Difference between revisions of "''Expedient Means'' chapter"
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| − | "Expedient Means" chapter | + | "[[Expedient Means]]" chapter |
| − | [方便品] ( Jpn Hoben-bon ) | + | [[方便品]] ( Jpn [[Hoben-bon]] ) |
| − | The second chapter of the Lotus Sutra, in which Shakyamuni Buddha reveals that the purpose of a Buddha's advent in the world is to lead all people to enlightenment. Shakyamuni shows that all people have the potential for Buddhahood, namely, that Buddhahood is not separate from ordinary people but is inherent in their lives. This principal chapter of the theoretical teaching (first half of the Lotus Sutra), together with the "Life Span" (sixteenth) chapter of the essential teaching (latter half ), constitutes one of the two pivotal chapters of the entire sutra. At the beginning of this chapter, Shakyamuni arises from the deep meditation he had entered in the Immeasurable Meanings Sutra, the prologue to the Lotus Sutra, and addresses Shariputra, declaring that the wisdom of the Buddhas is infinitely profound and immeasurable, far beyond the comprehension of voice-hearers and cause-awakened ones. Only Buddhas, he says, can realize the true aspect of all phenomena, which consists of appearance, nature, entity, power, influence, internal cause, relation, latent effect, manifest effect, and consistency from beginning to end. This revelation that all living beings of the Ten Worlds are innately endowed with and can manifest the true aspect identified as "the ten factors of life" establishes a theoretical basis for the subsequent assertion that all people have the potential to attain Buddhahood. Based on this passage, T'ient'ai (538-597) established the principle of three thousand realms in a single moment of life.Shakyamuni then reveals that the Buddhas make their advent for "one great reason": to enable all people to attain the same enlightenment as themselves. According to the chapter, their purpose is "to open the door of Buddha wisdom to all living beings, to show the Buddha wisdom to living beings, to cause living beings to awaken to the Buddha wisdom, and induce living beings to enter the path of Buddha wisdom." Shakyamuni goes on to state that the three vehicles, or the teachings for voice-hearers, cause-awakened ones, and bodhisattvas, are not ends in themselves, but are expedient means by which he leads people to the one Buddha vehicle. This concept is referred to as "the replacement of the three vehicles with the one vehicle." | + | The second chapter of the [[Lotus Sutra]], in which [[Shakyamuni Buddha]] reveals that the purpose of a [[Buddha's]] advent in the [[world]] is to lead all [[people]] to [[enlightenment]]. [[Shakyamuni]] shows that all [[people]] have the potential for [[Buddhahood]], namely, that [[Buddhahood]] is not separate from [[ordinary people]] but is [[inherent]] in their [[lives]]. This [[principal]] chapter of the {{Wiki|theoretical}} [[teaching]] (first half of the [[Lotus Sutra]]), together with the "[[Life]] Span" (sixteenth) chapter of the [[essential]] [[teaching]] (latter half ), constitutes one of the two pivotal chapters of the entire [[sutra]]. At the beginning of this chapter, [[Shakyamuni]] arises from the deep [[meditation]] he had entered in the [[Immeasurable Meanings Sutra]], the prologue to the [[Lotus Sutra]], and addresses [[Shariputra]], declaring that the [[wisdom of the Buddhas]] is infinitely profound and [[immeasurable]], far beyond the [[comprehension]] of [[voice-hearers]] and [[cause-awakened ones]]. Only [[Buddhas]], he says, can realize the [[true aspect of all phenomena]], which consists of [[appearance]], [[nature]], [[entity]], power, influence, internal [[cause]], [[relation]], latent effect, [[manifest]] effect, and [[consistency]] from beginning to end. This [[revelation]] that all [[living beings]] of the [[Ten Worlds]] are innately endowed with and can [[manifest]] the true aspect identified as "the [[ten factors of life]]" establishes a {{Wiki|theoretical}} basis for the subsequent [[assertion]] that all [[people]] have the potential to attain [[Buddhahood]]. Based on this passage, [[T'ient'ai]] (538-597) established the [[principle]] of three thousand [[realms]] in a [[single moment]] of life.Shakyamuni then reveals that the [[Buddhas]] make their advent for "one great [[reason]]": to enable all [[people]] to attain the same [[enlightenment]] as themselves. According to the chapter, their purpose is "to open the door of [[Buddha wisdom]] to all [[living beings]], to show the [[Buddha wisdom]] to [[living beings]], to [[cause]] [[living beings]] to [[awaken]] to the [[Buddha wisdom]], and induce [[living beings]] to enter the [[path]] of [[Buddha wisdom]]." [[Shakyamuni]] goes on to state that the [[three vehicles]], or the teachings for [[voice-hearers]], [[cause-awakened ones]], and [[bodhisattvas]], are not ends in themselves, but are [[expedient means]] by which he leads [[people]] to the one [[Buddha vehicle]]. This {{Wiki|concept}} is referred to as "the replacement of the [[three vehicles]] with the one [[vehicle]]." |
</poem> | </poem> | ||
{{R}} | {{R}} | ||
[http://www.sgilibrary.org/search_dict.php?SearchSelect=dict&p=4&m=1&in=2&q=Enlightenment www.sgilibrary.org] | [http://www.sgilibrary.org/search_dict.php?SearchSelect=dict&p=4&m=1&in=2&q=Enlightenment www.sgilibrary.org] | ||
| − | + | ||
[[Category:Lotus Sutra]] | [[Category:Lotus Sutra]] | ||
[[Category:Tendai]] | [[Category:Tendai]] | ||
Revision as of 13:32, 26 January 2014
"Expedient Means" chapter
方便品 ( Jpn Hoben-bon )
The second chapter of the Lotus Sutra, in which Shakyamuni Buddha reveals that the purpose of a Buddha's advent in the world is to lead all people to enlightenment. Shakyamuni shows that all people have the potential for Buddhahood, namely, that Buddhahood is not separate from ordinary people but is inherent in their lives. This principal chapter of the theoretical teaching (first half of the Lotus Sutra), together with the "Life Span" (sixteenth) chapter of the essential teaching (latter half ), constitutes one of the two pivotal chapters of the entire sutra. At the beginning of this chapter, Shakyamuni arises from the deep meditation he had entered in the Immeasurable Meanings Sutra, the prologue to the Lotus Sutra, and addresses Shariputra, declaring that the wisdom of the Buddhas is infinitely profound and immeasurable, far beyond the comprehension of voice-hearers and cause-awakened ones. Only Buddhas, he says, can realize the true aspect of all phenomena, which consists of appearance, nature, entity, power, influence, internal cause, relation, latent effect, manifest effect, and consistency from beginning to end. This revelation that all living beings of the Ten Worlds are innately endowed with and can manifest the true aspect identified as "the ten factors of life" establishes a theoretical basis for the subsequent assertion that all people have the potential to attain Buddhahood. Based on this passage, T'ient'ai (538-597) established the principle of three thousand realms in a single moment of life.Shakyamuni then reveals that the Buddhas make their advent for "one great reason": to enable all people to attain the same enlightenment as themselves. According to the chapter, their purpose is "to open the door of Buddha wisdom to all living beings, to show the Buddha wisdom to living beings, to cause living beings to awaken to the Buddha wisdom, and induce living beings to enter the path of Buddha wisdom." Shakyamuni goes on to state that the three vehicles, or the teachings for voice-hearers, cause-awakened ones, and bodhisattvas, are not ends in themselves, but are expedient means by which he leads people to the one Buddha vehicle. This concept is referred to as "the replacement of the three vehicles with the one vehicle."
