The Lotus Sutra and The Future of Buddhism
Safwan Darshams
In Sutras preceding the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha made a prophecy about Maitreya becoming a Buddha in the future. In the Lotus Sutra, however, the concept of “one Buddha” was replaced by “many Buddhas”.
Buddhas of the Future:
The expression “Buddhas of the future” appears over 20 times in the Lotus Sutra. Although Maitreya, who was present in the assembly of the Buddha’s disciples at the preaching of the Lotus Sutra, had a previous prophecy of becoming a Buddha in the future, he found that the Buddha was now making prophecies for other Bodhisattvas to become Buddhas of the future as well. This was the first shift from the focus on Maitreya as a future Buddha made in the Lotus Sutra.
In the Bestowal of Prophesies (chapter 6 of the Sutra), the Buddha made the prophecy for Buddhahood of Kashyapa, Subhuti, Katyayana and Maudgalyayana after also predicting Shariputra becoming a Buddha in the future in earlier chapter.
Maitreya’s question:
At the start of the events described in ch.15 (Emerging From The Earth), the Buddha’s disciples witnessed an outstanding happening. The assembly witnessed that a great number of Bodhisattvas, unknown to them, coming forth from the ground. This emergence of people from the earth caused Maitreya and others to experience great astonishment, especially that the emerging Bodhisattvas looked remarkably advanced and ordered. Perplexed by what he saw, Maitreya asked the Buddha inquiring: who are those Bodhisattvas, never seen before? :
“There is a bodhisattva mahasattva named Maitreya
who has received a prophecy from Shakyamuni Buddha that he will be
the next hereafter to become a buddha.
He has already inquired about this matter and the Buddha is now about to answer him.
Immeasurable thousands, ten thousands, millions,
a great host of bodhisattvas
such as was never seen in the past—
I beg the most honored of two-legged beings to explain
where they have come from,
what causes and conditions bring them together!
The Buddha answered Maitreya that the newly emerging “Bodhisattvas of the Earth” are his disciples
from the “distant past” and that they will be the “Buddhas of the Future”:
all in time will be able to become buddhas.
What I speak now are true words —
with a single mind you must believe them!
Ever since the long distant past
I have been teaching and converting this multitude.
In this declaration, Shakyamuni used the words “the long distant past”. This statement constitutes the start of the Buddha’s further declaration of his true identity as the Eternal Buddha. This declaration took place in the following chapter 16 (Life Span of the Buddha’s Life) - in which Shakyamuni’s identity is revealed as the Eternal Buddha, who had taught the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, in previous lifetimes.
The Lotus Sutra teaches that the Buddha did not first attain enlightenment in his current appearance in India.
In PreLotus sutras, Shakyamuni’s identity was that who attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. But now, his disciples (such as Shariputra, Maitreya and others, of the theoretical teachings) were surprised - and also elated to know - that Shakyamuni is an eternal Buddha, and hence no “future Buddha” can replace him or replace his teachings.
Shakyamuni Buddha abolishing preLotus views about the future of Buddhism
A detailed explanation on how the prophecy for Maitreya as the future Buddha
was replaced by the Buddha’s entrusting Bodhisattvas of the Earth
with the future of Buddhism -
is found in the book “The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, vol. 3 p 203 – 210”.
Prophecies of Buddhahood
The prophecy of Maitreya was given by Shakyamuni in PreLotus teaching,
but when Shakyamuni reveals his eternal identity in the Lotus Sutra,
a corresponding new teaching about the future of Buddhism was revealed.
On this subject, Nichiren Daishonin states (in the “Opening of the Eyes ):
“When we come to the essential teachings of the Lotus sutra,
then the belief that Shakyamuni first obtained Buddhahood
during his present lifetime is demolished,
and the effect of the four teachings are likewise demolished”.
P. Ikeda explains that:
“With the appearance of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth,
the very foundation of what Maitreya believed up to that time - was demolished.” WLS 3 p208
The concept of Many Buddhas
The concept of “Many Buddhas” - is unique to the Lotus Sutra. Instead of one single Buddha at the top of hierarchy, the Sutra predicts the emergence of ordinary people who are emissaries of the Buddha of the Lotus Sutra, Bodhisattvas of the earth, who propagate Buddhism through their life in society, and in doing so, they become Buddhas in their circumstances, helping others do the same.
The Eternal Buddha is the field of universal Buddhahood. Buddhahood is the power of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, and the Bodhisattvas of the Earth are those who chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, as Nichiren states:
”…….be they men or women.
Were they not Bodhisattvas of the Earth, they could not chant the daimoku”.
The True Aspect of All Phenomena
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