Buddhahood in Three Dimensions

by

Thich Nhat Hahn

In these teachings on chapters one and twenty of the Lotus Sutra, Thich Nhat Hanh discusses the three dimensions in which all beings and things reside – the ultimate dimension, the historical dimension, and the dimension of action, represented here by the Bodhisattva Never Despise.

discovering thich nhat hahn’s “buddhahood in three dimensions” on my birthday this year was transcendent, like the Buddha’s ray between his eyebrows in Chapter 1 of the Lotus Sutra “illuminating the eighteen thousand lands in the eastern quarter, coloring them all with gold.” There also was a New Moon at 6°27’ Taurus on my birthday this year.  In 1926, on my birthday, “Birth Moment of Cause” the Sun is found at 6°07’ Taurus.

  A new moon? New beginnings? or new insights in practicing the Lotus Sutra? Certainly a “return to source” was in the wind, and was I not “returning to the source” – the Lotus Sutra – every day? Little did I realize that I was about to gain a stunning, illuminating perspective on the sutra, which in one way or another has been an integral part of my life for close to forty-one years.

“Buddhahood in Three Dimensions” begins (italic emphasis added):

  Chapter 1 of the Lotus Sutra takes us to Vulture Peak, near the city of Rajagriha in the kingdom of Magadha (present-day northeast India), where the Buddha has gathered with a large assembly of disciples, including Kashyapa, Shariputra, Maudgalyayana and Ananda, as well thousands of bhikshus and bhikshunis, including the Buddha’s aunt, Mahaprajapati and his former wife, Yashodhara [and his son, Rahula]. In addition, there are tens of thousands of great bodhisattvas in attendance, among them Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara [Regarder of the Cries of the World], Bhaisajyaraja (Medicine King) and Maitreya. Also present are many thousands of gods, including Indra and the kings of the nagas, kinnaras, ghandharvas, asuras and garudas. The ruler of Magadha, King Ajatashatru, and his royal family and retinue are also in attendance. This vast multitude of many different kinds of beings is present in the assembly when the Buddha is about to deliver the Lotus Sutra.

  This not only sets the stage for the delivery of the sutra in the historical dimension, but also reveals the ultimate dimension. The vast numbers of shravakas [persons of learning] and bodhisattvas, the presence of gods and mythical beings, give us our first taste of the ultimate dimension and show us that the opportunity to hear the Lotus Sutra delivered by the Buddha is something very special, a great occurrence not to be missed.

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. . . to be continued . . .