Chapter 10_The Cluster of Blessings Brought by the Bodhisattvas of the Earth
Bodhisattvas of the Earth — Practice and Beneficial Functions
1. Fundamental Objective of the Lotus Sutra
The fundamental objective is:
Revitalize all people from the depths of their lives.
Transform the world into a realm of happiness and peace.
Who accomplishes this?
Bodhisattvas of the Earth.
Their mission is to:
Enable all people to attain Buddhahood.
Spread the Mystic Law in the Latter Day of the Law .
Give hope to suffering people.
Act with compassion and courage.
Believe firmly in the Buddha nature of every person.
Continue sincere dialogue to awaken people's Buddha nature.
The great vow for kosen-rufu is the heart of the heritage of Buddhism.
2. Three Powers of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth
Remember:
① Power of Wisdom
Ability to guide people toward the correct teaching.
Wisdom based on the belief that both oneself and others possess Buddha nature .
Applying Buddhist philosophy to real life.
② Power of Faith
“Substituting Faith for Wisdom”
This means:
When we deeply believe in the Buddhahood of ourselves and others and act with compassion, the necessary wisdom naturally emerges.
So:
Faith → Compassion → Dialogue → Wisdom
Rather than relying merely on intellectual ability or oratory skills.
③ Power of Practice
Persevere in sincere dialogue.
Never stop trying to awaken others' Buddha nature.
Work for kosen-rufu in the Latter Day of the Law.
Bring hope to people suffering.
3. Why Are Bodhisattvas of the Earth Entrusted with the Heritage?
Shakyamuni entrusted the ultimate heritage of the Law of life and death to Bodhisattva Superior Practices and the Bodhisattvas of the Earth because:
They were direct disciples of Shakyamuni from the remote past.
They already possessed the Mystic Law .
They understood the profound principle of Mutual Possession of the Ten Worlds .
They were specifically trained to propagate the Law in the Latter Day of the Law .
Nichiren Daishonin states that:
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the heritage transferred from Shakyamuni and Many Treasures Buddha to Bodhisattva Superior Practices.
Exam point
Believe + Practice in the same spirit as Bodhisattva Superior Practices.
4. Bodhisattvas of the Earth = Bodhisattva-Buddhas
The Bodhisattvas of the Earth are described as:
“Disciples of the Buddha in his true identity.”
This means they were instructed by Shakyamuni as the Buddha who attained enlightenment in the remote past.
They possess inner enlightenment —the life state of Buddhahood awakened to the Mystic Law.
Therefore, they can:
Stand up independently and propagate the Mystic Law even in the evil age after Shakyamuni's passing.
They are called Bodhisattva-Buddhas because they possess Buddhahood while carrying out Bodhisattva practice.
5. Master of Propagation in the Latter Day of the Law
The Bodhisattvas of the Earth do not provide salvation “from above.”
Instead, they awaken people to the fact that:
The power to overcome their karma already exists within their own lives.
This is salvation “from below.”
Their mission is to:
Awaken their own Buddhahood → Awaken others' Buddhahood → Transform karma → Advance kosen-rufu
6. Nichiren Daishonin = Bodhisattva Superior Practices
Nichiren Daishonin's behavior accords with Bodhisattva Superior Practices .
He:
Stood alone to propagate the Mystic Law.
Spread Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in the Latter Day of the Law.
Endured tremendous persecution.
Dedicated his life to enabling all people to attain Buddhahood.
The name Nichiren means:
“Sun Lotus”
This reflects the functions associated with the Sun and Lotus in the Lotus Sutra.
By practicing exactly as Nichiren Daishonin teaches, ordinary people can manifest the life state of a Bodhisattva-Buddha .
7. Five Elements = Beneficial Functions of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
The five elements illustrate the beneficial workings of the Mystic Law.
Fire Burns and gives light Water Washes away filth Wind Blows away dust and breathes life Earth Produces grass and trees; nurtures life Heaven Provides nourishing moisture
Therefore:
Five Elements → Beneficial workings → Compassion of the Universe → Functions of Myoho-Renge-Kyo
The compassionate functions of the universe are expressed through the actions of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth .
8. Four Bodhisattvas and Their Functions
The four leaders of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth are:
Superior Practices
Pure Practices
Boundless Practices
Firmly Established Practices
They correspond to the beneficial functions of the four elements and the four virtues.
Remember the core mapping:
Superior Practices FireBurns away earthly desires and illuminates ignorance Pure Practices WaterBrings forth the pure life state of Buddhahood Boundless Practices WindSweeps away delusions and establishes freedom Firmly Established Practices EarthNurtures life and eliminates illusions of birth and death
9. Four Virtues
The four Bodhisattvas also correspond to:
Eternity – Happiness – True Self – Purity
These express the enlightened life state of Buddhahood.
The four Bodhisattvas' practices transcend the four sufferings:
Birth – Aging – Sickness – Death
10. What Does “Practices” Mean?
The word “Practices” in the names of the four Bodhisattvas points to:
Efforts directed toward inner transformation.
It is not merely performing rituals.
It means transforming one's own life and helping transform the lives of others.
11. Transcending the Two Types of Death
The material describes two forms of transmigration:
Transmigration with Differences and Limitations
Experienced by beings in the Six Paths .
Transmigration with Change and Advance
Experienced by beings in the Two Vehicles and Bodhisattva realms .
The Bodhisattvas of the Earth transcend these forms by repeatedly experiencing life and death in the realm of Buddhahood .
Therefore:
Life and death become filled with joy through living in accord with the eternal Mystic Law.
12. Five Categories of Illusions and Entanglements
To overcome the five categories means:
Freeing oneself from abiding earthly desires that cause attachment to life in the Threefold World.
13. Going Beyond the Two Opposing Views
This means becoming free from:
Attachment to life
Fear of death
The mistaken view of annihilation
The mistaken view of permanence
In other words:
A life state free from attachment to life and fear of death.
14. “Perfect in Virtue as the Bodhi Tree”
This means:
Basing oneself on the complete and perfect life state of Buddha's enlightenment.
These functions express the transformative principles:
Earthly Desires Are Enlightenment
and
The Sufferings of Birth and Death Are Nirvana
⭐ KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER
Fundamental Objective
Revitalize people + Create a world of happiness and peace
Bodhisattvas of the Earth
People who dedicate their lives to kosen-rufu and awakening the Buddha nature of others.
Three Powers
Wisdom + Faith + Practice
Substituting Faith for Wisdom
Deep faith in the Buddhahood of oneself and others brings forth the wisdom necessary for compassionate dialogue.
Why Superior Practices?
Direct disciples from the remote past + Possess Mystic Law + Understand profound Buddhist principles + Trained for Latter Day propagation.
Nichiren Daishonin
His behavior and mission accord with Bodhisattva Superior Practices.
Five Elements
Fire → Light
Water → Purification
Wind → Clearing/Animating
Earth → Nurturing
Heaven → Nourishment
Four Bodhisattvas
Superior Practices → Fire
Pure Practices → Water
Boundless Practices → Wind
Firmly Established Practices → Earth
Four Virtues
Eternity – Happiness – True Self – Purity
Two Key Principles
Earthly Desires = Enlightenment
Birth and Death = Nirvana
One-line exam answer
The Bodhisattvas of the Earth are Bodhisattva-Buddhas who, possessing the Mystic Law within their lives, stand up in the Latter Day of the Law with compassion, wisdom, faith and practice to awaken the Buddhahood of themselves and others and advance kosen-rufu.