A World Filled with Poor Sons

[Another] important thing to learn from chapter 4 is that those who are fortunate enough to have encountered the Lotus Sutra and have been able to understand it and believe in it can fly straight to the Buddha’s arms. However, today’s world, in the evil ages of the five decays, is filled with “poor sons.” We cannot be said to have actually practiced the spirit of the Lotus Sutra unless we save as many of these poor sons as possible. The only thing we can do to save them and lead them is to understand the spirit of the Buddha’s tactful means as illustrated in this chapter. At the same time, we must follow the Buddha’s example in using tactful means; we must not forget that to follow another’s good example is a shortcut to reaching the goal.

Buddhism for Today, p71