The Buddha’s suggestion in Chapter 23 that anyone who seeks enlightenment should burn a finger or a toe is an example of what Gene Reeves decries in The Stories of the Lotus Sutra as “literalism”:
The Stories of the Lotus Sutra, p246-247“It can lead to extreme acts that benefit no one. Devotion is good; devotion to the Buddha is good; devotion to the Dharma Flower Sutra is good. But acts of devotion have to be examined with additional criteria to determine whether they are in accord with the Dharma as a whole, whether they promote or retard one’s progress along the way, and whether they are likely to lead to a reduction in suffering. There could be very exceptional circumstances, perhaps once in ten million eons, when such a sacrifice is called for. …
“Religious devotion not tempered by intelligence and wisdom can be dangerous, both to others and to oneself. Sound practice, skillful practice of the Buddha Way, requires that we develop to the fullest all of our capacities for doing good.”
Chapter 23 is not the only place in the Lotus Sutra where literalism can be problematic. Take for example World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva’s promised interventions:
“If anyone, guilty or not, calls the name of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva when he is bound up in manacles, fetters, pillories or chains, those things in which he is bound up will break asunder, and he will be saved.”
Should we encourage the criminal who believes the Lotus Sutra is a “Get Out of Jail Free” card?
And then there are places where what’s literally promised might not be wanted. For example:
“Anyone who rejoices at hearing this chapter of the Previous Life of Medicine-King Bodhisattva and praises this chapter, saying, ‘Excellent,’ will be able to emit the fragrance of the blue lotus flower from his mouth and the fragrance of the candana of Mt. Ox-Head from his pores, and obtain these merits in his present life.”
I confess that I tend toward the literalist view. I want the promises of the Lotus Sutra to be true and therefore I want to do everything I can to have that come true, even burning a finger. I haven’t lit my finger on fire but I have developed a little ritual that pays homage the idea.
When I light incense at the start of my service I offer the light of the flaming incense stick to my statue of Kannon Bodhisattva, Jizo Bodhisattva, to the Seven Happy Gods, to the Buddhas in manifestation, to my Gohonzon and to Kishimon and the 10 rākṣasas daughters. I then extinguish the flame by pinching the incense between my thumb and forefinger.
Later in my service, when I burn a half-stick of incense for my final Daimoku, I say, “Offer the light thus produced” as I offer the light to my altar and conclude “by burning a finger” as I extinguish the flame between thumb and forefinger.
I have developed small patches of brown calluses on my thumb and forefinger. I cherish them as marks of my faith.
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