Question: What are the Ten Suchlikes?

Answer: The chapter “Expedient Means” in the Lotus Sutra lists “suchlike appearance, suchlike nature, suchlike essence, suchlike power, suchlike activity, suchlike causes, suchlike conditions, suchlike results, suchlike retribution, and suchlike beginning and end being ultimately the same.”

Q: Why are these called “suchlike appearance” and so forth to “suchlike beginning and end being ultimately the same”?

A: There is a general interpretation of their common features and a detailed interpretation of their distinct features. The general interpretation is that “appearance” refers to distinctions that are made in perceiving outer forms; therefore it is called “appearance. ” “Nature” refers to that which is inside oneself and does not change; therefore it is called “nature.” That which is the central quality [of something] is the “essence.” “Power” is the ability to influence. “Activity” refers to the activity of construction. “Causes” refers to direct causes. “Conditions” refers to auxiliary causes. “Results” refers to direct results. “Retribution” refers to the indirect results of retribution. “Beginning” refers to the first suchlike of appearance, “end” refers to the last suchlike of retribution, and “ultimately the same” refers to their integration.

Q: Do these Ten Suchlikes have numerous meanings?
A: They have shared and distinct meanings.

Q: What are they?

A: The shared meaning is that they all exist in one thought; the distinct meaning is that they are divided according to material and mental categories.

Q: What thoughts are meant by saying that “they all exist in one thought”?

A: This refers to a single thought of an ordinary person.

Q: What about dividing them according to material and mental categories?

A: Appearance and retribution exist only in the material category. Nature, causes, and results exist only in the mental category Essence, power, activity, and conditions span both the material and mental categories. “Beginning and end both the same” should be known in accordance with this.

Q: What is the essence of these Ten Suchlikes?

A: The causes and effects of the ten Dharma realms are its essence.

Q: What are the “ten Dharma realms”?

A: (1) The Dharma realm of hell, (2) that of beasts, (3) that of hungry spirits, (4) that ofasuras, (5) that of human beings, (6) that of gods, (7) that of Śrāvakas, (8) that of Pratyekabuddhas, (9) that of Bodhisattvas, and (10) the Dharma realm of the Buddha.

Q: Do these ten Dharma realms include the Ten Suchlikes?

A: Each and every realm contains the Ten Suchlikes.