Lotus Sutra (Miao fa lian hua jing) - Sixi Tripitaka Edition

That Which is Set Forth

Indeed, when the spirit descended upon the Spirit Mountain original: Lingyue, referring to Vulture Peak or Gṛdhrakūṭa, where the Buddha delivered many of his most profound sermons, without the Great Sage The Buddha there would have been no means to begin the process of conversion and guidance.

Where this conversion reached, unless there were connections from past lives the concept of yuan or karmic affinity, there would be no way to lead the hearts of sentient beings. Thus, when the teachings were first completed at the Hermit’s Grove original: Xianyuan, the Deer Park at Sarnath, the spiritual capacities of the listeners were distinguished by the differences between the Small and the Great vehicles referring to the Hinayana and Mahayana paths.

Upon the banks of the Golden River original: Jinhe, the Ajitavati River at Kushinagar where the Buddha entered Parinirvana, the Buddha delivered his final instructions, and the Way was distinguished by the categories of the Half and the Full teachings a metaphorical classification where "half-word" teachings are provisional or introductory, and "full-word" teachings represent the complete, ultimate truth.

Is it not so that the teaching is bestowed according to the opportune moment? There is no need to further scrutinize the nature of that grand assembly. Thus we know that the five thousand who left their seats a famous incident in the Lotus Sutra where 5,000 monks, nuns, and laypeople departed the assembly because they arrogantly believed they had already attained full enlightenment did so to make way for those of overbearing pride original: zengman (Abhimana); spiritual arrogance to eventually advance. Meanwhile, the five hundred...