In continuing my yearlong discussion of faith and the Lotus Sutra, I think it is important to look at Chapter 12 as two halves rather than as the completion of the sutra’s lesson on universal salvation, which it clearly represents. I will consider Devadatta here and follow with a look at the dragon girl’s impact on faith.
In his Stories of the Lotus Sutra, Gene Reeves says:
The Stories of the Lotus Sutra, p151“Basic to the teachings of this Sutra is a kind of promise, an assurance, that each and every living being has the potential to become a buddha. This tells us something about ourselves, of course, but here the light is shining in the other direction, encouraging us to see the buddha in others—regardless of their moral or other qualities.
“In an important sense, this story [about Devadatta] is not so much about Devadatta as it is about Shakyamuni Buddha. It does not teach us that Devadatta was able to become a buddha because his inner intentions were really good, or because he changed his ways and became a good man, or because of anything else he did or did not do. What this story teaches is that the Buddha is one who can see the buddha in others. And that is what we are encouraged by this story to do – to look for and see the buddha in all those we encounter.”
Of course, we repeat in Chapter 20 and the lessons of Never-Despising Bodhisattva that our practice should see the Buddha in everyone, but here we are being asked to set aside our preconceived ideas about people.
In part this reflects a lesson in non-duality. As Introduction to the Lotus Sutra explains:
“Buddhism believes that good and evil are not two separate things; there is no absolute distinction between the two. An evil deed cannot be considered an absolute. The Devadatta Chapter is known as the teaching that explains the attainment of enlightenment by evil people, and its philosophical background comes from the ‘non-duality of good and evil,’ as understood in Buddhism.”
So, while everyone knew of Devadatta’s past wrongs, only the Buddha knew of his past good works. This is an important lesson on our faith and our practice of Lotus Sutra Buddhism. As Nikkyō Niwano explains in Buddhism for Today:
Buddhism for Today, p156“This is a most important declaration. When we receive scorn, abuse, and obstruction from others, we are apt to become angry with them, feel sad, and begin to doubt the Law. We must instead endure such hardships and divert them to a positive force because the teaching of the Lotus Sutra is the supreme Law in this world. Many ancient teachers and leaders, including both Sakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren, have proved by their example that man can thus transform drawbacks into advantages. … Sakyamuni Buddha not only did not feel resentment toward Devadatta, who inflicted so many injuries on him, but even thanked him for his ‘good friendship.’ ”
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