Stories of the Lotus Sutra - Chapter 8: One Great Cloud and Many Kinds of Plants

[Bion]

I’m struck by how much of this chapter hinges on belief—not as faith, but as a kind of perceptual reorganization. The blind man doesn’t just gain sight; he comes to believe he can see everything. The Buddha tells the sravakas they’re actually bodhisattvas, whether they believed it or not.

Is the Buddha correcting their understanding, or is he creating a new understanding? If the dharma is one and all beings have Buddha-nature, then the sravakas were always on the bodhisattva path. But if that’s true, why did they ever need to believe otherwise? And if they didn’t need to, why does the sutra spend so much time showing us people—like Shariputra—being shocked and transformed by this revelation?

What I learned: The Lotus Sutra seems to be working with the idea that what you believe about yourself shapes what you can become, or at least how you practice. I certainly picked up on this theme from the previous chapter on the rich father and the poor son. Similarly, being told “you are a bodhisattva” might not change the ultimate truth, but it can change everything about how you walk the path.

I have missed you all the past few weeks and enjoyed catching up and reading your thoughts on this week’s reading assignment.

Gassho,
Shinsoku
ST/LAH

Welcome back!

gassho
sat lah

[Maro]

Hello friends - just an irrelevant, to our present chapter, observation.

In the context of personal study I am studying Okumura Roshi's "Living by vow" and at some point
(one could say "it was about time, well done" )
it struck me how many times Okumura Roshi is referring to Dogen Zenji and his deep connection (Dogen Zenji's) to the Lotus Sutra.

For instance : ...the Lotus Sutra, one of the most important sources of Dogen Zenji's teachings ...

I think that somehow this continuous reference to Dogen Zenji has made me lately to seriously pause every time I pick up our Lotus Sutra and reflect for a while on this:

An unsurpassed, penetrating, and perfect Dharma
Is rarely met with even in hundred million kalpas
Having it to see, to remember and accept,
I wish to taste the truth of the Tathagata's words

Gassho
Maro
sat/lah

[Bion]

Hey, everyone. Ahead of today's meeting, please check the Practice Calendar to confirm the correct time. I completely forgot daylight saving time in the US. I wouldn't want anyone to miss it cause of confusion!

gassho
sat lah

[Bion]

Even though we're starting a new chapter today, the discussion for this one—and the previous ones—remains open. If you're hesitating to share because you feel unsure or think everything has already been said, please set those thoughts aside. The goal isn’t to be original, but to express our thoughts in our own words, for others and for ourselves.

Your reflections don’t need to be long or highly detailed, and this activity shouldn’t take much time. If you’ve held back so far, I hope you’ll decide to contribute something. I know everyone would appreciate it.

gassho
Bi