As for the merit, on what means does he rely to teach the Dharma? He utilizes three methods:

1. [He] utilizes the accomplishments of meditative trance. There are two types of accomplishments: The first is the power of self-mastery, since [in meditative trance] the body and mind remain imperturbable. The second is the elimination of all the obstructions, something that occurs along with the power of self-mastery. The power of self-mastery also has two types:The first type is for [the Tathāgata] to conform [the teaching] to living beings to illustrate the antidotes [and enable them to] attain the elements conducive to enlightenment. The second type functions as an antidote to the tenacious defilements that exist from beginningless time. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:

   The Buddha, having expounded this sutra, sat in the posture of meditation and entered the meditative trance called “the abode of the exposition of infinity” where he remained imperturbable in body and mind…

2. He utilizes the physical worlds.
3. He utilizes the human worlds.

That is why [the Tathāgata] caused the earth to quake and knew what had happened over the past countless world-ages (kalpas). Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra:

Then mandārava [and great mandārava, manjūsaka and great manjūsaka flowers fell like rain from the sky, scattering over the Buddha and the great assembly. And the entire buddha world quaked in six ways. Thereupon the entire assembly of monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen in that gathering, the devas, nāgas, yakyas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimnaras, mahorāgas, humans and nonhumans, kings and noble emperors, attained an unprecedented experience]. Joyfully, and with the palms of their hands pressed together in reverence, they gazed attentively at the Buddha.

That merit is accomplished when the Tathāgata wants to teach the Dharma means the Tathāgata explains the Sutra of the Great Vehicle to the bodhisattvas. It should be known that this [Lotus] Sutra of the Great Vehicle has seventeen titles that reveal its profound merit. What are these seventeen and what do they show?

1. [The Lotus Sutra] is called “The Infinite Meanings Sutra” because it completes the meaning of words, and because this religious discourse explains the subtle realm of their profound truth (Dharma). “The subtle realm of their profound truth” means the ultimate realm of all the buddhas, the tathāgatas.
2. It is called “The Most Excellent Sutra.” This shows that among the three divisions of the Buddhist scriptures, the most excellent division is well completed in this religious discourse.
3. It is called “The Greatly Expanded Sutra” since it well completes the foundation of all the vast discourses of the Great Vehicle in accordance with the faculties of living beings.
4. It is called “The Instruction for the Bodhisattvas,” since it well completes the instruction for those bodhisattvas with mature faculties in accordance with their capacities.
5. It is called “[The Sutra] that is Protected by the Buddhas,” since the buddhas, the tathāgatas, abide in this Dharma.
6. It is called “The Mysterious Dharma of All the Buddhas,” since the profundity of this Dharma is known only by the buddhas.
7. It is called “The Storehouse of All the Buddhas,” since the storehouse of all the meritorious meditative states of the tathāgatas is in this sutra.
8. It is called “The Mysterious Subject of All the Buddhas,” since it is not conferred on those who do not have the capacity [to understand it], such as living beings with immature faculties.
9. It is called “The Sutra that Produces All the Buddhas,” since the great enlightenment of all the buddhas can be produced by hearing this religious discourse.
10. It is called “The Seat of Enlightenment of All the Buddhas,” since the highest, complete enlightenment of all the buddhas can be produced through this religious discourse, and not through any of the other sutras.
11. It is called “The Wheel of the Dharma Set in Motion by All the Buddhas,” because all the obstructions can be destroyed through this religious discourse.
12. It is called “The Adamantine Relic of All the Buddhas,” since the true absolute body (dharmakāya) of all the tathāgatas [that is found] in this sutra does not decay.
13. It is called “The Sutra that is the Great Skillful Expedient Means of All the Buddhas,” since they rely on this religious discourse to develop great enlightenment and use it to explain all the good attributes of the heavenly beings (devas), disciples, and self-enlightened buddhas to living beings.
14. It is called “The Sutra that Teaches the One Vehicle,” since this religious discourse reveals the ultimate essence of the highest, complete enlightenment of the tathāgatas, whereas the way of the other two vehicles does not.
15. It is called “The Sutra that is the Abode of the Highest Meaning,” because this religious discourse is the ultimate abode of the dharmakāya of all the buddhas, the tathāgatas.
16. It is called “The Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra.” This title has two meanings. What are these two?
    The first meaning is [that of a lotus] emerging from water. This indicates that which cannot be destroyed emerges from the turbid water of the Small Vehicle. There is another significance, [that of the disciples who are] just like a lotus emerging from turbid water. When all the disciples obtain entry to the Tathāgata’s great assembly, they too, like all the bodhisattvas, are seated on lotuses. And while listening to the explanation about the pure realm of the Tathāgata’s unsurpassed knowledge, they directly apprehend this profound subject matter.

    The second meaning is [that of] a blossoming lotus. Because of the trepidation living beings have regarding the Great Vehicle, they are unable to produce faith in it. Therefore a blossoming lotus represents the pure dharmakāya of all the tathāgatas, which causes living beings to engender faith.

17. It is called “The Supreme Religious Discourse,” because of its accomplishment of verses. “The accomplishment of verses” means it includes countless words, phrases, syllables, and ten millions and hundreds of tens of millions of verses.

These seventeen statements about the religious discourse are general, while all others are particular. Just as it says in the Lotus Sutra, “[Buddha Candrasūryaprabhā] taught the sutra of the Great Vehicle called “[The Sutra] of Infinite Meanings” to the bodhisattvas. . .”