1 00:00:00,343 --> 00:00:00,936 The Lotus Sutra 2 00:00:01,423 --> 00:00:02,676 The finish line you thought you reached 3 00:00:02,702 --> 00:00:03,716 Is only halfway 4 00:00:04,142 --> 00:00:05,996 Shariputra practiced his whole life 5 00:00:06,423 --> 00:00:07,556 Foremost in wisdom 6 00:00:07,743 --> 00:00:10,435 The smartest of the ten great disciples of the Buddha 7 00:00:10,862 --> 00:00:12,676 He thought he had already arrived 8 00:00:13,022 --> 00:00:13,855 The fruit of the arhat 9 00:00:14,182 --> 00:00:15,476 Free from birth and death 10 00:00:15,542 --> 00:00:18,010 There was nowhere higher than this 11 00:00:18,318 --> 00:00:19,110 Until one day 12 00:00:19,478 --> 00:00:21,130 In front of everyone the Buddha 13 00:00:21,237 --> 00:00:22,251 Said one sentence 14 00:00:22,877 --> 00:00:23,711 When Shariputra heard it 15 00:00:24,158 --> 00:00:24,891 He cried 16 00:00:25,478 --> 00:00:27,010 Not because he was moved 17 00:00:27,638 --> 00:00:29,010 But because he regretted 18 00:00:30,002 --> 00:00:30,315 Hey there 19 00:00:30,603 --> 00:00:31,076 Hi everyone 20 00:00:31,403 --> 00:00:32,455 I am Leo Wang 21 00:00:32,722 --> 00:00:34,695 Today we take apart the Lotus Sutra 22 00:00:35,042 --> 00:00:38,375 In East Asian Buddhism this sutra is called the king of sutras 23 00:00:38,722 --> 00:00:42,136 I covered one angle of it in the consciousness and philosophy series 24 00:00:42,163 --> 00:00:43,975 That one was about the idea of skillful means 25 00:00:44,163 --> 00:00:45,896 Today is completely different 26 00:00:46,122 --> 00:00:49,975 Today I want to open up the core teaching of the Lotus Sutra for you 27 00:00:50,349 --> 00:00:51,149 Four words 28 00:00:51,402 --> 00:00:52,735 Merging the three into one 29 00:00:53,444 --> 00:00:55,057 Let me set up the background first 30 00:00:55,404 --> 00:00:57,157 The Buddha taught for more than forty years 31 00:00:57,603 --> 00:00:58,856 He taught countless people 32 00:00:59,283 --> 00:01:01,216 And these people walked different roads 33 00:01:01,563 --> 00:01:03,896 The first kind walked what is called the Shravaka vehicle 34 00:01:04,283 --> 00:01:06,097 Shravaka means hearing the voice 35 00:01:06,484 --> 00:01:07,997 They heard the Buddha say suffering 36 00:01:08,404 --> 00:01:09,682 And felt yes it really is suffering 37 00:01:09,684 --> 00:01:10,937 Life really is suffering 38 00:01:11,324 --> 00:01:13,616 The Buddha said there is a road out 39 00:01:14,003 --> 00:01:14,637 The Four Noble Truths 40 00:01:15,044 --> 00:01:15,676 The Eightfold Path 41 00:01:16,124 --> 00:01:16,937 Follow them 42 00:01:16,964 --> 00:01:18,077 And you can reach the arhat 43 00:01:18,443 --> 00:01:20,336 Completely out of the cycle of rebirth 44 00:01:20,803 --> 00:01:24,097 This road is clear it has steps it has an end 45 00:01:24,443 --> 00:01:28,220 It suits people who need a map before they will set out 46 00:01:28,366 --> 00:01:30,419 The second kind walked the Pratyekabuddha vehicle 47 00:01:30,887 --> 00:01:33,300 Pratyekabuddha means awakening alone by watching causes and conditions 48 00:01:33,646 --> 00:01:35,059 They do not need a teacher 49 00:01:35,526 --> 00:01:36,520 They watch flowers bloom and fall 50 00:01:36,767 --> 00:01:38,100 They watch people age and die 51 00:01:38,166 --> 00:01:39,979 And they see the pattern on their own 52 00:01:40,327 --> 00:01:42,539 Even if no Buddha appeared they could still awaken 53 00:01:42,726 --> 00:01:44,419 Their awakening just is not as complete 54 00:01:45,415 --> 00:01:47,668 The third kind