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Mahayana Tripitaka - Northern Transmission 19 - The Lotus Sutra
Chapter 17 distinguishes merit – a kind of energy that brings happiness, wisdom, and deep presence. Merit (puṇya) arises when we receive and uphold the Lotus Sutra: just one moment of joyful faith, as brief as a single tick of the clock, already creates boundless merit, planting the seed that leads to all great realizations in the future.
Continuing from the previous chapter on the limitless lifespan of the Tathagata, simply by “hearing, understanding, and believing” in the unborn and undying nature of all phenomena, countless beings attain:
- The patience of the non-arising of dharmas – not born, not dying, steadfast before the great truth
- The ability to retain and uphold the dharani – the capacity to maintain, remember, and practice the Dharma
- The eloquence of unobstructed teaching – teaching the Dharma fluently, without hindrance
Next is the path of propagating the Lotus Dharma through three chapters:
- Chapter 18 The Merit of Rejoicing: rejoicing in the merit of others
- Chapter 19 The Merit of the Dharma Teacher: transformation of the six sense faculties, “Dharma eye” penetrating self-nature
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Chapter 20 The Bodhisattva Never Disparaging: the practice of deep respect, the three dimensions historical dimension – ultimate dimension – action dimension
At the end of the session, Thay also introduces the sangha’s rituals: karman, recitation of the precepts, and establishing boundaries in order to maintain harmony and the dignity of the practice.