The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra: Ch. 15: Welling forth from the earth, Ch. 16: The thus come one's life span


Book Description

In Chapter Fifteen, countless Bodhisattvas come forth from the earth, present themselves before the Buddha, and express concern as to his well-being. Maitreya asks where they came from, and the Buddha explains that he taught and transformed them after he attained annutarasamyaksambodhi. In Chapter Sixteen, the Buddha resolves the doubts of the great assembly by explaining that he actually became a Buddha countless eons ago and only manifests quiescence in order to awaken beings.







The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra: Ch. 17: Discrimination of merit and virtue, Ch. 18: Rejoicing in accord with merit and virtue, Ch. 19: The merit and virtue of a Dharma master


Book Description

In Chapter Seventeen, the Buddha describes for Maitreya Bodhisattva the extent of the merit and virtue of one who, having heard of the Buddha's life span, brings forth faith and understanding. Chapter Eighteen describes how one who upholds this sutra will gain merit and virtue pertaining to the mouth. Chapter Nineteen describes how one who upholds this sutra will gain merit and virtue pertaining to the ears.




The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra: Introduction


Book Description

Describes the setting for the speaking of the Sutra, the assembly that gathered to hear it, the Buddha's emission of light, the questions asked by Maitreya Bodhisattva, and the response given by Manjushri Bodhisattva.




The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra: Ch. 20: Never-slighting Bodhisattva, Ch. 21: The spiritual powers of the thus come one, Ch. 22: The entrustment, Ch. 23: The former deeds of Medicine King Bodhisattva, Ch. 24: Bodhisattva wondrous sound


Book Description

In Chapter Twenty, Shakyamuni Buddha tells about one of his former lives. In Chapter Twenty-one, the Bodhisattvas promise to propagate this Sutra. In Chapter Twenty-two, the Buddha entrusts the Dharma to them. Chapter Twenty-three describes how Medicine King Bodhisattva used his body as an offering to this Sutra in past lives. In Chapter Twenty-four, the Bodhisattva Wondrous Sound arrives from a distant land to make offerings.







The Lotus Sutra in Japanese Culture


Book Description