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  • The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin I/II
    • Volume I
    • Volume II
  • The Lotus Sutra and Its Opening and Closing Sutras
  • The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings
  • The Soka Gakkai Dictionary of Buddhism

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parable of the wealthy man and his poor son | Dictionary of Buddhism | Nichiren Buddhism Library
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  • pagoda

    [塔] ( tō)

  • Pai-lien-she

    [白蓮社] (PY Bailianshe;  Byakuren-sha)

  • Pai-ma-ssu

    [白馬寺] (PY Baimasi;  Hakuba-ji)

  • Painfully Acquired

    [苦得] ( Kutoku)

  • Pakudha Kacchāyana

    [迦羅鳩駄迦旃延] (Pali;  Karakuda-kasennen)

  • pāpīyas

    [波旬] (;  hajun)

  • parable of the blind men and the elephant

    [群盲評象の譬] ( gummō-hyōzō-no-tatoe)

  • parable of the bright jewel in the topknot

    [髻中明珠の譬] ( keichū-myōju-no-tatoe)

  • parable of the burning house

    [火宅の譬] ( kataku-no-tatoe)

  • parable of the jewel in the robe

    [衣裏珠の譬] ( eriju-no-tatoe)

  • parable of the medicinal herbs

    [薬草喩] ( yakusō-yu)

  • “Parable of the Medicinal Herbs” chapter

    [薬草喩品] ( Yakusōyu-hon)

  • parable of the phantom city

    [化城喩] ( kejō-yu)

  • parable of the phantom city and the treasure land

    [化城宝処の譬] ( kejō-hōsho-no-tatoe)

  • “Parable of the Phantom City” chapter

    [化城喩品] ( Kejōyu-hon)

  • parable of the skilled physician and his sick children

    [良医病子の譬] ( rōi-byōshi-no-tatoe)

  • parable of the three carts and the burning house

    [三車火宅の譬] ( sansha-kataku-no-tatoe)

  • parable of the three kinds of medicinal herbs and two kinds of trees

    [三草二木の譬] ( sansō-nimoku-no-tatoe)

  • parable of the wealthy man and his poor son

    [長者窮子の譬] ( chōja-gūji-no-tatoe)

  • pārājika

    [波羅夷] (, Pali;  harai)

  • Paramārtha

    [真諦] (499–569) (;  Shindai)

  • pāramitā

    [波羅蜜] (, Pali;  haramitsu)

  • parinirvāna

    [般涅槃・涅槃] (; Pali parinibbāna;  hatsu-nehan or nehan)

  • Parinirvāna Sutra

    [般泥洹経] ( Hatsu-naion-gyō)

  • Pārshva

    [脇比丘・脇尊者] (n.d.) (;  Kyō-biku or Kyō-sonja)

  • Parthia

    [安息国] ( Ansoku-koku)

  • Pasenadi

    [波斯匿王] (Pali;  Hashinoku-ō)

  • Pātaliputra

    [華氏城] (; Pali Pātaliputta;  Keshi-jō)

  • path

    [趣・道] (, Pali gati;  shu or dō)

  • path of insight

    [見道] ( ken-dō)

  • pātra

    [鉢] (;  hachi or hatsu)

  • patriarchal Zen

    [祖師禅] ( soshi-zen)

  • pattra

    [貝多羅] (;  baitara)

  • Peace and Delight

    [安楽世界] ( Sukhāvatī;  Anraku-sekai)

  • Peace and Sustenance

    [安養国] ( Sukhāvatī;  An’yō-koku or Annyō-koku)

  • “Peaceful Practices” chapter

    [安楽行品] ( Anraku-gyō-hon)

  • peak stage

    [頂位・頂法] ( chō-i or chō-hō)

  • Perceiver of Sounds

    [観音菩薩] ( Kannon-bosatsu)

  • Perceiver of the World’s Sounds

    [観世音菩薩] ( Avalokitasvara or Avalokiteshvara;  Kanzeon-bosatsu)

  • “Perceiver of the World’s Sounds” chapter

    [観音品] ( Kannon-bon)

  • Perceiver of the World’s Sounds Sutra

    [観音経] (Chin Kuan-yin-ching;  Kannon-gyō)

