The Bodhisattvas of the Earth
The Bodhisattvas of the Earth
Who Are the Bodhisattvas of the Earth?
In the “Emerging from the Earth,” Chapter 15 of the Lotus Sutra , Shakyamuni summons countless Bodhisattvas and entrusts them with the propagation of his teaching in the evil age after his passing.
Because the Lotus Sutra describes them as emerging in vast numbers from beneath the earth , they are known as the Bodhisattvas of the Earth .
They are described as having been dwelling in the realm of fundamental truth and as possessing the enlightened life state of the Buddha.
The Bodhisattvas of the Earth are countless in number. Each leads an entourage of followers as numerous as the sands of sixty thousand Ganges Rivers , the greatest and most venerated river in India.
Their Mission
These Bodhisattvas had been taught and instructed by Shakyamuni since the remote past and had already come to uphold the fundamental teaching for attaining Buddhahood.
They possess within themselves the same enlightened life state as Shakyamuni Buddha and are entrusted with the mission of widely spreading the Mystic Law in the evil age known as the Latter Day of the Law .
The Four Leaders
The Bodhisattvas of the Earth are led by four great Bodhisattvas:
Superior Practices
Boundless Practices
Pure Practices
Firmly Established Practices
In the “Supernatural Powers,” Chapter 21 of the Lotus Sutra , Superior Practices and the other Bodhisattvas vow to spread the great law after Shakyamuni's passing.
In response to their vow, Shakyamuni entrusts them with the responsibility of propagating his teaching in the age after his passing and transmitting the great law into the future.
What Is the Great Law They Will Spread?
Two important questions arise:
When will the Bodhisattvas of the Earth appear?
What great law will they spread?
Nichiren Daishonin makes clear that:
The Bodhisattvas of the Earth appear in the Latter Day of the Law .
The great law they spread is the Mystic Law, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo .
Nichiren Daishonin as a Bodhisattva of the Earth
Nichiren Daishonin himself fulfilled the instruction contained in Shakyamuni's entrustment described in the Lotus Sutra.
He appeared at the beginning of the Latter Day of the Law , taught Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to all people and propagated it with selfless dedication.
In this sense, the Daishonin himself is a Bodhisattva of the Earth , whose role corresponds in particular to that of Superior Practices , their leader.
We Are Also Bodhisattvas of the Earth
In “The True Aspect of All Phenomena,” Nichiren Daishonin writes:
“Now, no matter what, strive in faith and be known as a votary of the Lotus Sutra, and remain my disciple for the rest of your life. If you are of the same mind as Nichiren, you must be a Bodhisattva of the Earth. And if you are a Bodhisattva of the Earth, there is not the slightest doubt that you have been a disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha from the remote past.”
— WND-1, 385
This passage explains that those who believe in the Daishonin's teachings, propagate them and work for kosen-rufu are Bodhisattvas of the Earth.
Therefore, by striving in faith and working for kosen-rufu , we are carrying out the mission of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth.
Key Points to Remember
Chapter 15 of the Lotus Sutra = “Emerging from the Earth.”
The Bodhisattvas emerging from beneath the earth are called the Bodhisattvas of the Earth .
They were taught and instructed by Shakyamuni since the remote past .
Their mission is to spread the Mystic Law in the Latter Day of the Law .
The four leaders are:
Superior Practices
Boundless Practices
Pure Practices
Firmly Established Practices
Chapter 21 = “Supernatural Powers.”
Superior Practices and the other Bodhisattvas vow to spread the great law after Shakyamuni's passing.
The great law to be propagated in the Latter Day of the Law is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo .
Nichiren Daishonin fulfilled this mission by appearing in the Latter Day of the Law and propagating Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
The Daishonin's role corresponds particularly to Superior Practices , the leader of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth.
Those who are of the same mind as Nichiren , strive in faith, propagate the teachings and work for kosen-rufu are Bodhisattvas of the Earth.
WND-1, 385 is an important passage to remember for the concept of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth .