Chapter 9
The ASSURANCE of FUTURE BUDDHAHOOD of the SRAVAKAS

 

SUMMARIES

This chapter is a continuation of the Chapter Eight. Here the Buddha assures Ananda, Rahula and the other "hearers" or Sravakas, both those who had something more to learn and those who had nothing more to learn.

EXPLANATIONS

Ananda is a cousin of Buddha Sakyamuni while Rauhula is the son of Buddha Sakyamuni.

King Suddhodana (elder)---------- Siddhartha -------- Rahula

King Kokubon (younger)---------- Devadatta ----- Ananda

"Ananda will become a Buddha called Mountain-Sea-Wisdom-Supernatural-Power-King Tathagata." (P.164, 4th from the bottom-line.):

"Rahula will become a Buddha called Walking-On-Flower-Of-Seven-Treasure Tathagata." (P.167, L.11)

"The two thousand Sravakas will be equally called Treasure-Form Tathagata." (P.168, 5th line from the bottom)

The Ten Great Disciples of the Buddha:

1. Sâriputra, the most brilliant. Flower-Light Tathagata in Chapter 3.

2. Mahâ-Kâsyapa, the foremost in asceticism = Light Tathagata in Chapter 6,

3. Subhuti, the one who most understood emptiness = Beautiful-Form Tathagata in Chapter 6,

4. Maka-Katyayna, the most skilled debater = Jambunada-Gold-Light Tathagata in Chapter 6,

5. Maka-Maudgalyayana, who possessed supernatural powers = Tamalapattracandana-Fragrance Tathagata in Chapter 6,

6. Puruna, the best preacher = Dharma-Brightness Tathagata in Ch. 8,

7. Kaundinya Bhiksu, the Divine Eye = Universal-Brightness Tathagata in Chapter 8,

8. Ananda, who possessed excellent memory = Mountain-Sea-Wisdom-Supernatural-Power-King Tathagata in Chapter 9

9. Rahula = walking-On-Flower-Of-Seven-Treasures Tathagata in Chapter 9.

10. Upali, the foremost in upholding the Precepts = His name was not listed in Chapter 1 of the Lotus Sutra. He might be absent.

Thus, from Chapters two through nine, the Lotus Sutra has presented the renowned disciples of Sakyamuni one after another and tells us that they are assured of their future Buddhahood.

~ Namu Myohorengekyo ~