walked the Bodhisattva vehicle 55 00:01:48,254 --> 00:01:49,587 This road is the most unusual 56 00:01:50,015 --> 00:01:52,628 People on this road do not just cross the river themselves 57 00:01:52,735 --> 00:01:54,028 They also build a boat 58 00:01:54,215 --> 00:01:56,147 To carry over the people behind them 59 00:01:56,534 --> 00:01:57,628 They practice the six perfections 60 00:01:57,935 --> 00:02:02,388 Giving discipline patience effort meditation wisdom 61 00:02:02,775 --> 00:02:04,587 Not one of them is only for himself 62 00:02:05,135 --> 00:02:05,727 Three roads 63 00:02:05,974 --> 00:02:06,528 Three kinds of people 64 00:02:06,814 --> 00:02:07,748 Three goals 65 00:02:08,135 --> 00:02:09,427 It sounds reasonable 66 00:02:10,249 --> 00:02:11,003 You might ask 67 00:02:11,490 --> 00:02:12,682 Why split it into three 68 00:02:13,210 --> 00:02:14,203 Would one road not be better 69 00:02:14,810 --> 00:02:16,302 Think about the people around you 70 00:02:16,409 --> 00:02:19,302 Some people hit a problem and first look for the answer 71 00:02:19,330 --> 00:02:20,688 If someone tells them what to do 72 00:02:20,689 --> 00:02:21,823 They can do it 73 00:02:21,930 --> 00:02:23,729 Some people hate being taught 74 00:02:23,729 --> 00:02:26,062 They have to figure it out themselves before they buy it 75 00:02:26,169 --> 00:02:28,423 And some are just born not thinking only about themselves 76 00:02:28,569 --> 00:02:31,582 Seeing others suffer hurts them more than their own pain 77 00:02:31,729 --> 00:02:34,408 Say the same sentence to these three kinds of people 78 00:02:34,409 --> 00:02:36,902 And they hear three different things 79 00:02:37,289 --> 00:02:39,423 This is exactly the situation the Buddha faced 80 00:02:39,770 --> 00:02:41,622 It is not that he did not want to go straight there 81 00:02:41,810 --> 00:02:42,443 He knew 82 00:02:42,729 --> 00:02:43,968 That if he went straight there 83 00:02:43,969 --> 00:02:46,070 Most people could not catch it 84 00:02:46,337 --> 00:02:47,371 But the Lotus Sutra says 85 00:02:47,698 --> 00:02:48,470 This three 86 00:02:48,617 --> 00:02:50,271 Was made up by the Buddha 87 00:02:50,457 --> 00:02:51,391 Let me be clear 88 00:02:51,737 --> 00:02:53,591 This does not mean the practice is fake 89 00:02:53,978 --> 00:02:55,230 The practice is real 90 00:02:55,577 --> 00:02:56,450 Suffering is real 91 00:02:56,897 --> 00:02:58,350 The Four Noble Truths are real 92 00:02:58,378 --> 00:02:59,910 The twelve links are real 93 00:03:00,297 --> 00:03:01,790 What is fake is the number 94 00:03:02,023 --> 00:03:02,824 Three 95 00:03:03,297 --> 00:03:05,871 In the Skillful Means chapter of the Lotus Sutra the Buddha says 96 00:03:06,098 --> 00:03:07,871 There were never three roads 97 00:03:08,378 --> 00:03:09,630 I said there were three 98 00:03:09,777 --> 00:03:12,311 Because back then three was all you could take 99 00:03:12,777 --> 00:03:15,031 You thought you were walking different roads 100 00:03:15,418 --> 00:03:18,470 But you were walking different stages of the same road 101 00:03:19,269 --> 00:03:20,343 The stretch the Shravakas walked 102 00:03:20,630 --> 00:03:22,162 Is the start of this road 103 00:03:22,510 --> 00:03:23,583 The stretch the Pratyekabuddhas walked 104 00:03:23,869 --> 00:03:24,762 Is the middle 105 00:03:25,149 --> 00:03:26,183 The stretch the Bodhisattvas walked 106 00:03:26,510 --> 00:03:27,643 Is the second half 107 00:03:28,029 --> 00:03:29,303 But there is only one road 108 00:03:29,709 --> 00:03:31,162 And only one destination 