An Explanation of Descriptions in the Lotus Sutra

"The Lotus Sutra is a supreme teaching", "It is the king of the Sutras" are what I repeatedly heard in my father's sermons since childhood. I was 22 years old when I became a priest and continued my devotion to the Lotus Sutra. "What is this? What's it all about?", That was my frank impression when I read the Lotus Sutra from cover to cover. I began to read it feeling it was a book on ideology teaching profound philosophical principles. But, I felt I was confounded by the accounts which were detached from reality and the development of fantasy-like stories. "On what basis is the Sutra considered the supreme teaching." "What was Nichiren Shonin’s standpoint with regard to the teachings ", was what I wanted to know. I therefore began reading as many books as possible on the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Shonin.
By reading books written by various people of my sect as well as others, I began to learn it was not so important that what was written in the Lotus Sutra was fact or not. To understand what it wanted to say or what it wanted to explain was important. But the descriptions in accounts in the Lotus Sutra are very unrealistic.
Following are some examples.
A light emitted from the forehead of Buddha lit up eighteen thousand worlds to the east; buddhas and future buddhas instantly came flying from the another universe; or from the ground an unbelievable large pagoda decorated with jewels appeared and began floating in a non-gravitational state; or innumerable buddhas appeared from the cracks of the earth.
Why did the lotus Sutra avoid description in a logical and scientific way and described in a poetic and fantasy fashion as if watching a huge magnificent opera? I thought that if these questionable aspects as to what the Sutra was appealing to and what it was trying to teach were not clarified, it could not be understood. Embracing such doubts, I learned the following after reading many books and listening to my senior priests.
First of all, what the Lotus Sutra wanted to appeal to was The "World of Enlightenment” or “Buddha's Enlightenment", and how the teachings could assist us in reaching the world of enlightenment.
Let's say that you enjoyed a meal that you had never eaten before in a splendid atmosphere, and you had to describe the atmosphere and what the food tasted like.
Can you do it? Most likely not. No Matter how skilful you may be in writing. it cannot be described with words.
If it was difficult to relate in words what you had sensed regarding the food you ate with your five senses, it would be likewise difficult to describe in words what Shakamuni Buddha obtained through his original religious experiences concerning the world of enlightenment. As such, to describe the world of enlightenment which Buddha attained is impossible to explain in words.
The Buddha himself was reluctant to explain in words how he obtained enlightenment and how it should be explained to the people. However, if it was not put in words, how could he teach the world of enlightenment? It could not be conveyed. Overcoming these obstacles, the magnificent Lotus Sutra came into being, in the form of figure of speech and drama. It was to appeal to the people so they could use their five senses and their entire six senses to understand even a small portion of the world or enlightenment. In short, the sutra expresses what cannot be explained in words. It is substance before words, and it teaches the truth.
From the beginning, the world of religion (the left side of the brain) is not a world which can be understood by logic. It is a world which can be understood through admiration and sensitivity (the right side of the brain). Because the Lotus Sutra thoroughly appeals to the people in the form of sensitivity to teach the world of enlightenment, it is admired and praised by many people. In contrast, the deep philosophical Buddhist writings expressed scientifically and logically may have religions value, but they are not admired by the majority people.
What is the meaning of the emitted light?
What kind of message is included in allegory or daily life expressions embodied in the Lotus Sutra?
Only one example will be given because it would take too long to explain this. The first chapter of the Lotus Sutra says, "At that time, the light emitted from his brow shone over one million eight thousand territories to the east. There was nothing that could not be shone upon". Just before Shakamuni Buddha had gone into meditation, he explained the Lotus Sutra. It is said that he emitted the light just after the completion of his mediation.
However, no matter how virtuous a person may be, to portray the reality of events as they existed is irrational. It is only reasonable to think that there is a hidden meaning. What kind of message may have been hidden?
In Buddhism, the direction of the east refers to the past. It can be explained that when Shakamuni Buddha shone light over the territories to the east, he had taken into consideration the process of events of the past to present. Cause precedes results. If you want to know the cause of what is taking place today, it is necessary to grasp exactly the affairs of the past.
What you are doing today will be the cause that decides your future destiny. If you want to predict what the future holds for you, you must grasp what you are doing today. The actual cause and effect which takes place in this world is a repetitious chain of events of life and extinction. It is probable that Shakamuni Buddha accurately grasped this and emitted the light.
Another possible explanation is, in each of the lands that Shakamuni Buddha shone light, there was a Buddha who was teaching the law．What this means is the truth of the world of enlightenment is not for this world only. It's the only non-changing truth which penetrates the huge universe. Therefore, Shakumuni Buddha is not the only one who attained enlightenment. It exemplifies that other buddhas in the universe had also attained enlightenment.
Another interpretation can be made. Not only people of this world can be redeemed by the teachings of the Buddha who is a powerful savior of all existences．It can also be interpreted as a symbol of Buddha's vast merciful energy. What is portrayed and explained in the Lotus Sutra at a glance appears to be non-reality, but in it is various messages．An explanation will not be made here.