"Moreover, the “Expedient Means” chapter describes how the five thousand persons of overbearing arrogance withdrew from the assembly. They did so after hearing the Buddha make the concise replacement of the three vehicles with the one vehicle, and when the Buddha was about to begin making the expanded replacement of the three vehicles with the one vehicle. At that time, the Buddha used his power to influence them in such a way that they rose from their seats and withdrew. Later, through the Nirvana Sutra and the four ranks of bodhisattvas, the Buddha made it possible for these persons to achieve enlightenment in their present existence.
On the other hand, in the Non-Substantiality of All Phenomena Sutra it is recorded that Bodhisattva Root of Joy, addressing the monkSuperior Intent, forced him to listen to the Mahayana teachings, causing him to speak slanderously of such teachings [and thus create a reverse relationship with them]. With regard to these two differing incidents, the Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai explains that “the Thus Come OneShakyamuni was exercising the virtue of compassion in causing them to withdraw, while Bodhisattva Root of Joy was exercising the virtue of pity in forcing the monk to listen.”
The meaning of this passage is that the Buddha was moved by compassion and for the moment put aside thoughts of the later happiness of the five thousand persons. He could not bear to see them slander the Lotus Sutra and suffer the pain of falling into hell, and therefore he inspired them to withdraw from the assembly. It was like the case of a mother who knows that her child is sick but cannot bring herself to inflict suffering on the child, and therefore does not treat the child quickly with moxibustion. In the case of Bodhisattva Root of Joy, he was moved by pity. He did not mind that the person he was addressing would suffer pain for a time, but thought only of that person’s eventual happiness. Therefore he forced the person to listen to the Mahayana teachings. It was like the case of a pitying father who, seeing that his child is ill, is not deterred by the fact that the child may undergo temporary suffering but is concerned only for the child’s eventual welfare. Therefore he applies the treatment of moxibustion."
Please notice, either way is a direct exposition of the Lotus Sutra without subterfuge as in SGI's preaching of interfaith.
ReplyDeleteHe didn't inspire them, he just didn't stop them. Wasn't it you a while back saying that the 5000 would fall into Avici hell? And there you go again suggesting Lord Buddha wouldn't mind if the person he was addressing would suffer pain for a time ..." as if the Buddha would inflict sickness to make a point.
ReplyDelete“The father thinks to himself: My poor children! Because of the poison in them, their minds are completely befuddled. Although they are happy to see me and ask me to cure them, they refuse to take this excellent medicine. I must now resort to some expedient means to induce them to take the medicine. So he says to them: ‘You should know that I am now old and worn out, and the time of my death has come. I will leave this good medicine here. You should take it and not worry that it will not p.270cure you.’ Having given these instructions, he then goes off to another land, where he sends a messenger home to announce, ‘Your father is dead.’
ReplyDelete“At that time the children, hearing that their father has deserted them and died, are filled with great grief and consternation and think to themselves: If our father were alive he would have pity on us and see that we are protected. But now he has abandoned us and died in some other country far away. We are shelterless orphans with no one to rely on!
“Constantly harboring such feelings of grief, they at last come to their senses and realize that the medicine is in fact excellent in color and fragrance and flavor, and so they take it and are healed of all the effects of the poison. The father, hearing that his children are all cured, immediately returns home and appears to them all once more."
you sound like a broken record with emphasis on "broken"
ReplyDeleteLack of reading comprehension and abstract thinking won't help you in the least, not to mention the superiority of the Honmon over the Shakumon.
ReplyDeleteI accidently erased your comment ohgee. Here it is with my response:
ReplyDelete"out of sympathy they bring peace and joy
To countless sentient beings
They benefit heavenly beings and humans
And liberate all
Bodhisattvas who seek this vehicle
Are called Mahasattvas
They are like those children
who left the burning house
To seek the ox cart."
This is the great vehicle."
Nothing at all in the sutra quoted about Buddhas and Bodhisattvas inflicting short-term suffering, not to mention long term suffering on sentient beings so quoting text won't help deliver you from your delusions of views and thinking." -- ohgee
Lack of reading comprehension and abstract thinking won't help you in the least, not to mention the superiority of the Honmon over the Shakumon.