How to Read these Lotus Sutra Lectures

I've received some messages from readers turned off by the idea of a superhuman being and so forth that Suzuki presents in this and other lectures on the Lotus Sutra. He's explaining what sort of picture the Lotus Sutra paints of Buddha. Here's how I see it. It's an ideal picture of Buddha in the extreme, perfect, superhuman as he says. If one takes this all literally, various emotions and misunderstandings will arise, the worst of which would be to believe that it's historical fact, literally true. Think of it as myth. Myth tells a story that can't be told literally, about that which can't be understood in a usual way. It's not something to believe in, more to swim in or to have it pured over us. It points to something, gives a hint. Remember, Suzuki says it's the Sambhogakaya Buddha speaking this sutra. The Sambhogakaya Buddha is not part of the gross phenomenal realm we are in, is not a sentient being. It's the body of bliss, the body of realization, the subtle body of limitless form. It's our potential, our divinity. So when the sutra says one could never be as great as this, that only Buddha is this great, it's not talking about something outside of our own mind. It's saying that small mind can't reach this, that we need to invoke big mind to realize the truth. It's all about the nature of mind or our true nature. It's not the "chop wood, carry water," or "Buddha is a shitstick" approach. (That was an old way to wipe oneself.)  The later may be more palatable but it shouldn't be taken literally either. Not sure what should be.  - DC