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n		 Devadatta
(represented on the Gohonzon Diagram by #19, the Devil King of the Sixth Heaven).

Devadatta’s life is so very low, that even the earth cannot hold him. In the picture at right, his foot sinks into the earth. He represents: 
  • the evil nature in all of us 
  • the inseparability of past present and future 
  • opposition as fuel to Buddhist practice 
He is on the Gohonzon because, in this Buddhism, instead of burying our negative internal nature, we embrace our own internal fears and delusions as a part of life. We work constantly on enlightening this part of our life.  We realize that when we call forth Buddhahood from our lives, through chanting Nam Myoho-Renge-Kyo, these fears and delusions dissipate like dew in the morning sun.

 Dragon King’s Daughter
(represented on the Gohonzon Diagram by #22, the Eight Great Dragon Kings)

Of all Shakyamuni’s teachings, only in the Lotus Sutra do women attain enlightenment. Shakyamuni challenges our misconception that time is needed to attain enlightenment. He also challenges us to realize that enlightened life exists not just in old learned men, but in the very young as well. That’s why there is no distinction among believers. The Dragon King’s Daughter is: 
 
  • not fully human 
  • female
  • she attained enlightenment in an instant 
Two different pictures of the Dragon King's Daughter are at right. In one, she is offering a jewel to the Buddha.

Enlightenment is a state of life that is even difficult for Buddhas to fully comprehend. Yet, this state of life is available to us at every moment. The Dragon King’s Daughter represents attaining that enlightenment at this moment and then perceiving our life from this state. We use this wisdom available to us to constantly move our lives in a positive and happy direction.

Devadatta and the Dragon King’s Daughter Together

From "Persecution by Sword and Staff":

"The fifth scroll contains the heart of the Lotus Sutra, for it reveals that the dragon king’s daughter attained Buddhahood in her present form. Devadatta represents the spiritual aspect of   enlightenment, and the dragon king’s daughter, the physical aspect. The principle of attaining Buddhahood in one’s present form can be found nowhere else in the Buddha’s entire lifetime of teachings."
The key point is that no matter what your spiritual state of life and no matter what your physical condition, the joy and wisdom of Buddhahood is always available to you at this moment. 
 
 

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