The Seven Parables of the Lotus Sutra Animation Trailer
The Lotus Sutra is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential sutras, or sacred scriptures, of Buddhism.
SGM presents in animation form the easy-to-understand videos of the Seven Parables of the Lotus Sutra. Huan Huan, the little adventurer of the Lotus Sutra will share with you her research results on exploring the Seven Parables of the Lotus Sutra!
Don’t miss out on this animation series that will be held over seven episodes on SGM’s Website & YouTube Channel.
The seven parables of the Lotus Sutra:
Parable (1) The parable of the three carts and the burning house: Premiere on 16/2 @ 8pm
Parable (2) The parable of the wealthy man and his poor son: Premiere on 23/2 @ 8pm
Parable (3) The parable of the three kinds of medicinal herbs and two kinds of trees: Premiere on 2/3 @ 8pm
Parable (4) The parable of the phantom city and the treasure land: Premiere on 9/3 @ 8pm
Parable (5) The parable of the jewel in the robe: Premiere on 16/3 @ 8pm
Parable (6) The parable of the priceless gem in the topknot: Premiere on 23/3 @ 8pm
Parable (7) The parable of the skilled physician and his sick children: Premiere on 30/3 @ 8pm
Parable (1) The parable of the three carts and the burning house: Premiere on 16/2 @ 8pm
There was an elderly man with considerable wealth and had many children. One day, his house was suddenly on fire. The young children were so engrossed in their games that they didn’t notice their predicament nor feel afraid. Even when their father asked them to leave the house, no one paid attention to him.
The elderly man lured them out by saying he would give them a goat cart, a deer cart and an ox cart. Hearing this, the children gleefully rushed out of the burning house.
In the end, the elderly man gave them something far more luxurious than he had originally promised: a magnificent jewelled carriage drawn by a white ox. All the children were delighted.
From this parable, we learn that the elderly man is the Buddha, and the children represent all living beings. The burning house is a metaphor for this world of ours which is filled with sufferings. The children playing in the burning house represent all living beings who do not realise that they are living in a world full of sufferings and will eventually be scorched by its flames if they continue doing so.
Parable (2) The parable of the wealthy man and his poor son: Premiere on 23/2 @ 8pm
There’s a wise and wealthy man whose son leaves home at a young age and wanders around. Since the son left home, the father has been looking for him but to no avail.
One day, the son happens to pass by his father’s mansion. The wealthy man sees the wanderer, and though many years have passed, the father recognises his beloved son at a glance and he is very happy. The father sends a retainer to welcome the son home. However, the father understands that his son may find it difficult to accept and believe even if he told the son the truth. So, he devised a plan and offered the son a job on the pretext of cleaning toilets and performing other chores. The father then dressed up as a poor man to approach his son and to be acquainted with him.
He says to the son: “You are a hard worker, so ask whatever you wish of me. You may think of me as your father. And I will call you ‘son.’” Gradually, a bond of understanding and trust grows between the father and the son.
Not long after, the father realises that his son is becoming more self-assured and also comes to hold high ideals. Therefore he places all his fortune in the hands of his son. Before the father passed away, he announced to the people that this was his long-lost son. Now that they have reunited, all his wealth shall belong entirely to his son.
Parable (3) The parable of the three kinds of medicinal herbs and two kinds of trees: Premiere on 2/3 @ 8pm
Trees and medicinal herbs of many kinds grow in mountains and streams, ravines and valleys throughout the world, and they differ in name and form. The medicinal herbs are distinguished as superior, intermediate or inferior, and the trees as large or small.
That’s why it is called “The Parable of The Three Kinds of Medicinal Herbs and Two Kinds of Trees.”
A great cloud envelops the world and sends down life-giving rain equally upon all the grasses, flowers, trees, and medicinal herbs.
Though the rain falls equally everywhere, the medicinal herbs and trees grow according to their respective natures and produce different flowers and fruits.
This explains why there are many differences and distinctions among the multitude of herbs and trees, even though they grow on the same earth and are moistened by the same rain.
Parable (4) The parable of the phantom city and the treasure land: Premiere on 9/3 @ 8pm
A group of merchants is travelling across the desert in search of a land of treasure (Treasure Land) They were led by a group leader, and they had to walk a long and dangerous road to reach the place.
However, when they were only halfway through, they started to feel exhausted. They said to their leader: “We can’t go any further.” The leader thought: “If we stop halfway, wouldn’t all our hardships be in vain? Why would we abandon the ultimate treasure and go back?” The leader took pity on them, and halfway through the journey, he conjured up a phantom city using his powers and told the men that they could rest once they entered the city.
Hearing this, his men were overjoyed and entered the city. When the leader thought that his men were well-rested, he made the city disappear and said to them: That city was just an illusion I conjured for you to rest. The actual place with the treasure is close by. ” He then led his men towards their final destination.
Parable (5) The parable of the jewel in the robe: Premiere on 16/3 @ 8pm
A poor man went to his friend’s house for dinner. He became drunk and fell asleep. During this time, his dear friend had to go out because he had something to do. Before leaving, he sewed a priceless jewel into the lining of his sleeping friend’s robe. However, the drunk poor man was sleeping soundly and had no idea about this. After waking up, he resumed his wandering life. Soon, he ran out of money and life was very difficult. Though he did some small jobs to sustain his life, he struggled to make ends meet and felt content whenever he had a little money.
Soon, the two met again. Seeing the shabby appearance of the poor man, the wealthy friend said: “Why are you such a fool and still leading a poor life? In order to help you lead a happy and carefree life, and to achieve anything your heart desires, I had sewn a jewel into your robe. I believe the jewel is still there. After all this time, you were ignorant of the jewel. How foolish of you to have suffered so much throughout all this time!
It was then that the poor man discovered the priceless jewel given by his friend and was overjoyed.
Parable (6) The parable of the priceless gem in the topknot: Premiere on 23/3 @ 8pm
A long time ago, there was a wheel-turning sage king in India. He had conquered the neighbouring small kingdoms with his own power. He would reward soldiers who had distinguished themselves in battle by giving them fields, houses, treasures and various other things. However, he did not give away to anyone the bright jewel that he kept in his topknot. If he were to give it away, his followers would surely be very surprised! However, when the king saw someone who had gained truly great distinction, he would happily give the jewel away as a reward.
Parable (7) The parable of the skilled physician and his sick children: Premiere on 30/3 @ 8pm
There was an excellent physician, who had many children. One day, while the physician was away from home, his children took poison by mistake and fell to the ground in extreme pain.
Then, the skilled physician returned home. He immediately prepared a medicine with excellent color, fragrance, and flavor and gave it to the children. His children who had not lost their minds, took the medicine immediately and recovered.
However, those who were affected by the poison had lost their senses, were skeptical and refused to take the good medicine. So, the skilled physician said, “I will put the good medicine here. You need to take it.” After leaving these words, he left for another land.
After that, the father sent someone home with a message, “Your father has passed away!” Upon learning of this news, the children who had lost their minds felt deeply sad and eventually regained their senses. Once they regained their composure, they took the medicine their father left behind and recovered. When the father heard the news, he returned home happily to reunite with his children.
