The Lotus Sutra

  This is a translation of "Part A" of Gongyo

  The Lotus Sutra; Translated by Burton Watson;
  Published by Columbia University Press, New York

  EXCERPT FROM: CHAPTER 2, EXPEDIENT MEANS
  
  At that time the World-Honored One calmly arose from his sa-
  madhi and addressed Shariputra, saying: "The wisdom of the Buddhas
  is infinitely profound and immeasurable. The door to this wisdom is
  difficult to understand and difficult to enter. Not one of the voice-
  hearers or pratyekabuddhas is able to comprehend it.
  
  "What is the reason for this? A Buddha has personally attended a
  hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, a million, a countless number of
  Buddhas and has fully carried out an immeasurable number of reli-
  gious practices. He has exerted himself bravely and vigorously, and
  his name is universally known. He has realized the Law that is pro-
  found and never known before, and preaches it in accordance with
  what is appropriate, yet his intention is difficult to understand.
  
  "Shariputra, ever since I attained Buddhahood I have through var-
  ious causes and various similes widely expounded my teachings and
  have used countless expedient means to guide living beings and cause
  them to renounce their attachments. Why is this? Because the Thus
  Come One is fully possessed of both expedient means and the paramita
  of wisdom.
  
  "Shariputra, the wisdom of the Thus Come One is expansive and
  profound. He has immeasurable [mercy], unlimited [eloquencel, power,
  fearlessness, concentration, emancipation, and samadhis, and has deeply
  entered the boundless and awakened to the Law never before attained.
  
  "Shariputra, the Thus Come One knows how to make various kinds
  of distinctions and to expound the teachings skillfully. His words are
  soft and gentle and can delight the hearts of the assembly.
  
  "Shariputra, to sum it up: the Buddha has fully realized the Law
  that is limitless, boundless, never attained before.
  
  "But stop, Shariputra, I will say no more. Why? Because what the
  Buddha has achieved is the rarest and most difficult-to-understand
  Law. The true entity of all phenomena can only be understood and
  shared between Buddhas. This reality consists of the appearance, na-
  ture, entity, power, influence, inherent cause, relation, latent effect,
  manifest effect, and their consistency from beginning to end."

TRANSLATION OF JURYO-HON, PART B AND C OF GONGYO

GOHONZON AND GONGYO INDEX