kde@heawk1.gsfc.nasa.gov ( Keith Evans) (12/05/90)
Here are some quotes on the superiority of the Lotus Sutra. In the 2nd chapter (Means) of the Lotus Sutra, Buddha says, "Because they teach that Shakyamuni... first attained enlightenment in this world, they fail to discard the Buddha's provisional status." They refers to the sutras taught before the Lotus Sutra. In the 11th chapter (Emergence of the Treasure Tower) of the Lotus Sutra, Buddha says, "The World-Honored One has long expounded his doctrines and now must reveal the truth." The omens that appeared before and in the Lotus Sutra are more auspicious than all the other sutras. For instance, the appearance of the Treasure Tower in the 11th chapter and the Bodhisattvas (of Buddha, from the deep past) emerging from the earth in the 15th chapter. In the 11th chapter (Emergence of the Treasure Tower) of the Lotus Sutra, Taho (Many Treasures) Buddha, who pledged in his bodhisattva practice,to appear whenever the truth was taught, appeared in the Treasure Tower at this time, and said, "All that that you have expounded is the truth." You here referring to Shakyamuni as that was who he was talking to. In the 16th chapter (Life Span of the Tathagata) of the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni says, "However, men of devout faith, the time is limitless and boundless - a hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand nayuta (ten to the 11th or ten to the 7th, depending on the source) years - since I in fact attained Buddhahood." In the 23rd chapter (Former Deeds of Bodhisattva Yakuo (Medicine King), Shakyamuni says, "The Lotus Sutra is like the ocean, which is foremost among all bodies of water such as rivers and streams; like Mount Sumeru (a mountain thought to be at the center if the world in ancient Indian tradition) which is foremost among all mountains, or like the Moon, which is foremost among all the heavenly bodies shining in the night sky." In the Sutra of Meditation on Bodhisattva Fugen (Universally Worthy) which was preached after the Lotus Sutra to exhort people to embrace and propagate the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha says, "Even without extinguishing their earthly desires or denying the 5 desires...", implying they will attain enlightenment anyways. In his "Treatise on the Sutra of the Perfection of Wisdom, Bodhisattva Nagarjuna (2nd cent. A.D.) says, "The Lotus Sutra is like a great physician who changes poison into medicine." How can you continue your slanderous ways? I have more if that is not enough. -- Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Respectfully, Keith Evans kde@heawk1.gsfc.nasa.gov