ASIAN 230 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Lotus Sutra, Arhat, Mahayana
Document Summary
Even the 5,000 that walk out will reach becoming a buddha eventually. Story identical to each buddha in each world. Buddha taught path that took 7 lifetimes max. Attracted to people to dharma with teaching of arhat path. Then could say that it"s actually much longer. Like parable: say city is close, really very far away. Initially people couldn"t grasp following bodhisattva path because too long and difficult. Monks must make systematic philosophy out of it. Naga = top half of body is human and bottom half is snake. Powerful spirits that typically live underwater or underground. Even an 8 year old naga can become buddha but becomes man for a second before transformation. Buddha predicts that his aunt will become buddha. Predicts all nuns in audience besides his wife. All nuns, arhats, and even naga princess have predictions. Don"t hang out with those that do not accept lotus sutra.
