SUMMARIES

In the previous Chapter, the Buddha revealed that understanding helps faith. Understanding and faith invites action. In this Chapter, He reveals faith becomes the way to keep the precepts. When faith and keeping precepts are firm, one will be able to attain the Buddha's wisdom. He relates a story of the same rain and different plants.

The PARABLE of MEDICINAL HERBS
(P. 105, 4th Paragraph - P. 106, 2nd Paragraph)

There are various trees and grasses including herbs growing in the thickets, forests, mountains, ravines, and valleys. All these plants are different in size, name and form. They are covered with a dark cloud. Rain starts to fall. The small, middle and large roots, stems, branches, leaves of the trees, and grasses are watered. So were tall and short trees, whether they are big, medium, or small in size. All the plants and trees received more or less the same amount of water from the rain of the same cloud, and grow differently according to their species. They produce different flowers and fruits although they grow on the same ground and receive water from the same rain.

The Buddha is like the cloud. The Buddha appeared in this world just as the large cloud rose in the sky. Although he equally expounded the Dharma to gods, people and all other living beings, they all understand the Buddha's teachings in a different manner, but they are still able to vitalize the teachings depending on their own individual abilities, characters and specialties.

In this world, there are many different races, cultures, customs, and levels of education. The Eternal Buddha accepts the differences and applies different teachings to each individual in order to maximize their understanding. To some, this may sound like discrimination, but in reality, it is true equality and compassion.

"Roots, stems, branches and leaves of the trees and grasses." (P.105, L.23 - L.24)

Roots symbolize faith while stems -- precept; branches -- firm practice; and leaves -- Buddha Wisdom.

The roots of trees and grasses produce stems, branches and leaves, so as faith produces precepts. Our firm belief and precepts will help us reach toward Buddha Wisdom. When one has faith, he or she naturally keeps the precepts. When one does not have belief in the rule of a community such as traffic rules, observing a rule can make one feel uncomfortable. But once you believe in salvation through faith, you can follow the precept easily like chanting Odaimoku everyday in Nichiren Buddhism.

It is like stems coming from the roots. When stems grow little by little, branches appear here and there. Branches symbolize one's firm belief and practice. When your belief becomes strong and your practice steady and continuous, other's criticism and your own desire will not bother you; then, you will receive the Buddha Wisdom - just as branches produce leaves.

"The small, middle and large..." (P.105, L.23)

In your garden, there are different flower plants, shrubs, and trees in different sizes. With these different plants, sizes, and colors, your garden keeps in shape and retains beauty. It is the same with human beings. There are millions and billions of people different in talent and abilities. It is the same with human society. There are many varied differences. These differences keep society strong and developing.

"(They) were covered with a dark cloud, and then watered by a rainfall at the same time." (P.105, L.21)

"I have no partiality for them, whether they are noble or mean, whether they observe or violate the precepts, whether they live a monastic life or not, whether they have right or wrong views, whether they are cleaver or dull." (P.111, L.22 - L.27)

The Buddha Sâkyamuni expounded the Dharma to all living beings equally just as the rain showers the entire earth. However, those who hear the Dharma will accept it differently according to their own individual capacities. Therefore, the Buddha revealed many different teachings for different levels of understanding. But the Buddha's real Dharma is for all people to attain Buddha Wisdom.

"Having heard these teachings, they became peaceful in their present lives," (P.106, L.27 - 28)

The later Chapters of the Lotus Sutra reveal many different ways of gaining material satisfaction. However, it does not mean that if you practice the sutra, you will not have any mishaps or misfortune. "Peaceful" means the matter of mind or spirit, it does not mean of circumstances or environment.

St. Nichiren was exiled to Sado Island. He was placed at Tsukahara Sammaidô surrounded by tombstones covered with snow. He barely had enough food to eat. Although he was surrounded by such miserable circumstance, he proudly exclaimed, "I am the richest man in Japan."

Buddhism is not meant to be a tool to search for material gain, but to seek the truth.

"In their Future lives, they will have rebirths in good places." (P.106, L.28 - L.29)

Chapter 16 of the Lotus Sutra reveals the eternal life, therefore, we may be able to be born in a better place than here after death. However you should not just wish to be born in a better place, but we should wish to be free from suffering by firm belief and continuous practice. So as the Buddha says as follows at the end of this Chapter:

"Study and practice it continuously, and you will become Buddhas." (P.114, Last two lines)

The Lotus Sutra advises us to strive for our goals continuously not to instantly gain material substances.

We all have different characters and abilities. Let us use our characters and abilities wisely and bloom beautiful flowers individually.

~ Namu Myohorengekyo ~