The Lotus Sutra in Japan

Avalokitesvara saved believers from drowning, burning, and other catastrophes. [...]Avalokitesvara appeared in a number of guises, both male and female. 637-735), included a number of references to the Lotus Sutra and to Tiantai teachings. Because of the Lotus Sutra's elevation of Sakyamuni to a position similar to that of the cosmic Buddha Mahavairocana (Jp. [...]the form of meditation most closely associated with the Lotus Sutra, the Lotus samadhi or repentance, was based on the recitation of the scripture and a passage in the "Encouragements of Samantabhadra" chapter that recommended doing so for twenty-one days (t 9.61b; Hurvitz 1976, 333-34; Stevenson 1986, 67-72). Tendai scholars never arrived at a unified interpretation of the relation between the Lotus Sutra and the Fanwang jing or resolved the question of whether or not strict observance of the precepts was vital. [...]the Lotus Sutra was used to support a variety of approaches to monastic discipline.