Mr. Altig’s Overview of the Wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Sutra

Faith and understanding play a crucial role in one’s spiritual journey. Faith refers to a belief in something greater, often a higher power or divine being, without necessarily requiring evidence or proof. Understanding involves having a clear comprehension of the beliefs and teachings that one holds as true. In a spiritual context, faith provides a sense of comfort, purpose, and guidance, while understanding deepens one’s connection to those beliefs and helps to make them a meaningful part of one’s life. Together, faith and understanding serve as the foundation for spiritual growth and transformation, providing a roadmap for the journey towards a deeper connection to the divine and greater spiritual realization.

Some examples of the role of faith and understanding in spiritual journeys:

1. A person who practices Hinduism may have faith in multiple deities, such as Vishnu, Shiva, and Kali. Through studying Hindu scriptures and attending temple services, they gain a deeper understanding of the beliefs and rituals associated with their faith. This understanding strengthens their connection to their faith and helps them to feel a greater sense of purpose and peace.
2. A person who follows Buddhism may have faith in the Buddha and his teachings. By engaging in meditation and studying Buddhist texts, they gain a deeper understanding of the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and other key teachings. This understanding provides a framework for their spiritual practice and helps them to cultivate greater awareness, compassion, and wisdom.
3. A person who is Christian may have faith in Jesus as the son of God and believe in salvation through his death and resurrection. Through reading the Bible and participating in church services, they gain a deeper understanding of the teachings of Jesus and the principles of the faith. This understanding helps them to live a more purposeful life in line with their beliefs and to develop a closer relationship with God.

These examples illustrate how faith and understanding work together to provide guidance and support on one’s spiritual journey. By having faith in a higher power or set of beliefs, a person is able to find comfort and meaning in their life. Through gaining a deeper understanding of their faith, they are able to put their beliefs into practice and live a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

The parable of the Wayward Son in Chapter 4 of the Lotus Sutra provides insight into the role of faith and understanding in one’s spiritual journey. In this story, the wayward son represents the disciples of the Buddha, who have strayed from the path of enlightenment due to their limited capacities and humble outlooks. The father represents the Buddha, who applies expedient methods to guide his disciples back to the path of enlightenment.

The father first employs the expedient method of offering his son the job of excrement remover in order to get him to work in his mansion. This is analogous to the Buddha’s teachings of the inferior doctrines, which are designed to attract disciples who are not yet ready for the higher teachings. Over time, the son develops greater confidence in his abilities and is given greater responsibilities, representing the gradual development of the disciples’ capacities and understanding of the Buddha’s teachings.

Finally, when the son’s capacity and outlook are fully developed, the father reveals the truth of their father-and-son relationship and bequeaths his entire wealth and inheritance to his son. This represents the Buddha’s teachings of the One Buddha-Vehicle, which is the highest teaching and the path to enlightenment.

The story of the wayward son highlights the importance of faith and understanding in one’s spiritual journey. The disciples had faith in the Buddha and his teachings, even though they were initially not capable of fully comprehending them. Over time, their understanding deepened, allowing them to make meaningful progress towards enlightenment.

In this way, the parable shows that faith provides a foundation for spiritual growth, while understanding provides the necessary guidance and direction. Just as the son was able to progress from being a humble and limited individual to a confident and capable one through the guidance of the father, so too can disciples make progress on the path of enlightenment through the guidance of the Buddha and the deepening of their understanding of his teachings.