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

Subject: Analysis of key concepts from a text describing the qualities of a Bodhisattva who upholds sacred teachings.

Source: Excerpt from “The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law”, Chapter 19e – “The Visionary Embodiment of the Bodhisattva”

Overview:

This excerpt focuses on the extraordinary qualities of a Bodhisattva Mahasattva who actively engages with sacred teachings by preserving, reading, sharing, teaching, and writing them. The text describes the profound transformation this engagement brings about, specifically highlighting the Bodhisattva’s physical body becoming a vessel for perceiving the entirety of existence. This is presented not just as a metaphorical idea but as a tangible, embodied experience. The text emphasizes themes of purity, all-encompassing vision, and the reflection of the universe within the Bodhisattva.

Key Themes and Ideas:

1. The Transformed Body: The Bodhisattva’s body undergoes a remarkable transformation, acquiring “eight hundred fine qualities.” It becomes “pure and radiate a clear hue like lapis lazuli,” offering a “pleasant sight to all beings.” This suggests a physical manifestation of the Bodhisattva’s spiritual development and the beneficial impact they have on others.

• Quote: “This perfect body will be pure and radiate a clear hue like lapis lazuli, offering a pleasant sight to all beings.”

1. Universal Vision: The Bodhisattva’s transformed body becomes a lens through which the entire universe is perceived. This is not limited to a geographical or spatial understanding, but encompasses all realms and beings, regardless of their condition or location. The Bodhisattva sees the “beings that come and go, those who are high or low, of pleasing or displeasing appearance, fortunate or unfortunate.”

• Quote: “Upon this perfect body, he will perceive the entire universe in all its aspects; the beings that come and go, those who are high or low, of pleasing or displeasing appearance, fortunate or unfortunate.”

1. All-Encompassing Receptacle: The body is described as a “receptacle for the true nature of all beings.” It is implied that through intense engagement with the sacred teachings, the Bodhisattva’s physical form evolves to embody the universal essence. This capacity for encompassing the entirety of reality is presented as a natural consequence of their spiritual practice.

• Quote: “He will do so because his body becomes a receptacle for the true nature of all beings, a reflection of the perfection of his physical form.”

1. Mirrored Reality: The text explicitly uses the analogy of a mirror to describe how the world appears on the Bodhisattva’s body. All of existence, from high mountains to the lowest hells, from Buddhas to ordinary beings, is reflected in this perfected form. This “mystical norm” emphasizes the Bodhisattva’s interconnectedness with the universe, and the idea that understanding one’s own nature is equivalent to understanding all of reality.

• Quote: “As a mirror reflects an image so true, / On his body, this world comes into view”

1. Beyond Divinity (Yet Embodied Perfection): While the Bodhisattva is not considered “divine” in the text, their body displays a “perfectness” that transcends the ordinary, reflecting the natural world in its entirety. This suggests the possibility of embodied enlightenment, a form of spiritual attainment that is made visible through physical transformation. The language of “a natural wonder, a celestial glow,” creates a vision of almost superhuman manifestation of enlightenment.

• Quote: “Though not yet divine, his body’s embrace, / Reflects the natural world, every form, every face, / Such is his body, in perfectness so, / A natural wonder, a celestial glow.”

Key Takeaways:

• The excerpt portrays the ideal of the Bodhisattva as not merely an abstract philosophical concept but as a tangible, embodied reality.
• The transformative power of engaging with sacred teachings is a central theme, leading to extraordinary physical and perceptual changes.
• The text presents an intriguing connection between the physical body and spiritual realization, demonstrating an idea of embodied enlightenment.
• The Bodhisattva’s all-encompassing vision underscores the interconnectedness of all beings and realms.

Potential Areas for Further Inquiry:

• What specific practices lead to the development of these qualities in a Bodhisattva?
• How does this concept of the “visionary embodiment” relate to other ideas within Buddhist philosophy?
• What are the implications of understanding reality as a reflection within the Bodhisattva’s own form?

This document should serve as a starting point for deeper analysis of this text.

Chapter 19–The Visionary Embodiment of the Bodhisattva