  • perception of the truth of the birthlessness of all phenomena

    [無生法忍] ( mushō-bōnin)

  • perception stage

    [忍位・忍法] ( nin-i or nin-pō)

  • Perfect Bliss

    [極楽] ( Sukhāvatī;  Gokuraku)

  • perfect enlightenment

    [妙覚・円覚] ( myōgaku or engaku)

  • Perfect Enlightenment Sutra

    [円覚経] (Chin Yüan-chüeh-ching;  Engaku-kyō)

  • Perfection of Wisdom sutras

    [般若波羅蜜経] ( Hannya-haramitsu-kyō)

  • perfect precepts

    [円戒] ( en-kai)

  • perfect teaching

    [円教] ( en-gyō)

  • persons of incorrigible disbelief

    [一闡提] ( issendai)

  • phantom city

    [化城] ( kejō)

  • Pilindavatsa

    [畢陵伽婆蹉] (;  Hitsuryōgabasha)

  • Pindolabhāradvāja

    [賓頭盧] (, Pali;  Binzuru)

  • Pingala

    [青目・賓伽羅] (n.d.) (;  Shōmoku or Bingara)

  • pipal tree

    [インドボダイジュ] ( pippala;  Indo-bodaiju)

  • pippala tree

    [畢鉢羅樹] (;  hippara-ju)

  • Pippalī Cave

    [畢鉢羅窟] (;  Hippara-kutsu)

  • pishācha

    [毘舎闍] (;  bishaja)

  • P’i-t’an school

    [毘曇宗] (PY Pitanzong;  Bidon-shū)

  • pit of fire

    [火坑] ( kakyō or kakō)

  • place of practice

    [道場] ( dōjō)

  • planting the seeds of Buddhahood

    [下種] ( geshu)

  • Platform Sutra, The

    [壇経] ( Dan-kyō)

  • Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch, The

    [六祖壇経] (Chin Liu-tsu-t’an-ching;  Rokuso-dan-kyō)

  • Po Fa-tsu

    [帛法祖] (PY Bo Fazu;  Haku-hōso)

  • poison-drum relationship

    [毒鼓の縁] ( dokku-no-en)

  • poshadha

    [布薩] (;  fusatsu)

  • Possessor of Virtue

    [有徳王] ( Utoku-ō)

  • Potalaka, Mount

    [補陀落山] (;  Fudaraku-sen)

  • power of another

    [他力] ( tariki)

  • power of self

    [自力] ( jiriki)

  • Po-yüan

    [帛遠] (PY Boyuan;  Hakuon)

  • practice for oneself and others

    [自行化他] ( jigyō-keta)

  • Praising Rebirth in the Pure Land

    [往生礼讃] (Chin Wang-sheng-li-tsan;  Ōjō-raisan)

  • Praising the Buddha’s Deeds

    [仏所行讃] ( Buddhacharita; Chin Fo-so-hsing-tsan;  Busshogyō-san)

  • Praising the Profundity of the Lotus Sutra

    [法華玄賛] (Chin Fa-hua-hsüan-tsan;  Hokke-genzan)

  • prajnā

    [般若] (;  hannya)

  • Prajnā

    [般若] (b. 734) (;  Hannya)

  • prajnā-pāramitā

    [般若波羅蜜] (;  hannya-haramitsu)

  • Prajnāpāramitā sutras

    [般若経] (;  Hannya-kyō)

  • Prajnāruchi

    [般若流支] (n.d.) (;  Hannyarushi)

  • pranidhāna

    [誓願] (;  seigan)

  • Prāsangika school

    [帰謬論証派] (;  Kibyūronshō-ha)

  • Prasenajit

    [波斯匿王] (; Pali Pasenadi;  Hashinoku-ō)

  • pratigha

    [瞋恚・瞋] (;  shinni or shin)

  • pratītya-samutpāda

    [縁起・因縁] (;  engi or innen)

  • pratyekabuddha

    [縁覚・独覚・辟支仏] (;  engaku, dokkaku, or byakushibutsu)

  • pravārana

    [自恣] (; Pali pavāranā;  jishi)

  • prayer beads

    [数珠] ( juzu)

  • Prayer for Rain Sutra

    [請雨経] (Chin Ch’ing-yü-ching;  Shōu-kyō)

