Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Parable of the Phantom City


Excerpt from the 7th chapter of the Lotus Sutra, Phantom City.

Let us suppose there is a stretch of bad road five hundred yojanas long, steep and difficult, wild and deserted, with no inhabitants around, a truly fearful place. And suppose there are a number of people who want to pass over this road so they can reach a place where there are rare treasures. They have a leader, of comprehensive wisdom and keen understanding, who is thoroughly acquainted with this steep road, knows the layout of its passes and defiles, and is prepared to guide the group of people and go with them over this difficult terrain.

The group he is leading, after going part way on the road, become disheartened and say to the leader, "We are utterly exhausted and fearful as well. We cannot go any farther. Since there is still such a long distance ahead, we would like now to turn around and go back.

The leader, a man of many expedients, thinks to himself, What a pity that they should abandon the many rare treasures they are seeking and want to turn and go back! Having had this thought, he resorts to the power of expedient means and, when they have gone three hundred yojanas along the steep road, conjures up a city. He says to the group, 'Don't be afraid! You must not turn back, for now here is a great city where you can stop, rest, and do just as you please. If you enter this city you will be completely at ease and tranquil. Then later, if you feel you can go on to the place where the treasure is, you can leave the city.

At that time the members of the group, being utterly exhausted, are overjoyed in mind, exclaiming over such an unprecedented event, 'Now we can escape from this dreadful road and find ease and tranquility!' The people in the group thereupon press forward and enter the city where, feeling that they have been saved from their difficulties, they have a sense of complete ease and tranquility.

At that time the leader, knowing that the people have become rested and are no longer fearful or weary, wipes out the phantom city and says to the group, 'You must go now. The place where the treasure is is close by. That great city of a while ago was a mere phantom that I conjured up so that you could rest.

15 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:49 PM

    you are
    my
    phantom city...

    -b

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  2. Anonymous9:04 AM

    I love your website. It has a lot of great pictures and is very informative.
    »

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  3. Anonymous6:36 AM

    Great site loved it alot, will come back and visit again.
    »

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  4. exerting oneself through diligent practice is the only way to find the three treasures.

    myo-ho-renge-kyo

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  5. The phantom city is merely and expedient means. Do not think too much on it other than what Buddha has explicitly showed- merely an illusion to fool people into thinking they have reached their goal. Phantom city is nirvana. Nirvana is an expedient means to Buddha-knowledge. I believe this is a direct reference to the differences between Theravada/Mahayana Buddhism. Once you have reached nirvana, then you can "see" the treasure. The Lotus Sutra is clever this way so that it completely discredits Theravada teachings and that nirvana is the highest goal there is. Brilliant stuff.

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  6. Anonymous3:11 AM

    In the Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, President Ikeda explained that the Phantom City is indeed also the Treasure Land which was the target of the caravan. The Treasure Land was never described fully because it is not a place, but a state of mind.

    For example, Kosen Rufu is like the Treasure Land. We never really ever declare that Kosen Rufu is achieved. But we set goals and targets, and have campaigns to chant, speak to, or visit fellow members to encourage them. These little goals are the phantom cities.

    The phantom cities appear to be steps towards the larger goal of treasure land, just as campaigns appear to be steps towards Kosen Rufu. But in actual fact, the struggle to achieve victories in these campaigns is the life-state of kosen rufu. To function as a bodhisattva of the earth is to manifest buddhahood.

    Loved this parable. Thanks for sharing.

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