This is cut from a study I posted the other day but I thought it relevant to your query:

Excerpted (and mildly adapted) from the Expedient Means chapter of the Lotus Sutra translated by Burton Watson [pg 26-35].

...you should know that the words of the various Buddhas never differ. (They have) long expounded (the) doctrines and now must reveal the truth. Through the power of expedient means (they show those who seek to escape the bonds of suffering and to attain nirvana) the teachings of the three vehicles, prying (them)loose from this or that attachment and allowing them to attain release.

Buddhas preach the Law in accordance with what is appropriate but the meaning is difficult to understand...because (they) employ countless expedient means, discussing causes and conditions and using words of simile and parable to expound the teachings. This Law is not something that can be understood through pondering or analysis. Only those who are Buddhas can understand it.

Buddhas appear in the world for one great reason alone...(they)...wish to open the door of Buddha wisdom to all living beings, allow them to attain purity, show (them the Buddha wisdom. Buddhas wish to cause living beings to awaken to (and induce them) to enter the path of Buddha wisdom.

The Buddhas, the Thus Come Ones, simply teach and convert the bodhisattvas. All the things they do are at all times done for this one purpose. (They) have only a single Buddha vehicle which they employ. They do not have any other vehicle...the Law preached by all the Buddhas of the ten directions is the same as this.

The Buddhas of the past used countless numbers of expedient means, various causes and conditions and words of simile and parable in order to expound the doctrines...These doctrines are all for the sake of the one Buddha vehicle...by listening to the doctrines of the Buddhas, all are eventually able to attain wisdom embracing all species.

When the Buddhas of the future appear in the world they too will use countless numbers of expedient means, various causes and conditions and words of simile and parable in order to expound the doctrines for the sake of living beings. These doctrines will all be for the sake of the one Buddha vehicle.

...The Buddhas...benefit and bring peace and happiness to living beings in large measure.

The Buddhas know that living beings have various desires, attachments that are deeply implanted in their minds. Taking cognizance of this basic nature of theirs, (the Buddhas) will therefore use various causes and conditions, words of simile and parable and the power of expedient means and expound the Law for them...so that all of them may attain the one Buddha vehicle and wisdom embracing all species.

Buddhas appear in evil worlds of five impurities [the impurity of age, desire, living beings, view and life span)...when the age is impure and the times are chaotic...the defilements of living beings are grave, they are greedy and jealous and put down roots that are not good. Because of this the Buddhas, utilizing the power of expedient means, apply distinctions to the one Buddha vehicle and preach as though it were three.

...If any...should claim to be (worthy of respect and offerings, one who has nothing more to learn) or (to perceive the truth of causal relationship solely by their own efforts) and yet does not heed or understand that the Buddhas...simply teach and convert the bodhisattvas, then he is no disciple of the Buddha.

There is no other vehicle...only the one Buddha vehicle.

The Law which the Buddhas have attained through the power of countless expedient means, they preach for the benefit of living beings. The thoughts that are in the minds of living beings, the different types of paths they follow, their various desires and natures, the good and bad deeds they have done in previous existences-all these the (Buddhas take) cognizance of and then (they employ) causes, similes and parables, words that embody the power of expedient means, in order to gladden and please them all.

Sometimes (Buddhas) preach sutras, verses, stories of the previous lives of disciples, stories of the previous lives of the Buddha, of unheard of things. At other times (they preach) regarding causes and conditions, (using) similes, parables, passages of poetry or discourses.

For those of dull capacities who delight in a little law, who greedily cling to birth and death, who, despite the innumerable Buddhas, fail to practice the profound and wonderful way but are perplexed and confused by a host of troubles-for these (the Buddhas) preach nirvana...and so cause them to enter into the Buddha wisdom.

(Buddhas) use these nine devices, adapting them to the living beings when (they preach)...to lead them into the Great Vehicle...

