Gemini Thinking
In this traditional Japanese Buddhist-style illustration, Śākyamuni Buddha is shown expounding the teachings of the Lotus Sūtra from his lotus throne. He addresses Superior-Practice Bodhisattva (Jōgyo), who is shown kneeling and adorned with jewels, receiving the mission to propagate the teaching. The flowing wind visible throughout the assembly visually represents the "boundless and unhindered" eloquence promised to those who embrace this sūtra, symbolizing their ability to spread the Dharma throughout the world.
The flowing wind in the illustration contains two main types of characters, both of which are forms of script and language:
Sanskrit Siddham Script: The prominent, stylized black symbols (like 'ॐ' and 'ह्रीः') are Sanskrit characters from the Siddham script, which are often used in Japanese Buddhism to represent sacred syllables, mantras, and seed syllables.
Japanese Hiragana: Interspersed with the larger Sanskrit characters are smaller, lighter Japanese hiragana letters (e.g., あ, い, う, お, か, き, etc.), representing the local phonetic language.
These scripts represent the "names and words" of the Lotus Sūtra being disseminated far and wide by the unhindered "eloquence as boundless and as unhindered as the wind in the sky," exactly as the teaching describes.
Look closely at the lower right corner, where you will find the artist's traditional signature and red seal (hanko):
Signature: 双子座 (Gemini)
Seal: ジェミニ (Jemini)
Anyone who keeps this sūtra
Will be able to expound
The meanings of the teachings,
And the names and words [of this sūtra].
Their eloquence will be as boundless
And as unhindered as the wind in the sky.
Śākyamuni Buddha sings these verses to Superior-Practice Bodhisattva (Jōgyo, Viśiṣṭacārītra) in Chapter Twenty-One of the Lotus Sūtra. This teaching transforms us from beings who exist for our own comfort and awakens our true nature as Bodhisattvas: beings who exist for the benefit of all beings. This transition requires that we engage with these other beings and break out of the isolation of our own attachments. The first step is simply to listen, to be present and accept whatever the world has to offer. But at some point we need to speak. It can be difficult to know what to say. But with this Wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Sūtra, we find that because it embodies the Buddha’s highest wisdom, so long as we transmit what it has taught us, we will always have ways to use it to benefit other beings and bring this teaching to life in our world.
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