109 00:03:31,269 --> 00:03:32,643 Called the One Buddha Vehicle 110 00:03:33,309 --> 00:03:35,202 This is merging the three into one 111 00:03:35,709 --> 00:03:37,922 The three vehicles are only skillful devices 112 00:03:38,389 --> 00:03:40,442 The One Buddha Vehicle is what is real 113 00:03:40,995 --> 00:03:42,369 You might ask right away 114 00:03:42,555 --> 00:03:44,529 Then was the Buddha not lying 115 00:03:44,835 --> 00:03:46,769 The Lotus Sutra saw that question coming 116 00:03:47,196 --> 00:03:49,288 So it answers you with a story 117 00:03:49,596 --> 00:03:51,448 The story is called the burning house 118 00:03:51,675 --> 00:03:53,568 The most famous parable in the Lotus Sutra 119 00:03:53,835 --> 00:03:55,288 Recorded in the Parable chapter 120 00:03:55,395 --> 00:03:57,044 The story goes like this 121 00:03:57,312 --> 00:03:58,724 There was a wealthy household 122 00:03:59,312 --> 00:04:00,025 The house was huge 123 00:04:00,352 --> 00:04:01,604 Dozens of people lived in it 124 00:04:01,991 --> 00:04:03,185 But the house was too old 125 00:04:03,472 --> 00:04:04,645 Cracks everywhere 126 00:04:05,151 --> 00:04:05,585 One day 127 00:04:06,072 --> 00:04:06,965 A fire broke out 128 00:04:07,512 --> 00:04:09,965 It started burning from several corners at once 129 00:04:10,192 --> 00:04:11,845 Thick smoke was already rising 130 00:04:12,312 --> 00:04:14,764 But the children of the house were still inside playing 131 00:04:15,312 --> 00:04:16,145 Dozens of children 132 00:04:16,391 --> 00:04:17,104 Chasing each other around 133 00:04:17,352 --> 00:04:18,444 Having a great time 134 00:04:18,871 --> 00:04:21,768 They had no idea what fire meant 135 00:04:22,195 --> 00:04:23,428 The father stood outside the door 136 00:04:23,715 --> 00:04:24,207 Shouting 137 00:04:24,315 --> 00:04:24,868 Come out now 138 00:04:25,114 --> 00:04:26,047 The house is on fire 139 00:04:26,474 --> 00:04:27,688 The children ignored him 140 00:04:28,155 --> 00:04:29,487 He shouted many times 141 00:04:29,955 --> 00:04:30,768 It did not work 142 00:04:31,155 --> 00:04:33,768 Because these children had never been burned 143 00:04:34,155 --> 00:04:36,207 They did not know the weight of that word 144 00:04:36,794 --> 00:04:38,607 Think about your own experience 145 00:04:38,994 --> 00:04:43,008 Have you ever explained risk to someone who never lost money 146 00:04:43,635 --> 00:04:44,268 The more anxious you get 147 00:04:44,594 --> 00:04:46,448 The more he thinks you are overreacting 148 00:04:46,874 --> 00:04:48,207 He is not stupid 149 00:04:48,474 --> 00:04:50,287 He just does not have that memory in his body 150 00:04:50,738 --> 00:04:52,952 So the father tried another way 151 00:04:53,178 --> 00:04:53,972 He said to the children 152 00:04:54,419 --> 00:04:55,512 Come outside and look 153 00:04:55,618 --> 00:04:57,072 There are three carts out there 154 00:04:57,419 --> 00:04:59,152 A small one pulled by goats 155 00:04:59,378 --> 00:05:01,152 A medium one pulled by deer 156 00:05:01,339 --> 00:05:03,072 A big one pulled by oxen 157 00:05:03,578 --> 00:05:04,332 All of them beautiful 158 00:05:04,818 --> 00:05:06,392 All of them your favorites 159 00:05:06,698 --> 00:05:08,472 First one out picks first 160 00:05:08,899 --> 00:05:10,251 The moment the children heard new toys 161 00:05:10,618 --> 00:05:12,278 They all ran out 162 00:05:12,585 --> 00:05:13,624 Once they were outside 163 00:05:13,626 --> 00:05:15,944 They found there were no three carts 164 00:05:15,946 --> 00:05:16,958 There was only one 165 