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

In many spiritual traditions, faith is often presented as the cornerstone of practice—a quiet acceptance of truths that lie beyond our immediate understanding. We’re sometimes taught that to question is to show a lack of conviction. But what if this view is incomplete? An ancient Buddhist text, the Lotus Sūtra, offers a radical and empowering alternative, suggesting that genuine understanding is born not from silent belief, but from sincere and courageous inquiry.

1. True Practice Isn’t Blind Acceptance

In a pivotal scene from the Lotus Sūtra’s fifteenth chapter, a dramatic event unfolds. After the Buddha asks who will carry his teachings forward, innumerable, unknown Bodhisattvas suddenly emerge from the earth. The assembled followers, who have never seen these beings before, are naturally filled with questions about who they are and where they came from.

Crucially, the text doesn’t dismiss their confusion. Instead, it presents this moment of questioning as an essential part of the spiritual process. It teaches a profound lesson about the nature of true practice:

Our practice of the Wonderful Dharma does not mean merely accepting what we do not understand.

This statement reframes the entire spiritual journey. It’s not a passive reception of doctrine, but an active, investigative engagement with it. It gives us permission to acknowledge what we don’t know and to seek clarity, transforming practice from an act of acceptance into an act of exploration.

2. Your Questions Are a Sign of Strength

Building on this permission not to blindly accept, the Lotus Sūtra then elevates the act of questioning from merely permissible to essential. The text is unambiguous, stating that when we encounter something we don’t understand, “We need to raise questions when they occur.” Far from being a sign of a wavering mind, our questions are evidence of a deeper potential waiting to be unlocked.

These questions show that we are capable of greater understanding.

Think about the power of that idea. Your doubts, your uncertainties, your moments of confusion—these are not weaknesses. They are not obstacles on your path. According to this ancient wisdom, they are the very indicators that you are ready to deepen your knowledge and expand your perspective. They are signs of spiritual strength and readiness.

3. Inquiry Is the Path to Wisdom

If our questions are a sign of strength, the Sūtra then reveals their ultimate purpose: they are the very mechanism for attaining wisdom. This point is powerfully illustrated through the figure of Maitreya, a great Bodhisattva destined to be the next Buddha. When the assembly is filled with confusion, the text reveals that Maitreya has already asked the definitive question on their behalf. He isn’t just another questioner; he is the champion of their inquiry. The Buddha holds him up as the example, preparing to answer him directly. This shows that even the most enlightened beings are central to the process of seeking clarity, giving voice to our collective search for truth.

The journey toward enlightenment is paved with the questions we dare to ask. Each one is a step forward, a conscious move away from ignorance and toward clarity. The text affirms this directly:

They lead us even closer to the Buddha’s wisdom.

This simple instruction is a powerful guide. The very act of seeking answers—of investigating reality with an open and inquisitive mind—is what moves us forward. Our questions are not a detour from the path; they are the path.

Conclusion: Your Turn to Ask

The profound lesson from the Lotus Sūtra is that a questioning mind is not an enemy of faith but the engine of wisdom. It teaches us to honor our curiosity and to see our doubts not as failures, but as invitations to go deeper. True understanding isn’t handed to us; it is earned through our own sincere inquiry.

This ancient text invites us to be active participants in our own awakening. It asks us to be brave enough to admit what we don’t know and to seek the truth for ourselves. So, what is one question about your own path that you’ve been hesitant to ask, and what might you discover if you did?