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

Chapter 7, also known as the “Parable of the Imaginary City,” is one of the most famous and revered sections of the Lotus Sutra. In this chapter, the Buddha tells a story about a group of travelers who become lost in a desert and are led astray by a mirage of a beautiful city. The travelers become disheartened when they realize that the city is not real, and they are still lost in the desert. However, a wise guide appears to them and leads them to a real city, which is even more magnificent than the one they had imagined.

The parable is meant to illustrate the nature of enlightenment and the role of the Buddha as a guide and teacher. The travelers in the story represent all sentient beings who are lost and confused in the world, seeking happiness and fulfillment but often finding only suffering and dissatisfaction. The mirage of the phantom city represents the false ideas and illusions that we cling to in our search for happiness, such as material possessions, status, or relationships.

The wise guide in the story represents the Buddha, who teaches us the true path to enlightenment and helps us to overcome our illusions and delusions. The real city that the guide leads the travelers to represents the true nature of reality and the ultimate goal of Buddhist practice, which is to attain enlightenment and realize our own Buddha-nature.

Overall, Chapter 7 of the Lotus Sutra is a powerful teaching that emphasizes the importance of seeking guidance from the Buddha and following the path to enlightenment, which is available to all beings regardless of their background or circumstances. It provides us with valuable insights into the nature of reality and the role of the Buddha as a compassionate guide and teacher.