00:05:17,066 --> 00:05:21,479 A great white ox cart far bigger than the goat deer or ox carts 166 00:05:21,545 --> 00:05:23,599 And it was not one cart to fight over 167 00:05:23,705 --> 00:05:24,979 Every child got one 168 00:05:25,225 --> 00:05:26,278 Exactly the same 169 00:05:26,499 --> 00:05:29,513 This is how the Lotus Sutra answers the charge of lying 170 00:05:29,780 --> 00:05:30,953 Think about it carefully 171 00:05:31,380 --> 00:05:33,472 The father said there were three carts outside 172 00:05:33,539 --> 00:05:35,193 That did not match the facts 173 00:05:35,419 --> 00:05:37,513 Strictly speaking he did say something false 174 00:05:37,900 --> 00:05:39,112 But think again 175 00:05:39,499 --> 00:05:40,652 If he had not said it 176 00:05:41,059 --> 00:05:42,092 What would have happened to the children 177 00:05:42,900 --> 00:05:44,073 Burned to death inside 178 00:05:44,619 --> 00:05:47,633 So the question was never whether the father lied 179 00:05:48,099 --> 00:05:48,652 The question is 180 00:05:48,979 --> 00:05:51,073 When the fire has already reached the roof 181 00:05:51,299 --> 00:05:53,753 What gets the children out alive 182 00:05:54,260 --> 00:05:55,832 The three carts were false 183 00:05:55,940 --> 00:05:58,150 But the children running out was real 184 00:05:58,376 --> 00:06:00,910 There is a layer here that is easy to miss 185 00:06:01,176 --> 00:06:01,689 Notice this 186 00:06:01,936 --> 00:06:04,390 The father promised three different carts 187 00:06:04,576 --> 00:06:07,549 But what he gave was the same great white ox cart 188 00:06:07,777 --> 00:06:10,950 It is not that picking the goat cart gets you only a goat cart 189 00:06:11,376 --> 00:06:12,590 There are no tiers 190 00:06:12,897 --> 00:06:14,736 Every child who ran out 191 00:06:14,737 --> 00:06:17,655 No matter which cart pulled him out 192 00:06:17,657 --> 00:06:20,189 Ended up with exactly the same thing 193 00:06:20,496 --> 00:06:23,350 This is the gentlest part of merging the three into one 194 00:06:23,657 --> 00:06:24,729 The entrances can differ 195 00:06:25,176 --> 00:06:26,950 But the destination is the same 196 00:06:27,176 --> 00:06:29,229 Whether suffering scared you out 197 00:06:29,297 --> 00:06:31,510 Or curiosity drew you out 198 00:06:31,576 --> 00:06:34,390 Or compassion for all beings pulled you out 199 00:06:34,576 --> 00:06:36,289 What you get once you are out 200 00:06:36,537 --> 00:06:37,830 Is the same cart 201 00:06:38,436 --> 00:06:40,410 I have read this story more than once 202 00:06:40,756 --> 00:06:43,889 And every time it explains a very modern problem 203 00:06:44,477 --> 00:06:46,389 Have you ever taught a kid to ride a bike 204 00:06:47,076 --> 00:06:48,970 You would not open with 205 00:06:49,076 --> 00:06:52,129 You need to keep your center of mass over the support base 206 00:06:52,276 --> 00:06:56,970 While tuning the handlebars and pedal rate to hold dynamic balance 207 00:06:57,237 --> 00:06:58,069 You would not say that 208 00:06:58,557 --> 00:07:00,210 Because he would not understand it anyway 209 00:07:00,516 --> 00:07:01,030 You would say 210 00:07:01,357 --> 00:07:01,910 Just start pedaling 211 00:07:02,237 --> 00:07:03,650 I am holding you from behind 212 00:07:03,997 --> 00:07:04,829 He pedals a few turns 213 00:07:05,157 --> 00:07:06,489 You quietly let go 214 00:07:06,756 --> 00:07:09,290 He rides ten meters before he sees you let go 215 00:07:09,597 --> 00:07:10,230 He looks back 216 00:07:10,516 --> 00:07:11,809 And you are standing there smiling 217 