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

Main Themes:

• The Incomprehensibility of a Buddha’s Wisdom: The text emphasizes the vastness and depth of a Buddha’s wisdom. This wisdom is achieved through eons of dedication and practice. This wisdom is gained through “insights into profound truths.” It remains challenging to grasp even for enlightened beings like disciples and solitary Buddhas.
• Upaya (Skillful Means): The text highlights the Buddha’s mastery of Upaya. He uses skillful communication of profound truths to suit the understanding of the listener. This involves using various techniques like “knowledge, reasoning, fundamental principles, interpretations, and illustrations.”
• The Uniqueness of the Tathagata’s Role: The text asserts a unique role for the Tathagata. Only a Tathagata (a fully awakened being) can fully comprehend the entirety of the Dharma. A Tathagata can grasp all aspects. Only a Tathagata can also pass on all the teachings. This knowledge includes the “essence, characteristics, nature, and how they exist” of all laws.

Key Ideas & Facts:

• A Buddha’s wisdom is earned through countless lifetimes of dedicated practice, exceeding the understanding of other enlightened beings. The text states that “Tathagatas have paid homage to countless Buddhas over immense periods of time.”
• Upaya is essential for making complex spiritual truths accessible. The text highlights that the Buddha uses “various skillful means [to] liberate beings attached to different viewpoints.”
• The Dharma can be studied and practiced by all. But, only a Buddha fully grasps the full depth of its wisdom. As the text explains, “Only a Tathagata, Śāriputra, can impart to another Tathagata the profound truths that the Tathagatas comprehend.”

Important Quotes:

• “The wisdom of a Buddha, Śāriputra, is profound and not easily grasped or comprehended. It challenges the understanding of all disciples and solitary enlightened ones.”
• “Through various skillful means, they can liberate beings attached to different viewpoints.”
• “Only a Tathagata, Śāriputra, can impart to another Tathagata the profound truths that the Tathagatas comprehend.”
• “All laws, Śāriputra, are taught by the Tathagata and by him alone. No one else but the Tathagata understands all laws – their essence, characteristics, nature, and how they exist.”

Overall:

The chapter underscores the immense scope of a Buddha’s wisdom. It also highlights the critical role of skillful means in communicating those truths to others. While the path to enlightenment is open to all, the text highlights the unique role of a Tathagata. A Tathagata possesses a unique understanding in fully comprehending and teaching the Dharma.