Difference between revisions of "Six difficult and nine easy acts"
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[六難九易] (Jpn rokunan-kui ) | [六難九易] (Jpn rokunan-kui ) | ||
| − | A series of comparisons set forth by Shakyamuni in the "Treasure Tower" (eleventh) chapter of the Lotus Sutra to show how difficult it will be to embrace and propagate the sutra in the evil age after his death. | + | A series of comparisons set forth by [[Shakyamuni]] in the "[[Treasure]] Tower" (eleventh) chapter of the [[Lotus Sutra]] to show how difficult it will be to embrace and propagate the [[sutra]] in the [[evil]] age after his [[death]]. |
The six difficult acts are | The six difficult acts are | ||
| − | (1) to propagate the Lotus Sutra widely, | + | ([[1]]) to propagate the [[Lotus Sutra]] widely, |
| − | (2) to copy it or cause someone else to copy it, | + | (2) to copy it or [[cause]] someone else to copy it, |
(3) to recite it even for a short while, | (3) to recite it even for a short while, | ||
| − | (4) to teach it even to one person, | + | (4) to teach it even to one [[person]], |
(5) to hear of and accept it and inquire about its meaning, and | (5) to hear of and accept it and inquire about its meaning, and | ||
| − | (6) to maintain faith in it. | + | (6) to maintain [[faith]] in it. |
The nine easy acts are | The nine easy acts are | ||
| − | (1) to teach innumerable sutras other than the Lotus Sutra; | + | ([[1]]) to teach [[innumerable]] [[sutras]] other than the [[Lotus Sutra]]; |
| − | (2) to take up Mount Sumeru and hurl it across countless Buddha lands; | + | (2) to take up [[Mount Sumeru]] and hurl it across countless [[Buddha lands]]; |
| − | (3) to kick a major world system into a different quarter with one's toe; | + | (3) to kick a major [[world]] system into a different quarter with one's toe; |
| − | (4) to stand in the Summit of Being Heaven and preach innumerable sutras other than the Lotus Sutra; | + | (4) to stand in the Summit of [[Being]] [[Heaven]] and preach [[innumerable]] [[sutras]] other than the [[Lotus Sutra]]; |
| − | (5) to grasp the sky with one's hand and travel around with it; | + | (5) to [[grasp]] the [[sky]] with one's hand and travel around with it; |
| − | (6) to place the earth on one's toenail and ascend to the Brahma Heaven; | + | (6) to place the [[earth]] on one's toenail and ascend to the [[Brahma]] [[Heaven]]; |
| − | (7) to carry dry grass on one's back into the great fires occurring at the end of the kalpa without being burned; | + | (7) to carry dry grass on one's back into the great fires occurring at the end of the [[kalpa]] without [[being]] burned; |
| − | (8) to preach eighty-four thousand teachings and enable one's listeners to obtain the six transcendental powers; and | + | (8) to preach eighty-four thousand teachings and enable one's listeners to obtain the six [[transcendental]] [[powers]]; and |
| − | (9) to enable innumerable people to reach the stage of arhat and acquire the six transcendental powers. | + | (9) to enable [[innumerable]] [[people]] to reach the stage of [[arhat]] and acquire the six [[transcendental]] [[powers]]. |
| − | By citing these impossible feats as "easy," Shakyamuni emphasizes the extreme difficulty of embracing the sutra and teaching it to others in the evil age that he predicts will come after his death. | + | By citing these impossible feats as "easy," [[Shakyamuni]] emphasizes the extreme difficulty of embracing the [[sutra]] and [[teaching]] it to others in the [[evil]] age that he predicts will come after his [[death]]. |
</poem> | </poem> | ||
{{R}} | {{R}} | ||
Revision as of 01:10, 4 September 2013
six difficult and nine easy acts
[六難九易] (Jpn rokunan-kui )
A series of comparisons set forth by Shakyamuni in the "Treasure Tower" (eleventh) chapter of the Lotus Sutra to show how difficult it will be to embrace and propagate the sutra in the evil age after his death.
The six difficult acts are
(1) to propagate the Lotus Sutra widely,
(2) to copy it or cause someone else to copy it,
(3) to recite it even for a short while,
(4) to teach it even to one person,
(5) to hear of and accept it and inquire about its meaning, and
(6) to maintain faith in it.
The nine easy acts are
(1) to teach innumerable sutras other than the Lotus Sutra;
(2) to take up Mount Sumeru and hurl it across countless Buddha lands;
(3) to kick a major world system into a different quarter with one's toe;
(4) to stand in the Summit of Being Heaven and preach innumerable sutras other than the Lotus Sutra;
(5) to grasp the sky with one's hand and travel around with it;
(6) to place the earth on one's toenail and ascend to the Brahma Heaven;
(7) to carry dry grass on one's back into the great fires occurring at the end of the kalpa without being burned;
(8) to preach eighty-four thousand teachings and enable one's listeners to obtain the six transcendental powers; and
(9) to enable innumerable people to reach the stage of arhat and acquire the six transcendental powers.
By citing these impossible feats as "easy," Shakyamuni emphasizes the extreme difficulty of embracing the sutra and teaching it to others in the evil age that he predicts will come after his death.
