The Lotus Sutra
and
The Future of Buddhism

According to Nichiren Buddhism, we currently live in the period of time called Mappo or the Latter Day of the Law .   In his writing, Nichiren figuratively mentioned that this period of time is 10.000 years or more, however, it should be noted that the word 10.000 was used in the Japanese literature at that time to indicate “a great number” - and not specifically a mathematical value.  For example:

“If Nichiren’s compassion is truly great and encompassing,

Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo will spread for ten thousand years and more, for all eternity”. WND1 p 736

The Lotus Sutra predicted that the future of Buddhism lies in propagating its teachings, carried out by the Bodhisattvas of the Earth.  In Chapter 23, the Buddha states

“After I have passed into extinction, in the fifth five-hundred-year period you must

spread it abroad widely throughout Jambudvīpa and never allow it to be cut off.”

In the above-mentioned statement, the start of propagating the Lotus Sutra is the

Fifth Five Hundred Years Period  after the Buddha’s passing.  The Buddha passed away around 500 years BD.  Thus, the 5th 500 year period would fall on the 20’s Century.  The mentioned passage from the Lotus Sutra then refers to the time of the 20th century to start its propagation.  It is a mystic coincidence that the 20’s Century witnessed the emergence of the Soka movement, which started a wave of propagation of the Sutra world wide.  It is just a wonderful coincidence that the prediction of the Lotus Sutra in Ch. 23 matched the activities of the SGI world wide.

The Lotus Sutra abolished the provisional teaching of Maitreya.

In the 15th chapter, the Lotus Sutra mentioned that in the past , before the Buddha taught the Lotus Sutra, Maitreya has received a prophecy of becoming a Future Buddha.  But this PreLotus teaching (about Maitreya) was dramatically changed in the Lotus Sutra.  The future of Buddhism was entrusted to the Bodhisattvas of the Earth (and not to Maitreya or others).

“…with the appearance of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, the very foundation of what

Maitreya believed up to that time was demolished”.

(Source: The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, V.3 p.208)

The Lotus Sutra mentions that Maitreya experienced great doubts about who were those Bodhisattvas emerging from the Earth.  Their appearance as disciple of the Buddha from past lives meant that the Buddha did not attain enlightenment in his lifetime only, but had past lives of enlightenment in which he taught those Bodhisattvas.

Shakyamuni revealed that he is the Eternal Buddha.  Eternal means past, present and future.  So, there is no “future Buddha” after Shakyamuni of the Lotus Sutra. 

The teachings expounded by the Eternal Buddha of the Lotus Sutra are also eternal and hence would not decline. This is the difference between PreLotus teachings of decline of Buddhism (and hence the concept of Future Buddha) - and the Lotus, whose validity extends without limit.

The eternal Buddha is not a person, as persons cannot be eternal.  The Lotus Sutra teaches that the eternal World of Buddhahood is NamMyohoRengeKyo - expressed through the life of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, a concept which is not found in PreLotus teachings