DESCRIPTION

Chapter Seven begins abruptly with the Buddha telling the assembly about a past Buddha named Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū (’Great Universal Wisdom Excellence’) and his sixteen sons who leave the home life to follow their father, and who beg him to teach the Dharma after attaining anuttarā-saṃyak-saṃbodhi. After much exhorting, that Buddha finally teaching the Lotus Sutra. The sixteen sons go on to become Buddhas, that last of which is revealed to be none other than Śākyamuni himself.

This chapter concludes with the fourth of the seven parables in the Lotus Sutra - The Parable of the Phantom City. In this story, the Buddha tells of a long, difficult path to precious treasures and a group of people being led down the path by a guide. When the people grow tired mid-way, the guide creates a phantom city for them to rest, then tells them of the illusion and encourages them to carry on.