  • preaching in accordance with one’s own mind

    [随自意] ( zuijii)

  • preaching in accordance with the minds of others

    [随他意] ( zuitai)

  • precept for benefiting sentient beings

    [饒益有情戒・摂衆生戒] ( nyōyaku-ujō-kai or shō-shujō-kai)

  • precept of adapting to local customs

    [随方毘尼] ( zuihō-bini)

  • precept of the diamond chalice

    [金剛宝器戒] ( kongō-hōki-kai)

  • precepts

    [戒] ( shīla; Pali sīla;  kai)

  • precepts, meditation, and wisdom

    [戒定慧] ( kai-jō-e)

  • precepts of perfect and immediate enlightenment

    [円頓戒] ( endon-kai)

  • Precepts school

    [律宗] (Chin Lü-tsung;  Risshū)

  • precept that encompasses all good deeds

    [摂善法戒] ( shō-zembō-kai)

  • precept that encompasses all living beings

    [摂衆生戒] ( shō-shujō-kai)

  • Precious Key to the Secret Treasury, The

    [秘蔵宝鑰] ( Hizō-hōyaku)

  • pre-Lotus Sutra teachings

    [爾前教] ( nizen-kyō)

  • preparation section

    [序分] ( jo-bun)

  • preta

    [餓鬼・薜茘・薜茘多] (;  gaki, heirei, or heireita)

  • preventing error and putting an end to evil

    [防非止悪] ( bōhi-shiaku)

  • Principle of Wisdom Sutra

    [理趣経] ( Ārya-prajnāpāramitā-naya-shatapanchashatikā; Chin Li-ch’ü-ching;  Rishu-kyō)

  • Profound Meaning of the Four Mahayana Treatises, The

    [大乗四論玄義] (Chin Ta-ch’eng-ssu-lun-hsüan-i;  Daijō-shiron-gengi)

  • Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra, The

    [法華玄義] (Chin Fa-hua-hsüan-i;  Hokke-gengi)

  • Profound Meaning of the “Perceiver of the World’s Sounds” Chapter, The

    [観音玄義] (Chin Kuan-yin-hsüan-i;  Kannon-gengi)

  • Profound Meaning of the Three Treatises, The

    [三論玄義] (Chin San-lun-hsüan-i;  Sanron-gengi)

  • Profound Secrets Sutra

    [深密経] ( Jimmitsu-kyō)

  • Pronunciation and Meaning in the Buddhist Scriptures

    [一切経音義] (Chin I-ch’ieh-ching-yin-i;  Issaikyō-ongi)

  • Propagation of Zen for the Protection of the Country, The

    [興禅護国論] ( Kōzen-gokoku-ron)

  • “Prophecies” chapter

    [人記品] ( Ninki-hon)

  • “Prophecies Conferred on Learners and Adepts” chapter

    [授学無学人記品] ( Jugaku-mugaku-ninki-hon)

  • “Prophecy of Enlightenment for Five Hundred Disciples” chapter

    [五百弟子受記品] ( Gohyaku-deshi-juki-hon)

  • prophecy of future enlightenment

    [授記・記別・和伽羅那] ( vyākarana; Pali veyyākarana;  juki, kibetsu, or wagarana)

  • Protection of the Sovereign of the Nation Sutra

    [守護国界経] (Chin Shou-hu-kuo-chieh-ching;  Shugo-kokkai-kyō)

  • Protection Sutra

    [守護経] ( Shugo-kyō)

  • protuberant knot of flesh

    [肉髻相] ( nikkei-sō)

  • provincial temples

    [国分寺] ( kokubun-ji)

  • provincial temples for nuns

    [国分尼寺] ( kokubun-niji)

  • provisional Buddha

    [迹仏] ( shakubutsu)

  • provisional Mahayana teachings

    [権大乗教] ( gon-daijō-kyō)

  • provisional manifestation

    [権化] ( gonge)

  • provisional sutras

    [権経] ( gon-kyō)

  • provisional teachings

    [権教] ( gon-kyō)

  • P’u-kuang

    [普光] (n.d.) (PY Puguang;  Fukō)

  • Pu-k’ung

    [不空] (705–774) (PY Bukong;  Amoghavajra;  Fukū)

  • punya

    [功徳・福徳] (;  kudoku or fukutoku)

