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The Superiority of the Lotus Sutra
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With that, I leave this thread to those who cling to the raft.
Namaste
I can honestly say that no prayer I have made has gone unanswered.
Can you argue for the superiority of the LS while pointing to evidence outside of the LS?
By the way, according to The Daisy Sutra, all other sutras are inferior. How do I know this? Because the Daisy Sutra said so.
I would just like to read the sutra, as the OP has certainly sparked interest and I admire his faith. So I went through, skimming a few pages from a website. It seemed like many stories.
Chogetsu, which parts would you recommend reading to get an idea of what it is all about, the substance of the sutra? Of course you'd prefer it if I just read the whole thing, and I'll probably do that in the future.
Also, "in these more than forty years [since I began teaching], I have not yet revealed the truth."
Surely you can understand that I have the question:
Is this saying that the Buddha's 4 noble truths, etc. are not ABSOLUTE truths? Implying He likely did not teach them that way?
Can you answer and comment?
Thank you!
They are unable to open their hearts to the truth because it does not agree with the rigid ideas they already have, so instead they reject it. Not only that but they encourage others to do the same, leading them away from Buddhahood.
The Nirvana Sutra states:
"In the Latter Day of the Law those who abide by the correct teaching will be as few as the specks of dirt that can be placed on a fingernail, while those who slander the correct teaching will be as numerous as the specks of dirt in all the lands of the ten directions.”
The lotus sutra has been told to you by someone else.
And why are you now quoting the Nirvana Sutra? I thought you said that only the Lotus Sutra discloses the truth.
there are no absolute truths. But we want to think there is an absolute truth, so we search it out. And that's important for us, so it doesn't matter if there's an absolute truth which we could find.
Nichiren emphasised Ch 2 and Ch 16, they should give you an overview.
As for the Four Noble truths, I believe they served when the Buddha taught the Three Vehicles, of Voice Hearer, Cause Awakened Ones, and Bodhisattvas. They were used for people who wanted to 'use' the Voice Hearer Vehicle. The Lotus revealed that there are not Three Vehicles, there is only one. So that does not mean they are not true, but rather, only part of the truth.
The Lotus Sutra is the Buddha's golden words, it is not someones own theories.
there should be someone who listens to the Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law, even one verse or one phrase, and for a moment thinks of it with joy, I will likewise bestow on him a prophesy that he will attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi."
- Lotus Sutra Ch 10
The listeners would have demanded the truth, as happened in the Lotus Sutra.
Why does he need to quote a sutra?
speak, we beg you, without reserve!
In this assembly of numberless beings
are those capable of reverent belief."
Shakyamuni: "Stop, stop, no need to speak!
My Law is wonderful and difficult to ponder.
Those who are overbearingly arrogant
when they hear it will never show reverent belief."
[After Shariputra asked three times, the Buddha said:]
"Three times you have stated your earnest request. How can I do other than preach? Now you must listen attentively and carefully ponder. For your sake I will now analyze and explain the matter."
When he had spoken these words, there were some five thousand monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen in the assembly who immediately rose from their seats, bowed to the Buddha, and withdrew. What was the reason for this? These persons had roots of guilt that were deep and manifold, and in addition they were overbearingly arrogant. What they had not attained they supposed they had attained, what they had not understood they supposed they had understood. And because they had this failing, they did not remain where they were.
Ch 2 Lotus Sutra
- Lotus Sutra Ch 14
The Buddha's words couldn't be more true.
Namu-myoho-renge-kyo
In many of the Provisional Mahayana Sutras, it is believed and taught that people of the Two Vehicles cannot attain Annutara-Samyak-Sambodhi. In the Lotus, Shakyamuni predicts that these people too will become Buddha's through the Lotus Sutra. Even Devadatta is given a prophecy that he will become a Buddha.
They are not the Buddha's words, or at least, not everybody believes they are.
So don't propagate them as such.
It is a very difficult sutra to accept, just as people may not like the taste of medicine. Yet only the medicine [Lotus Sutra] can save them.