In light of impacts of Western Buddhist research methods on domestic Buddhist research, what the research methods used by the Venerables in old times were becomes the main problem awareness of this research. Given that religious practice has gained more and more attention, it is inevitable to answer a question: Can Buddhism indicate some solutions to the dilemmas of social values of today? This is the other issue being explored in this research. Tiantai Sect, the first Buddhist sect in Chinese history, was founded by master Zhi-yi based on The Lotus Sutra, in which plenty of parables are used to impart Dharma. Parable, one of forms of Sutra, is both easy to understand and helpful to catch Dharma for average people. To fully comprehend parable methodology andthen Dharma in The Lotus Sutra so that people can put Dharma into daily use, this research plans to explicate The Lotus Sutra Wenju by Zhi-yi, consulting The Lotus Sutra WenjukebyTang, cham. Four aspects included as skeletons in this research are as follows: WHAT the parable tries to elaborate, WHO are involved in the parable, HOW the parable is laid out, and WHY the parable is here. With such assistance as CBETA and others, parables in The Lotus Sutra Wenju are systematically analyzed, organized so as to cast light on their implications. In sum, by means of exploring the parable methodology in The Lotus Sutra Wenju, the ultimate goal of this research is to reveal the fact that the most precise and brief annotations for parables in The Lotus Sutra is The Lotus Sutra itself. It, bridging religious world and secular world, is medication to heal family, society dilemmas, and paves the way for Dharma acquisition and exertion.