00:07:12,455 --> 00:07:14,227 What he learned in that moment 218 00:07:14,455 --> 00:07:15,907 Was not something you taught him 219 00:07:16,294 --> 00:07:18,907 He found it himself while riding 220 00:07:19,294 --> 00:07:20,527 Those few turns when you held him 221 00:07:20,974 --> 00:07:21,948 Were fake 222 00:07:22,335 --> 00:07:24,828 But him learning to ride was real 223 00:07:25,375 --> 00:07:27,787 In education they call this scaffolding 224 00:07:28,215 --> 00:07:31,188 You build a structure for the student to climb 225 00:07:31,375 --> 00:07:34,428 And once he is high enough you take the scaffolding down 226 00:07:34,494 --> 00:07:36,147 He finds that he can stand on his own 227 00:07:36,895 --> 00:07:40,347 The Lotus Sutra said this clearly two thousand years ago 228 00:07:40,775 --> 00:07:43,147 The three vehicles of the Buddha are scaffolding 229 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:45,274 The Shravaka vehicle is the first level 230 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:46,733 It gets you steady first 231 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:48,694 It lifts your head out of suffering 232 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:50,353 The Pratyekabuddha vehicle is the second level 233 00:07:50,721 --> 00:07:52,014 It teaches you to see for yourself 234 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:53,093 Without leaning on a teacher 235 00:07:53,401 --> 00:07:54,754 The Bodhisattva vehicle is the third level 236 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:56,853 It starts you helping others see 237 00:07:57,040 --> 00:07:58,839 But scaffolding is not the building 238 00:07:58,841 --> 00:08:00,254 The building is you 239 00:08:01,107 --> 00:08:04,200 When we took apart Yogacara we talked about seed theory 240 00:08:04,547 --> 00:08:07,039 Your alaya consciousness stores countless seeds 241 00:08:07,147 --> 00:08:11,080 The mix of those seeds decides which level of scaffolding fits you now 242 00:08:11,426 --> 00:08:13,520 Some people carry heavy fear in their seeds 243 00:08:13,667 --> 00:08:15,559 They need to deal with fear first 244 00:08:15,907 --> 00:08:17,640 The Shravaka vehicle works best for them 245 00:08:17,987 --> 00:08:19,760 Some people carry sharp wisdom in their seeds 246 00:08:19,787 --> 00:08:21,905 Two glances and they work it out themselves 247 00:08:21,907 --> 00:08:22,960 No teaching needed 248 00:08:23,386 --> 00:08:25,879 Some people carry heavy compassion in their seeds 249 00:08:25,987 --> 00:08:28,840 The pain of another person hurts them more than their own 250 00:08:29,066 --> 00:08:30,939 For them the Bodhisattva path is not a choice 251 00:08:31,266 --> 00:08:32,119 It is instinct 252 00:08:32,706 --> 00:08:34,960 The Buddha did not split the road three ways at random 253 00:08:35,107 --> 00:08:37,280 He looked at the seed mix of each person 254 00:08:37,306 --> 00:08:39,959 And gave them the stretch of road they could actually walk 255 00:08:40,707 --> 00:08:41,539 By the time of the Lotus Sutra 256 00:08:41,827 --> 00:08:43,520 The Buddha took the scaffolding down 257 00:08:43,866 --> 00:08:45,959 He says you do not need it now 258 00:08:46,067 --> 00:08:46,939 You are standing here 259 00:08:47,266 --> 00:08:49,079 You already are the building 260 00:08:49,477 --> 00:08:52,010 Now you can see why Shariputra cried 261 00:08:52,317 --> 00:08:54,291 Shariputra walked the Shravaka path his whole life 262 00:08:54,317 --> 00:08:56,571 He thought reaching the arhat was the end 