Saddharma Pundarika

I am unable to provide a summary of the entirety of the provided text, as it appears to be only a portion of a much larger Jain text. The text you have provided is the "Introduction" and the first seven chapters of the Saddharma-pundarika.

The Saddharma-pundarika, also known as the Lotus Sutra, is a Mahayana Buddhist scripture, not a Jain text. The provided text is a translation of this important Buddhist scripture.

However, I can summarize the parts that were provided:

Summary of the Provided Text (Introduction and Chapters 1-7 of the Saddharma-pundarika):

The provided text is the introduction and the first seven chapters of the English translation of the Saddharma-pundarika, also known as the Lotus of the True Law, translated by H. Kern and published by Oxford University Press in 1884 as part of the Sacred Books of the East series.

Introduction: The introduction delves into the nature and historical context of the Saddharma-pundarika. It positions the text as one of the nine key Mahayana Buddhist scriptures, highlighting its narrative and dramatic character. The introduction discusses the linguistic aspects, comparing Sanskrit, Pali, and Gatha dialects, and suggests that the Saddharma-pundarika contains material from various periods, with some parts potentially being very old. It also touches upon the dating of the text, considering Chinese translations and internal evidence, suggesting that the work evolved over time with later additions. The introduction also explores the philosophical underpinnings, arguing that the Saddharma-pundarika presents Sakyamuni not as a mere human, but as a supreme, eternal, and omnipotent being, akin to the Advaita Vedanta's concept of Brahman or the Bhagavad Gita's Narayana. It emphasizes the Mahayana ideal of saving all living beings through the Bodhisattva path.

Chapter 1: Introductory Skillfulness This chapter sets the scene for the Saddharma-pundarika. The Buddha is depicted in deep meditation on Gridhrakuta mountain surrounded by a vast assembly of monks, eminent disciples, Bodhisattvas, gods, Naga kings, and other celestial beings. A miraculous ray of light emanates from between the Buddha's eyebrows, illuminating countless Buddha-fields. This extraordinary event sparks curiosity and questioning among the assembly, particularly from Maitreya and Mañgusrî, who seek an explanation for this display of divine power. Mañgusrî, recognizing similar signs from former Buddhas, predicts that the Buddha is about to reveal profound wisdom. He recounts the story of the Tathagata Galadbagaragîtâghoshasusvaranakshatrarågasankusumitâbhigña and his eight sons, who later became Bodhisattvas, to illustrate the Buddha's long aeons of practice and the impartiality of his teachings.

Chapter 2: Skillfulness This chapter focuses on the Buddha's "skillfulness" (upâya-kausalya), emphasizing the profound and difficult-to-understand nature of the Tathagata's knowledge. The Buddha explains that Tathagatas possess unsurpassed skill in all aspects of existence and that their teachings, while appearing to offer three vehicles (Śrâvaka, Pratyekabuddha, and Bodhisattva), ultimately reveal a single Buddha-vehicle. He uses the parable of the burning house to illustrate this point: a father uses the skillful means of offering different carts (three vehicles) to lure his children out of a burning house, only to give them all a single, magnificent great vehicle (Buddha-vehicle) once they are safe. This parable highlights the Buddha's compassionate and skillful methods of guiding beings towards enlightenment, adapting his teachings to their varied capacities and attachments. The chapter also addresses the initial skepticism of some disciples, particularly Sâriputra, who are accustomed to the earlier teachings and the concept of individual nirvana.

Chapter 3: A Parable This chapter continues the explanation of the Buddha's skillful means through the detailed parable of the Burning House. It elaborates on the father's love for his children, their ignorance of the danger, and the father's resourceful use of various "toys" (the three vehicles) to save them from the consuming fire of suffering (samsara). The children, initially lured by the promise of the three vehicles, are ultimately given the single, superior great vehicle, symbolizing the ultimate unified path to Buddhahood. The chapter emphasizes that the Buddha's apparent revelation of different vehicles is a skillful device to lead all beings to the same ultimate goal.

Chapter 4: Disposition This chapter presents the parable of the Rich Man and his Poor Son. A wealthy father, separated from his impoverished son for many years, eventually finds him in a wretched state. The father, recognizing his son, initially hires him for menial tasks to avoid overwhelming him with his true identity. Over time, the father gradually reveals his affection and eventually bestows all his wealth upon his son, who is transformed by this paternal love and realization of his true lineage. This parable illustrates how the Buddha, like the father, deals with beings according to their disposition and past karma, gradually revealing the truth and ultimately bestowing the full inheritance of Buddhahood. It also highlights the importance of recognizing one's true Buddha-nature, which might be obscured by ignorance and worldly attachments.

Chapter 5: On Plants This chapter uses the analogy of a great rain-cloud to explain the Buddha's teaching. The cloud's rain nourishes all plants—from the smallest sprouts to the tallest trees—equally, but each plant absorbs and grows according to its own nature and capacity. Similarly, the Buddha's single teaching (the one vehicle) nourishes all beings, who, according to their individual predispositions and roots of goodness, attain different stages of realization, from Arhatship to Pratyekabuddhahood and finally to Buddhahood. The Buddha's impartiality and the universality of his compassion are stressed, as he adapts his teachings to the diverse needs of all sentient beings. The chapter also discusses the nature of reality as seen through the lens of Buddhist philosophy, describing phenomena as empty, impermanent, and ultimately without self-nature.

Chapter 6: Announcement of Future Destiny This chapter marks a shift in the narrative as the Buddha begins to prophesy the future enlightenment of his disciples. He specifically foretells the Buddhahood of key disciples like Kasyapa, Subhuti, Mahakatyayana, and Maudgalyayana, detailing the immense merits they accumulated through their past devotion and the nature of their future Buddha-fields. These prophecies serve to demonstrate the Buddha's omniscient knowledge of past, present, and future, and to inspire confidence in the assembly about the ultimate realization of Buddhahood for all beings. The chapter emphasizes the value of even small acts of merit in the pursuit of enlightenment.

Chapter 7: Ancient Devotion This chapter recounts the Buddha's own past actions and sacrifices in previous lives, illustrating his long and arduous journey towards enlightenment. It details his existence as the Tathagata Mahabhigñagñanâbhibhū, whose lifespan was immense, and his subsequent practices that led him to Buddhahood. The chapter emphasizes the Buddha's infinite compassion and skillful means in guiding beings, using the analogy of a cloud providing rain to all plants equally. It further illustrates this through the story of the Buddha's own enlightenment, the miraculous phenomena that accompanied it, and the subsequent requests from celestial beings and his own sixteen sons to reveal the profound Dharma. The Buddha explains that his appearing in the world is for the sole purpose of revealing Buddha-knowledge to all beings.

Overall Theme: The chapters provided highlight several key Mahayana Buddhist concepts:

• Skillfulness (Upâya): The Buddha's ability to adapt his teachings to the capacities of his audience.
• The One Vehicle: The ultimate unity of the various paths leading to Buddhahood.
• Buddha-nature: The inherent potential for Buddhahood within all beings.
• Infinite Lifespan of the Buddha: The eternal nature of the Buddha's existence beyond ordinary concepts of birth and death.
• Compassion and Impartiality: The Buddha's equal regard for all beings, regardless of their disposition.
• The Importance of Hearing and Accepting the Dharma: The profound merit gained by even a momentary positive reception of the Lotus Sutra.

Please note that the Saddharma-pundarika is a central text in Mahayana Buddhism, not Jainism. The text you provided is indeed a translation of this significant Buddhist scripture.