閻浮提人病之良藥 —《妙法蓮華經》之修持方法與以身心潛能開發及療癒為目標之跨領域課程建構=The Wonderful Medicine for Beings of the Jambudvīpa - Interdisciplinary Courses Based on the Principles of the Practice of the Lotus Sutra
One of the important themes in the Lotus Sutra which is often referred to as the "utmost treasure among the Buddhist Sturas" of the "King among the Buddhist Sutras" is the idea that the healing effects of the Lotus Sutra. In the twenty-third chapter, "The Former Affairs of the Bodhisattva Medicine King" such passages can be found: "This Sutra is the wonderful medicine for beings of the Jambudvīpa...." Another reference to the idea of healing can be found in the metaphor of the ill and deluded sons of the great doctor who just could not understand that the father is ever present until they can take this wonderful medicine which is the Lotus Sutra. However, in the Lotus Sutra, we also find constant warning on the difficulties of practicing the Lotus Sutra at the latter days of the Teaching. With the development of modern technology and rapid globalization, people are getting more and more agitated and a lot less "grounded." Can the ancient principles of the practice of the Lotus Sutra found in early Tiantai masters' meditation manuals still result in the same level of understanding and realization of the states promised in the Lotus Sutra? In this paper, I will first make an analysis of how Zhiyi proposed to practice the Lotus Sutra in his Lotus Sutra Samadhi Repentance Ritual. This analysis will serve as the framework of three interdisciplinary courses devised by the author. The first one is a combination of translation and the practice of the Lotus Samadhi in a course aiming at preparing 18 international graduate students of the Buddhist Studies from various countries held at Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts. The second course is held in a 9-day Lotus Samadhi Retreat at Dharma Drum Retreat Center. The third course is an attempt to integrate meditative expressive artistic practice with the practice of the Lotus Samadhi.
