The principle point of Nikkyō Niwano’s discussion of Pūrṇa and his example in Chapter 8 is the Principle of Half a Step – leading others but keeping only a half step ahead. The first time through the book I added this quote explaining the idea.
Nikkyō Niwano goes on to explain on page 126:
This principle of half a step is very important in our preaching the Law. We can say the same thing about the content of the Law preached. Even Śākyamuni Buddha led living beings gradually, from a simple teaching to a more advanced one, because he knew that a sudden preaching of the supreme teaching would only perplex them all the more; how much less effective would it be if we, who do not have the great persuasive power of the Buddha, should try to preach the most profound teaching from the start.
The fun – for me – comes when Nikkyō Niwano offers examples of three levels of listeners and their appropriate teaching:
In some cases it can be a tactful means of leading someone to enter into the Buddha-way and of giving him peace of mind from the start if we preach that the teaching brings immediate benefits, such as most diseases being cured or one’s daily life improving. In the case of intellectuals, it is often effective to begin preaching the Buddha’s Law by giving examples of its being the teaching of humanism. And in the case of a Marxist, it may be best to lead him to Buddhism from the theory of the Three Thousand Realms in One Mind.
Last week, in discussing the basic principles of Buddhism outlined by Nikkyō Niwano in his review of Chapter 7, The Parable of a Magic City, the class focused on the three methods of teaching and the Law of the Twelve Causes. The topic of the 3,000 Realms in One Thought, which was extensively discussed by Nikkyō Niwano, wasn’t mentioned at all. Now I know why: No Marxists.
Just kidding. Nikkyō Niwano’s point is clear:
In any case, we must never look down on other people as being unenlightened while we are enlightened. Based on the fundamental truth that everyone equally possesses the buddha-nature, we must lead many people to the teachings of the Buddha with the compassionate attitude of wishing to disclose the buddha-nature of others as far as possible. In this respect, Pūrṇa is indeed a model for lay believers of the Lotus Sutra.