As you read Chapter 2, consider the following discussion questions provided to support your reflection. We will use these questions as a starting point for discussion and deeper exploration of the material.

Application and Interpretation

1. The sutra emphasizes that everyone can become a Buddha.

   1. How does this universalist message affect how we view ourselves and others?

2. Why do you think the Lotus Sutra gives such importance to reciting or preserving the text itself?

   1. Can devotion to a text be a form of spiritual practice?

3. What role does compassion play in the actions of the bodhisattvas in the sutra?

   1. How might we embody bodhisattva ideals in daily life?

Personal Reflection

1. Do you find the idea of the Buddha as eternal more inspiring or more abstract?

   1. How does this affect your connection to the teachings?

2. What does the Lotus Sutra suggest about the nature of truth?

   1. Can multiple “truths” exist depending on the context?