed simply for quoting Shakyamuni's golden words.
Chogetsu... I apologize for my snideness in my last two posts... I stand by the rest... I do understand what you are stating and implying...
You do realize you are discrediting many branches of Buddhism which do not follow the Lotus Sutra and whose numbers rank many many monks who have devoted themselves to differing paths (or sutras)
Are you a Monk perchance?
Everything I have quoted I have backed up with Sutra passages. The Lotus SUtra states:
"If a person fails to have faith
but instead slanders this sutra,
immediately he will destroy all the seeds
for becoming a Buddha in this world."
- Ch 3
I can see how Vajrayana can do so, so does Zen, and Theravada and Pure Land and so on.
People may claim Buddhahood exists seperate from the Sutras, or they may claim to have attained Buddhahood themselves.
It is the Lotus itself that discredits the other teachings.
I'm not a monk.