  • Punyatāra

    [弗若多羅] (n.d.) (;  Futsunyatara)

  • Punyayashas

    [富那奢] (n.d.) (;  Funasha)

  • Pūrana Kassapa

    [富蘭那迦葉] (Pali;  Furanna-kashō)

  • pure and far-reaching voice

    [梵音声] ( brahma-svara;  bonnonjō)

  • Pure Emerald World

    [浄瑠璃世界] ( Jōruri-sekai)

  • Pure Eye

    [浄眼] ( Vimalanetra;  Jōgen)

  • pure land

    [浄土] ( jōdo)

  • Pure Land of Perfect Bliss

    [極楽浄土] ( Gokuraku-jōdo)

  • Pure Land of Secret Solemnity

    [密厳浄土] ( Mitsugon-jōdo)

  • Pure Land school

    (1) [浄土門・浄土教・浄土宗] ( Jōdo-mon, Jōdo-kyō, or Jōdo-shū); (2) [浄土宗] ( Jōdo-shū)

  • Pure Land teachings

    [浄土門・浄土教] ( Jōdo-mon or Jōdo-kyō)

  • pure Law

    [白法] ( byakuhō)

  • Pure Practices

    [浄行菩薩] ( Vishuddhachāritra;  Jōgyō-bosatsu)

  • Pure Storehouse

    [浄蔵] ( Vimalagarbha;  Jōzō)

  • Pure Virtue

    [浄徳] ( Vimaladattā;  Jōtoku)

  • purification of the six sense organs

    [六根清浄] ( rokkon-shōjō)

  • Pūrna

    [富楼那] (; Pali Punna;  Furuna)

  • purpose of one’s advent

    [出世の本懐] ( shusse-no-honkai)

  • Pūrvavideha

    [弗婆提・勝身洲] (;  Hotsubadai or Shōshin-shū)

  • Pushyamitra

    [弗沙弥多羅王] (n.d.) (;  Hosshamittara-ō)

  • pūtana

    [富単那] (;  futanna)

parable of the wealthy man and his poor son [長者窮子の譬] ( chōja-gūji-no-tatoe): One of the seven parables in the Lotus Sutra. It appears in the “Belief and Understanding” (fourth) chapter. The four great voice-hearers—Subhūti, Kātyāyana, Maudgalyāyana, and Mahākāshyapa—relate this parable to show that they have understood the teaching of replacing the three vehicles with the one vehicle that Shakyamuni recounted in the “Simile and Parable” (third) chapter using the parable of the three carts and the burning house. Briefly, it tells of a wealthy man’s son who runs away from his father in childhood. For some fifty years he wanders from one place to another in abject poverty, hiring himself out as a menial laborer. One day in his wanderings he chances upon his father’s mansion. The rich old man is overjoyed to see his son again, as he wants to bequeath to him all his wealth and possessions. The son, however, does not recognize his father and runs away, overwhelmed by the splendor of the rich man’s estate. The rich man sends a messenger to bring him back, but the son thinks the messenger has come to arrest him and faints in terror. Hearing this, the father tells the messenger to release him and instead sends two of his servants dressed in dirty clothes to offer the son the work of clearing away excrement. The impoverished son happily accepts this employment on his father’s estate. After a while, his father disguises himself in dirty clothes so he can approach his son. He tells him that he can always work there, and that he will treat him like his own son. For twenty years the son works at clearing away excrement and gradually gains self-confidence. The rich man then promotes him, charging him with the administration of his property, and gradually he comes to understand all the rich man’s affairs. Eventually the rich man senses death approaching. He invites his relatives, the king of the country, the high ministers, and others, and declares to them that his servant is actually his true son. He then transfers to his son the whole of his estate. The rich man in this parable represents the Buddha, whose sole desire is to let all people enjoy the same sublime state as his own, just as the rich man wishes to bequeath all his wealth to his son. The poor son represents ordinary people, who “wander about” transmigrating in the threefold world without encountering the one Buddha vehicle. To lead them to enlightenment, the Buddha first employs expedient means and preaches what is appropriate to their capacities, just as the rich man trains his son gradually. Thus the Buddha leads them gradually to higher teachings and ultimately reveals the one Buddha vehicle of the Lotus Sutra.


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