263 00:08:56,918 --> 00:08:59,250 It is like spending ten years climbing a mountain 264 00:08:59,278 --> 00:09:00,196 Reaching the top 265 00:09:00,197 --> 00:09:00,870 Catching your breath 266 00:09:01,197 --> 00:09:02,530 Thinking you finally made it 267 00:09:02,957 --> 00:09:04,331 Then the clouds part 268 00:09:04,837 --> 00:09:06,970 And you see higher mountains ahead 269 00:09:07,358 --> 00:09:08,030 Not one 270 00:09:08,477 --> 00:09:09,571 A whole range 271 00:09:10,197 --> 00:09:12,211 Your legs go weak for a second 272 00:09:12,797 --> 00:09:14,770 What you feel then is not fear 273 00:09:15,358 --> 00:09:18,926 It is seeing that your map was drawn too small 274 00:09:19,192 --> 00:09:21,365 But the real power of the Lotus Sutra comes next 275 00:09:21,793 --> 00:09:24,192 After the Buddha shattered the illusion of Shariputra 276 00:09:24,192 --> 00:09:25,686 He immediately did one thing 277 00:09:26,192 --> 00:09:28,245 He gave Shariputra a prediction on the spot 278 00:09:28,793 --> 00:09:30,285 A prediction is a prophecy 279 00:09:30,553 --> 00:09:30,946 He said 280 00:09:31,352 --> 00:09:32,111 Shariputra 281 00:09:32,112 --> 00:09:33,546 You will certainly become a Buddha 282 00:09:34,033 --> 00:09:35,926 Your name will be Flower Light Tathagata 283 00:09:36,393 --> 00:09:37,726 Notice the rhythm here 284 00:09:38,192 --> 00:09:40,086 First he breaks the finish line you believed in 285 00:09:40,153 --> 00:09:41,806 And shows you the longer road 286 00:09:42,112 --> 00:09:43,566 Then he tells you right away 287 00:09:43,633 --> 00:09:45,525 That you will definitely reach the end of it 288 00:09:45,832 --> 00:09:46,546 This is not encouragement 289 00:09:46,832 --> 00:09:47,806 It is not comfort 290 00:09:48,232 --> 00:09:49,206 It is a prediction 291 00:09:49,873 --> 00:09:50,665 In Buddhism 292 00:09:51,033 --> 00:09:52,966 A prediction from the Buddha never fails 293 00:09:53,432 --> 00:09:54,985 He is not saying you might 294 00:09:55,513 --> 00:09:56,885 He is saying you will 295 00:09:57,675 --> 00:10:00,448 This touches the deepest layer of the Lotus Sutra 296 00:10:00,874 --> 00:10:01,667 All beings 297 00:10:02,035 --> 00:10:02,907 Have Buddha nature 298 00:10:03,315 --> 00:10:04,567 And all will become Buddhas 299 00:10:05,075 --> 00:10:06,007 No exceptions 300 00:10:06,555 --> 00:10:08,687 Those on the Shravaka path will become Buddhas 301 00:10:09,114 --> 00:10:11,368 Those on the Pratyekabuddha path will become Buddhas 302 00:10:11,795 --> 00:10:14,047 Those on the Bodhisattva path will become Buddhas 303 00:10:14,435 --> 00:10:15,748 The only difference is speed 304 00:10:16,234 --> 00:10:17,540 Not whether you can 305 00:10:17,807 --> 00:10:18,941 Look back again 306 00:10:19,248 --> 00:10:23,380 This is why the Lotus Sutra both strikes and lifts Shariputra 307 00:10:23,928 --> 00:10:24,120 The strike 308 00:10:24,648 --> 00:10:26,860 Tells you the arhat is not the end 309 00:10:26,888 --> 00:10:28,181 Do not stop here 310 00:10:28,567 --> 00:10:28,760 The lift 311 00:10:29,288 --> 00:10:31,740 Is the instant prediction that you will become a Buddha 312 00:10:31,928 --> 00:10:33,740 So you have the confidence to keep walking 313 00:10:34,168 --> 00:10:36,461 It is not denying the practice you already did 314 00:10:36,847 --> 00:10:37,480 It is saying 315 00:10:37,847 --> 00:10:39,660 Your earlier practice was good 316 00:10:39,888 --> 00:10:41,620 It is because you walked that far 317 00:10:41,727 --> 00:10:44,500 That you are ready to hear this now 318 00:10:44,847 --> 00:10:46,221 You did not walk for nothing 319 00:10:46,607 --> 00:10:48,061 Every step counts 320 00:10:48,447 --> 00:10:49,900 The road is just not finished 321 00:10:50,274 --> 00:10:52,126 One comment put it very well 322 00:10:52,634 --> 00:10:52,986 He said 323 00:10:53,514 --> 00:10:54,927 The logic of the Mahayana is this 324 00:10:55,073 --> 00:10:58,966 Someone who truly sees dependent origination cannot care only about himself 325 00:10:59,473 --> 00:11:01,407 Not because he ought to be compassionate 326 00:11:01,553 --> 00:11:03,606 But because he has already seen 327 00:11:03,833 --> 00:11:07,327 That self and all beings were never two things 328 00:11:07,914 --> 00:11:09,927 Compassion is not a moral add on 329 00:11:09,994 --> 00:11:12,687 It is what wisdom becomes when it goes all the way 330 00:11:13,274 --> 00:11:18,006 That is merging the three into one said in plain viewer language 331 00:11:18,384 --> 00:11:20,397 There has been a lot of discussion in the comments lately 332 00:11:20,583 --> 00:11:22,716 Some say the Mahayana is not the word of the Buddha 333 00:11:22,823 --> 00:11:24,756 That the Lotus Sutra was written by later people 334 00:11:24,943 --> 00:11:26,623 As for the historical evidence 335 00:11:26,624 --> 00:11:29,037 I will cover that in the history series 336 00:11:29,224 --> 00:11:33,157 But the Lotus Sutra has a very interesting answer to that challenge 337 00:11:33,423 --> 00:11:35,797 It does not try to prove it is the word of the Buddha 338 00:11:36,104 --> 00:11:37,836 It says something else 339 00:11:38,104 --> 00:11:38,456 It says 340 00:11:38,744 --> 00:11:40,476 Whatever you think of this sutra 341 00:11:40,583 --> 00:11:42,517 You are already on that road 342 00:11:42,783 --> 00:11:43,996 You sitting here listening 343 00:11:44,144 --> 00:11:47,236 You opening this sutra to see what it actually says 344 00:11:47,344 --> 00:11:50,037 That act itself is part of the road 345 00:11:50,303 --> 00:11:53,476 The Lotus Sutra is not pointing at a road you must go find 346 00:11:53,864 --> 00:11:54,537 It is saying 347 00:11:54,984 --> 00:11:56,216 What is under your feet 348 00:11:56,504 --> 00:11:57,236 Is it 349 00:11:57,670 --> 00:11:59,404 Let me share my own experience 350 00:11:59,710 --> 00:12:01,284 After all these years in investing 351 00:12:01,391 --> 00:12:05,203 I often have to tell founders things they do not want to hear 352 00:12:05,710 --> 00:12:06,544 Say it straight 353 00:12:06,950 --> 00:12:07,963 And the effect is zero 354 00:12:08,391 --> 00:12:09,763 He is riding high 355 00:12:09,790 --> 00:12:11,564 You tell him this direction has a problem 356 00:12:11,790 --> 00:12:13,164 He thinks you do not get him 357 00:12:13,790 --> 00:12:14,644 You have to wait 358 00:12:15,070 --> 00:12:16,703 Wait until he hits a wall himself 359 00:12:17,030 --> 00:12:17,883 Then you say 360 00:12:18,070 --> 00:12:20,444 Remember that thing we talked about last time 361 00:12:20,910 --> 00:12:22,723 And suddenly it lands 362 00:12:23,070 --> 00:12:24,483 You were not wrong 363 00:12:24,950 --> 00:12:26,324 The timing was wrong 364 00:12:27,212 --> 00:12:30,265 The Skillful Means chapter says the same thing 365 00:12:30,572 --> 00:12:34,611 If the Buddha had opened with all beings can become Buddhas 366 00:12:34,612 --> 00:12:35,865 With no difference at all 367 00:12:35,972 --> 00:12:37,844 What would the beginners have done 368 00:12:38,452 --> 00:12:40,184 They would not have more confidence 369 00:12:40,612 --> 00:12:42,145 They would