Overall Teaching

A bodhisattva inspires others to follow the path. This is also the true meaning of a good friend.

Summary

1. The Buddha relates the story of a king in a past era called Śubhavyūha (Bright Array),

whose two sons, Vimalagarbha (Stainless Matrix) and Vimalanetra (Stainless Eye) were well versed in the six perfections, ways to attain the Dharma, and various bodhisattva samādhis. (59b-c)

• 1. The Buddha in that era taught the Lotus Sūtra out of benefit for sentient beings, and his sons implored their mother Vimaladattā (Given/Protected Stainlessness) to listen to that Buddha. (59c)

     1. 1. Shesuggestedthatherhusbandshouldhearfirst,asheisattachedtothe teachings of the brahmans.

        2. The two sons declare that they are the sons of the Buddha.

        3. Their mother suggests that they show the king miracles, which will convince him to go before the Buddha.

  2. The two sons flew and performed other miracles, which consequently "purified their father's mind." He asked who their teacher was.

• • 1. i. The sons declare that the Buddha was their teacher.

    2. ii. The father was convinced, and wished to see him.

• 3. The sons then ask their mother to join them again, after having convinced their father.

i. She consents to their renunciation and is convinced to visit the Buddha. (60a)

• 1. Afterthis,womenintheking'shouseholdbecomecapableofpreservingtheLotus Sūtra and the consort of the king attains a samādhi.

     1. i. All of this inspired the king "to have faith and pleasure in the Buddha- Dharma."

  2. The king and the consort are taught and they honour the Buddha with their jewels which transform into a jeweled platform with a bed on it, on which the Buddha sat cross-legged.

  3. The Buddha of that era gives a prediction of the king's future Buddhahood.

  4. The King renounces his kingdom to his brother. (60b)

  5. After having attained a great samādhi, he praises his sons for encouraging his practice.

  6. The Buddha declares that good friends spur and give inspiration to others for the attainment of awakening.

  7. King Śubhavyūha praises the Buddha's qualities and vows never to act selfishly from then on.

2. The Buddha Śākyamuni then reveals that the figures of those past events are now bodhisattvas in this assembly: the Padmaśrī was the king, Vairocanaraśmipratimaṇḍitādhvajarāja was the queen, and the sons were Bhaiṣajyarāja and Bhaiṣajyasamudgata. (60c)

a. The Buddha declares that anyone who memorises those names will thereby pay homage to them.

3. After the chapter was taught, "eighty-four thousand people removed themselves from impurity, rid themselves of defilement, and attained pure Dharma-eyes with which to see the teachings." (61a)

Analysis

Just as the previous chapters in this section of the Lotus Sūtra are ways to encourage beings by examples or by providing them with ways to increase their faith and develop the conditions for hearing the Lotus Sūtra, such as dhāraṇīs, likewise, this chapter encourages beings by providing the example of King Śubhavyūha. It shows how, as with much of the sūtra, the path of the bodhisattva deals greatly with the inspiration and creation of conditions for others. It also emphasises that one who does this is the truly "good friend."