Now, the teachings of Mahayana Buddhism are subdivided into two. One postulates a transcendental being in which people are taught to believe. These are the provosional Mahayana teachings.When we say provisional it is inferior or mistaken teachings. These provisional mahayan teachings, that is, the teachings expounded before the Lotus sutra. Because of this postulation of transcendental being, Provisional mahayana Buddhism is similar to Chritianity or Islam etc... However, there are some differences as well. Provisional mahayana teaches us that the supreme being transcends our present life, beyond the world and the universe. That is to say, in these religions a transcendental being exists outside of the phenomenal world.

In contrast, the Lotus sutra teaches us that instead of a transcendental being, the universal self exist in the depths of our lives, within this phenomenal world and the entire universe. In Christianity or Islam and pre-lotus sutra teachings this universal self or the ultimate reality is regarded as a " personality ". In other words the ultimate truth comes from a unique existence apart from the phenomenal world and that the entire universe including heaven and earth derives from one Ultimate truth which governs all existence like an idea of God.On the other hand, the lotus sutra regards the reality as a " Law " which underlies all phenomena. It reveals that the universal truth pervades the entire universe and is One with all phenomena. according to this sutra, the Ultimate truth is not confined to a unique existence, and therefore, the universe does not begin with the one truth, nor is it governed by the one truth, the truth is ubiquitous in all existence in the universe. For instance, the Lotus sutra expounds that even mountains, rivers, grasses, and trees not to mention human beings have the Buddha nature or posseses the supreme jewels in life of the Buddha. And Nicheren daishonin made clear the fact that this fundamental law is Nam Myoho Renge Kyo or Mystic LAw that is implicit in the Lotus sutra.

• Re: Re: Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhism....The Ultimate truth....... - philosofir - December 23, 2000 - 14:06 UTC