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

“O Splendid Virtue! Bodhisattva Wonderful Music can save and protect various living beings in the Saha world. This is because Bodhisattva Wonderful Music transforms and manifests himself differently to expound the Lotus sutra for all living beings in the Saha world. Yet his divine powers, transformations, and wisdom will never be undermined or deteriorated.”
(LS 24:2.8)

This quote is taken from Chapter 24 of the Lotus Sutra, also known as the Saddharma Pundarika Sutra, a highly influential Mahayana Buddhist text. The Lotus Sutra emphasizes the importance of the bodhisattva path and the potential for all beings to attain Buddhahood. In this specific passage, the text praises the qualities and actions of the Bodhisattva Wonderful Music (Gandharva), who is said to possess great power, wisdom, and the ability to save and protect living beings.

The Bodhisattva Wonderful Music is praised for his ability to transform himself into different forms to teach the Lotus Sutra to various beings in the Saha world. The Saha world refers to our world, where beings endure suffering, and it is seen as an ideal place for practicing the Dharma, the teachings of the Buddha. By manifesting in different forms, the Bodhisattva Wonderful Music can connect with various beings and share the teachings of the Lotus Sutra in a way that resonates with them. His commitment to the welfare of all living beings is an essential characteristic of bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism.

Furthermore, the passage emphasizes that the divine powers, transformations, and wisdom of the Bodhisattva Wonderful Music are not diminished or weakened in any way. This serves as a reminder of the infinite nature of the compassion and abilities of bodhisattvas, as well as an inspiration for practitioners to develop their capacity for wisdom and understanding to benefit all sentient beings.

Introduction:

The Lotus Sutra, a most influential text in Mahayana Buddhism, provides insights into the teachings and practices of bodhisattvas on their path to enlightenment. Chapter 24, which tells the story of Bodhisattva Wonderful Music, is a testament to the importance of skillful means (upaya) and the transformative power of the Samadhi of Revelation of All Forms. In this essay, we will examine the narrative of Bodhisattva Wonderful Music and analyze how it exemplifies the broader Buddhist themes of employing wisdom to help others overcome suffering and realize their true nature.

I. The Role of Skillful Means in the Lotus Sutra

The Lotus Sutra emphasizes the importance of skillful means for achieving enlightenment. Through skillful means, practitioners can help others overcome their suffering and realize their true nature. Skillful means is not about manipulation or deception but about using wisdom to help most effectively. The story of Bodhisattva Wonderful Music in Chapter 24 showcases the significance of skillful mean bodhisattvas practice.

II. The Samadhi of Revelation of All Forms as a Transformative Tool

Bodhisattva Wonderful Music practices the Samadhi of Revelation of All Forms, which allows him to transform into various forms at will for the preaching of the Lotus Sutra and the salvation of all living beings in the Saha world. This state of consciousness is a powerful tool that helps practitioners see the goodness in all things, transcending their egos and the opinions of others. When in this state, they can view the world through the eyes of compassion and understanding, appreciating the beauty and wonder that the world has to offer.

III. Arrival of Bodhisattva Wonderful Music in the Saha World

In the first part of Chapter 24, the narrative describes the arrival of Bodhisattva Wonderful Music in the Saha world. Upon Shakyamuni Buddha emitting a brilliant light, signifying the preaching of the Lotus Sutra, numerous Buddhas and bodhisattvas throughout the Universe receive the signal. Among them, Bodhisattva Wonderful Music, who resides in the land of Adorning with Pure Light, decides to travel to the Saha world to listen to Shakyamuni Buddha’s teachings and pay homage to the Buddhas and bodhisattvas.

This episode highlights the interconnectedness of the Buddhist cosmos and emphasizes the importance of reverence and humility in the spiritual journey. Moreover, the Wise King of Pure and Gorgeous Constellation Buddha cautions Bodhisattva Wonderful Music against belittling the miniature sizes of the Buddha and bodhisattvas in the Saha world, a reminder of the essential Buddhist teaching of non-discrimination and respect for all beings.

IV. Cultivation of Merits and Practice of Samadhi

In his past existence, Wonderful Music offered music and songs to the King of Thunderous Sound in the Clouds Buddha, thus accumulating virtuous roots. This example illustrates that diverse offerings, such as music and songs, can be equally valuable as more traditional offerings like flowers or incense in Buddhist practice.

The second part of the chapter delves into the cultivation of merits and the practice of samadhi by Bodhisattva Wonderful Music. When Bodhisattva Splendid Virtue inquires about the methods Wonderful Music used to accumulate virtues and the type of samadhi he practiced for the salvation of living beings, Shakyamuni Buddha responds by recounting Wonderful Music’s previous life.

Furthermore, Shakyamuni, The interconnectedness of the Buddhist cosmos, the cultivation of virtuous roots, and the use of expedient methods for salvation are all central aspects of the bodhisattva path. As Shakyamuni Buddha explains,

Bodhisattva Wonderful Music has already made offerings and established associations with immeasurable Buddhas, as numerous as hundreds of thousands of millions of billions of nayuta of Ganges’s sands, thus cultivating virtuous roots for ages

LS 24: 2.5

This verse encourages us to develop positive relationships with the bodhisattvas throughout the universe to accumulate merit and deepen our spiritual practice.

By highlighting the journey of Bodhisattva Wonderful Music, Chapter 24 illustrates the critical importance of worshiping the Buddha and forming connections with other bodhisattvas for spiritual development. Additionally, the Samadhi of Revelation of All Forms exemplifies the skillful means employed by bodhisattvas to adapt their methods to the unique circumstances and capacities of the beings they seek to save. This adaptability reflects the overarching Mahayana Buddhist ideal of compassion and the pursuit of enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings.

VI. Conclusion

In conclusion, Chapter 24 of the Lotus Sutra highlights the importance of skillful means and the Samadhi of Revelation of All Forms in the spiritual journey of bodhisattvas. The story of Bodhisattva Wonderful Music is a powerful reminder that wisdom and compassion are essential to enlightenment. By employing skillful means and cultivating the Samadhi of Revelation of All Forms, practitioners can transcend their limitations, see the intrinsic goodness in all things, and effectively aid others in overcoming their suffering and realizing their true nature. Ultimately, this chapter reinforces the core Buddhist values of compassion, interconnectedness, and the tireless pursuit of enlightenment to benefit all sentient beings.

The teachings in the Lotus Sutra, including the story of Bodhisattva Wonderful Music, continue to inspire and guide Buddhists worldwide on their spiritual journey, emphasizing the necessity of developing virtuous roots and utilizing practical methods to attain enlightenment and ultimately benefit all living beings. As Medicine King Bodhisattva reveals, the attainment of the Samadhi of Revelation of All Forms is directly connected to hearing the Lotus Sutra:

“Overjoyed at having attained the samadhi, he thought: ‘My accomplishment of the Samadhi of Revelation of All Forms is entirely due to the power of hearing the Lotus Sutra!”

LS 23: 1.5

This highlights the importance of the Lotus Sutra as a means to attain the transformative power of the Samadhi of Revelation of All Forms.

Furthermore, when the Buddha expounded in Chapter 24:

Bodhisattva Splendid Virtue also obtained the Samadhi of the Law of Lotus

LS 24: 2:16

Emphasizing that the Lotus Sutra contains the necessary teachings and methods for practitioners to progress on their spiritual journey.

The story of Bodhisattva Wonderful Music and the Lotus Sutra’s teachings continues to inspire Buddhists worldwide, reminding us of the importance of cultivating virtuous roots, utilizing skillful means, and pursuing enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings.