The Parable of the Burning House
Found in Chapter 3 (Simile and Parable), the parable of the burning house is perhaps the most famous story in the Lotus Sutra and one of the best-known parables in all of Buddhism.
A wealthy man's great mansion, old and decaying, catches fire. His many children are inside, absorbed in their games, completely unaware of the danger. The father shouts to warn them, but they do not understand what fire is and continue playing, heedless of his cries. The father knows he could carry them out one by one, but the doorway is narrow and the children are scattered -- there is not enough time. He must find another way.
The Parable of the Jewel in the Robe
Told by the five hundred arhats in Chapter 8 (Prophecy of Enlightenment for Five Hundred Disciples), this parable expresses their joyful realization that they have always possessed the treasure of Buddhahood without knowing it.
A man visits a close friend who is wealthy and generous. After eating and drinking together, the man falls into a deep sleep. The friend, who must depart urgently on official business, wishes to give his companion a gift that will ensure he never suffers want. He takes a priceless jewel and sews it into the lining of the sleeping man's robe, knowing that the jewel alone is worth enough to fulfill all his needs for the rest of his life. The friend then departs.
The Parable of the Jewel in the Topknot
Found in Chapter 14 (Peaceful Practices), this parable explains why the Buddha withheld the Lotus Sutra until the right moment, comparing it to the most precious jewel a king possesses.
A powerful wheel-turning king wages war against rival kingdoms. His soldiers fight bravely, and after achieving victory, the king rewards them lavishly according to their merits. He distributes lands, villages, cities, robes, ornaments, gold, silver, and jewels of every kind. He gives away treasures without restraint, withholding only one thing: the single bright jewel set in his topknot, the most precious gem in all his possessions. He does not give this jewel lightly, for it is the supreme treasure of his realm, and to bestow it casually would diminish its significance.
The Parable of the Medicinal Herbs
Told by the Buddha himself in Chapter 5 (The Parable of the Medicinal Herbs), this parable uses the image of rain falling on diverse vegetation to illustrate the equality and impartiality of the Dharma.
A great cloud gathers and covers the entire world, then releases its rain upon all the land without distinction. The rain falls equally on mountains and valleys, on deep forests and open plains. Every kind of plant receives the same water: small herbs, medium herbs, great herbs, small trees, and great trees. The medicinal herbs that give the chapter its name are among the plants nourished by this single rain. Each plant absorbs the moisture according to its own nature and capacity -- the small herb takes what it can, the great tree draws up vast quantities -- but the rain itself makes no distinctions and shows no preferences.
The Parable of the Phantom City
Found in Chapter 7 (The Parable of the Phantom City), this story reinterprets the nirvana of the voice-hearers and pratyekabuddhas as a provisional resting place rather than the final goal.
A large group of travelers must cross a vast and perilous wilderness stretching five hundred yojanas to reach a place of rare and precious treasure. They are led by a wise and experienced guide who knows every turn of the road. The journey is long, the terrain is harsh, and the dangers are real -- wild beasts, poisonous insects, barren stretches without water or food. After traveling a great distance, the travelers become exhausted, discouraged, and frightened. They tell the guide they cannot go on and wish to turn back.
The Parable of the Physician and His Children
Found in Chapter 16 (The Life Span of the Thus Come One), this parable explains why the Buddha appears to pass away even though he is in truth eternally present. It is the last and arguably the most profound of the sutra’s seven parables.
A skilled and wise physician has many children. While he is away from home, his children accidentally drink poison. When the father returns, he finds some of his children have lost their senses while others remain lucid. All of them are suffering. The physician, employing his expert knowledge, compounds the finest medicine -- perfect in color, fragrance, and flavor -- and offers it to his children. Those whose minds are still clear take the medicine immediately and are cured. But those whose minds have been most deeply affected by the poison refuse the medicine, saying it looks and smells wrong. Though the cure is right before them, their clouded minds prevent them from accepting it.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
Told by four of the Buddha’s great disciples in Chapter 4 (Belief and Understanding), the parable of the prodigal son expresses their awakened understanding that the treasure of Buddhahood was always theirs, though they had wandered far from it.
A young man leaves his father's home and wanders for fifty years through distant lands, sinking ever deeper into poverty and hardship. His father, who has become enormously wealthy, never ceases to search for his lost son and grieves continually. Eventually the son, seeking work, happens to arrive at his father's estate. He does not recognize the great mansion or the distinguished man seated within it, and he is so intimidated by its grandeur that he turns to flee, fearing he will be seized and forced into servitude.