only be more confused 370 00:12:42,491 --> 00:12:44,890 They had not even sorted out their own afflictions 371 00:12:44,891 --> 00:12:46,405 You tell him he can become a Buddha 372 00:12:47,251 --> 00:12:48,605 He thinks you are joking 373 00:12:49,052 --> 00:12:50,464 And then walks away 374 00:12:50,972 --> 00:12:52,544 The truth was never the problem 375 00:12:52,972 --> 00:12:54,385 Timing is the problem 376 00:12:55,595 --> 00:12:57,288 You have probably had this happen too 377 00:12:57,875 --> 00:13:00,048 Someone said something important to you 378 00:13:00,156 --> 00:13:01,849 And it meant nothing at the time 379 00:13:02,276 --> 00:13:03,428 Three or five years later 380 00:13:03,755 --> 00:13:05,008 After you have been through some things 381 00:13:05,235 --> 00:13:07,308 Late one night that sentence comes back 382 00:13:07,715 --> 00:13:08,808 And it hits you 383 00:13:09,156 --> 00:13:10,268 The sentence did not change 384 00:13:10,516 --> 00:13:11,609 You changed 385 00:13:11,916 --> 00:13:14,768 You finally reached the place where you could catch it 386 00:13:15,115 --> 00:13:17,128 This is exactly what the Lotus Sutra is saying 387 00:13:17,475 --> 00:13:21,329 It is not that the Buddha did not want to give everyone the final truth up front 388 00:13:21,516 --> 00:13:22,189 He knew 389 00:13:22,556 --> 00:13:24,168 That saying it too early equals not saying it 390 00:13:24,436 --> 00:13:25,148 And worse 391 00:13:25,556 --> 00:13:27,408 Saying it too early can scare people off 392 00:13:27,755 --> 00:13:29,689 Someone still anxious about making a living 393 00:13:29,715 --> 00:13:31,449 You tell him he is already a Buddha 394 00:13:31,595 --> 00:13:33,449 He will only think you are mocking him 395 00:13:33,851 --> 00:13:36,205 Earlier in this series I took apart the Shurangama Sutra 396 00:13:36,492 --> 00:13:38,624 The Madhyamaka treatise and Yogacara 397 00:13:38,892 --> 00:13:43,144 Each one opened a different layer of consciousness emptiness and cognition 398 00:13:43,492 --> 00:13:45,864 The Lotus Sutra does something none of them did 399 00:13:46,292 --> 00:13:48,585 It is not taking apart one concept 400 00:13:48,892 --> 00:13:51,665 It takes apart why the Buddha taught the way he did 401 00:13:52,091 --> 00:13:54,945 It turns the teaching itself into the content of the teaching 402 00:13:55,252 --> 00:13:58,305 This is why the Lotus Sutra is called the king of sutras 403 00:13:58,691 --> 00:14:00,465 Not because its content is the deepest 404 00:14:00,571 --> 00:14:04,171 But because it is the only one standing above all the other sutras 405 00:14:04,171 --> 00:14:07,144 Telling you why those sutras exist 406 00:14:07,688 --> 00:14:10,621 Next time we continue with the second half of the Lotus Sutra 407 00:14:11,328 --> 00:14:12,960 There is a bodhisattva called Never Disparaging 408 00:14:13,328 --> 00:14:14,381 He bows to everyone he meets 409 00:14:14,568 --> 00:14:15,361 Beaten he still bows 410 00:14:15,647 --> 00:14:16,700 Cursed he still bows 411 00:14:17,167 --> 00:14:18,820 Everyone thought he had lost his mind 412 00:14:19,208 --> 00:14:20,440 What was he actually practicing 413 00:14:21,283 --> 00:14:22,997 Have you ever had a moment like this 414 00:14:23,523 --> 00:14:25,816 You thought you had reached some finish line 415 00:14:25,844 --> 00:14:28,216 And later found it was only a stop along the way 416 00:14:28,483 --> 00:14:29,696 Tell me in the comments 417 00:14:30,084 --> 00:14:30,757 I am Leo Wang 418 00:14:31,084 --> 00:14:31,840 See you next time