...there is only the Law of the one vehicle, there are not two, there are not three, except when the Buddha preaches so as an expedient means, merely employing provisional names and terms in order to conduct and guide living beings and preach to them the Buddha wisdom...the Great Vehicle (is) the Law in which all things are equal.

Shana




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Posted: December 26, 2004 11:55 AM

The various Buddhas...all the enlightened teachers throughout time and space that have proclaimed a way to happiness, to enlightenment, have all pretty much all claimed the only way to be. This is the fallacy of their teachings. This is what relegates the other Sutras to a lesser position than the Lotus Sutra.

The Buddha praises EXPEDIENT MEANS as the highest teaching here to resolve the conflict between all other sutras and, in my opinion, all other world religions.

When one is utterly attached to something or someone from their past or present that thing has the power to make them happy or sad, hopeful or despondent; in essence, that “thing” has the power to effect their life condition. Since the ultimate life condition is Buddhahood, which is not based on external conditions, we cannot be attached to a thing and expect to be happy. Therefore, in order to let go of attachment, one must sever themselves completely from that thing. Therefore rich foods, alcohol, sex, must be considered “evil” to one who over indulges.

Likewise, if someone believes he or she is incapable of true goodness in this lifetime, it is necessary to preach to them that they are sinful and must hope (pray) for something better in another dimension or lifetime...heaven, nirvana...

None of this is true. Happiness- peace is now. It’s in the present moment. It is present in every moment. If you listen closely to the core of any teaching you will hear this ultimate reality.

This is the essence of Expedient Means. All teachings claiming to have a different goal from any other teaching are provisional...they lead you towards truth but are not the essence of truth or, more importantly, value. The essence of any true teaching is enlightenment is this lifetime.

The first time I read the Sutra passage I quoted earlier I couldn’t help but think of Christianity and its Trinity...3 vehicles...the separation of the past, present and future (father, son, holy spirit) and how the various churches claiming to be of Christ. The ultimate teaching transcends time and shows us that causality flows in all directions. If I’m not mistaken Christ himself preached that we should be as he...that he was one with God and so should we be.

Unfortunately people seem to have misunderstood the message and have broadened the gap between themselves and their Christhood...saying it is hubris to claim divinity for oneself. Christmas is the time for peace, joy, heaven on earth...it seems to me to be their only holiday where the true message seems to be splayed out before us. I think that’s why so many people of non-christian faith still say merry christmas.

Nothing brought the universality of expedient means home for me better than my experience as a discussion group facilitator at the “Women’s Interfaith Peace Conference” held by my SGI-USA Group a few summers back at Molloy College in Rockville Centre, New York.

We had a panel discussion made up of a Buddhist woman, a Christian woman, a Jewish holocaust survivor and a Muslim woman. The most amazing thing was that to a woman, to a question, the panel speakers (who’d had time to prepare their answers) all responded the same to the questions. Our goal was to find ways, as women of faith (regardless of which faith that may be) to create world peace starting within the community.

Different books (the Bible, the Koran, the Sutra, the Torah) were quoted, different stories were told, but they all said the same thing. There was quite a feeling of warmth in the room (and it wasn’t the heat of the 300+ bodies either).



Also, a fundamental doctrine of Buddhism called the eightfold path (one of the four noble truths) teaches that the way to enlightenment is through:

1) right views
2) right thinking
3) right speech
4) right action
5) right way of life
6) right endeavor
7) right mindfulness
8) right meditation

Hence, we see that while all the Buddhas (and I'm including Christ) have used expedient means to illuminate the path, the way practice has developed within many religions is not always in accordance with several of these fundamentals. This is why some refute the teachings of other schools. Because some of their basic tenets go against the laws of the universe and do not live up to what they promise.

Hope this helped...I know its a lot to read.

Much luck and light.

Shana

what an awesome string.





oh, i don't have anything insightful to say.

i just like the string.


lol


namaste ♥