Chapter 16, the Duration of the Life of the Tathāgata, is without a doubt the most important in the Lotus Sutra. Therefore, it is no surprise that we learn in Chapter 17 that “Anyone who hears that my life is so long, and understands it by faith even at a moment’s thought, will be able to obtain innumerable merits.’ ”
It is Chapter 17 which establishes how to be true practitioners. As explained in Two Buddhas Seated Side by Side:
Two Buddhas, p194-195“Zhiyi enumerated ‘four stages of faith’ and ‘five stages of practice’ of the Lotus Sūtra. The four stages of faith are (1) to arouse even a single thought of willing acceptance (also translated as “a single moment’s faith and understanding”); (2) to understand the intent of the sūtra’s words; (3) to place deep faith in the sūtra and expound it widely for others; and (4) to perfect one’s own faith and insight. The “five stages of practice” are (1) to rejoice on hearing the Lotus Sūtra; (2) to read and recite it; (3) to explain it to others; (4) to practice it while cultivating the six perfections; and (5) to master the six perfections. …
“Within these two models of the path, Nichiren focused on the first stage of faith, arousing a single moment’s faith and understanding, and the first stage of practice, rejoicing on hearing the Lotus Sūtra.
The merit of generating this faith is immeasurable, as Nikkyō Niwano explains in Buddhism for Today:
Buddhism for Today, p263-264“In brief, the Buddha teaches us that if we establish the basic idea of faith, we can infinitely generate the power both to deepen our own faith and to extend it to others. He also teaches us that we can expect to surely gain the supreme merit of attaining Perfect Enlightenment in the future if we thoroughly devote ourselves to deepening our own faith. …
“A person earns or loses money; he falls in love or is disappointed in love; he rises to a higher position in time or he loses his job because of a trifling mistake; he brings up his child successfully or loses it. If we pass through life in this way with no purpose, merely repeating vain feelings of joy and sorrow, even though each moment seems to be substantial and important, we will have an inexpressible sense of emptiness upon looking back over our life. But if our life has the strong backbone of a righteous faith running through it, and if we have a firm belief that we can advance to Perfect Enlightenment step by step even though life has its apparent ups and downs, its various joys and sorrows, we will be able to pass easily through whatever hardships may come, however long life’s journey may be and however many rebirths it may entail.”
As the Buddha promises:
“It cannot be that the good man who obtained merits by understanding my longevity by faith even at a moment’s thought falters in walking the Way to Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi.”
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