Entering the Seventh World
World of the Shravaka
The World of Learning
In his earlier “tactful” teachings, and again in
the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha points out that experiencing the world of learning,
the 7th world of the shravaka, is gaining
knowledge, discovering larger perspectives on how to live life, responding to
others with compassion, and plays a pivotal role in entering the Buddha-path
leading to enlightenment—the eighth, ninth, and tenth worlds.
Briefly, the ten worlds describe the lower worlds
of “hells and angry spirits,” anger, covetousness, ignorance, contention; the
fifth world of humanity; the sixth, the world of temporary enlightenment from which
too often we return to the lower worlds. The
key or “gateway” to reaching beyond these lower worlds is to enter the world of
learning.
From the Sutra of Innumerable Meanings – “Many
living beings discriminate falsely—it is this or it is that, either
advantageous or disadvantageous. They entertain confused and evil thoughts,
make various evil choices (causes), and thus transmigrate within the six realms
of existence, the six lower worlds, in lifetime after lifetime and cannot
escape from there during infinite countless kalpas, suffering all manner of
miseries.”
This may seem judgmental, but significantly the
Buddha continues, “Bodhisattva-mahasattvas, observing rightly like this, should
raise the mind of compassion, display the great mercy desiring to relieve
others of suffering, and once again penetrate deeply into all laws.” Pass no
judgments—show compassion.
Thus, in one fell swoop, the Buddha dismisses all
judgments and discriminations, and does so repeatedly in the Lotus Sutra,
always responding to his observations of human suffering with compassion:
“Beholding this my heart is stirred with great pity . . . I behold all living
beings sunk in the sea of suffering, hence I do not reveal myself (reveal my
teachings) but set them all aspiring, till their hearts are longing, I
appear to preach the law . . . Ever making this my thought, how can I cause all
the living to enter the Way supreme and speedily accomplish their
enlightenment?”
Entering the world of learning is to take us out
of the six lower worlds on a path leading to enlightenment—to reach the eighth
world and the mindfulness of self-attained enlightenment (pratyekabuddha); dwelling in the ninth, compassionate world (bodhisattva), seeking to gain enlightenment,
first for others, even though one’s own enlightenment will be delayed. The
tenth world is the world of the Buddha’s Perfect Enlightenment.
Study introduces thrilling surprises as one learns
to discover the beauty and probability that knowledge enhances our beliefs and
encourages and motivates us to expand our beliefs and perceptions, leading to
productive and compassionate relationships with others. It’s important, most of
all, not to shut one’s self off from the ever-existing possibility that there
is something new to learn and discover. The thrill of learning and discovering
must be nourished, never impeded; keeping one’s mind in the world of learning
is not a bad thing. Residing there one continues to gain new perspectives, and
the process seems never ending,
The Threefold
Lotus Sutra as our daily guide gives structure, substance, and continuity
to both our study and practice. A celebration of life, reliving the life and
teachings of the Buddha.
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