The Lotus Sutra
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo
Thus I have heard:
Once the Buddha was staying in the city of Raj-Agraha, on the mountain called Gradrakuta, together with a great assembly of twelve thousand monks: all of whom were arhats whose corruption was at an end, who were free from the confusion of desire, who had achieved their own goals, shattered the bonds of existence, and attained complete mental discipline.
Their names were:
- Ajnatakaundinya
- Mahakashyapa
- Uruvilvakashyapa
- Gayakashyapa
- Nadikashyapa
- Shariputra
- Maharn Maudgalyayana
- Mahakatyayana
- Aniruddha
- Kapphina
- Gavampati
| - Revata
- Pilindavatsa
- Vakkula
- Mahakaushthila
- Nanda
- Sundarananda
- Purnamaitrayaniputra
- Subhuti
- Ananda
- Rahula
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—and other great Arhats such as these, whom the assembly knew and recognised.
—buddhistdoor dot com
All of them were great arhats, known to the assembly. There were in addition two thousand others, both those who had more to learn and those who did not.
The nun: Mahaprajapati was there, together with her six thousand attendants; and also the nun: Yasodhara, Rahula's mother, together with her attendants.
There were also eighty thousand bodhisattva mahasattvas, all of whom were irreversible from highest, complete enlightenment (anuttara samyaksambodhi).
They had obtained the dharanis, were established in eloquence, and had turned the irreversible wheel of the Dharma. Each had paid homage to countless hundreds of thousands of buddhas, planted roots of merit in their presence, and had always been praised by those buddhas.
Gene Reeves says of these bodhisattvas there is none who is not a great leader who has attained the Dharma-body. They have attained the precepts, concentration, wisdom, liberation, and insight into liberation. Tranquil and meditative, and constantly in a state of concentration, they are calm and peaceful, not attached to actions or desires. Completely free from perversity and distractions, their minds are calm and serene, free of bias and unrestricted. They have remained this way for billions and billions of eons, and all the innumberable gateways to the Dharma have appeared to them.
Having obtained the greatest wisdom, they can understand all things deeply, completely understanding the reality of the nature and characteristics of things, clearly distinguishing their ontological status and their relative strengths and weaknesses, and make clear the revelatory quality of reality.
Moreover, knowing well the abilities, natures, and desires of all, with incantations and unobstructed eloquence, they obediently and skillfully turn the Dharma wheel of the buddhas.
First, they have small drops of moisture fall to dampen the dust of desire, and by opening the gateway of nirvana, fanning the wind of liberation, and ridding themselves of the heat of worldly passions, they bring about the cooling quality of the Dharma.
Next, raining down the profound teaching of the twelve causes and conditions, pouring it on the ferocious, intense rays of suffering—ignorance, old age, illness, death, and so on—they pour out the unexcelled Great Vehicle, soak the good roots of all the living with it, scatter seeds of goodness over the field of blessings, and everywhere bring forth sprouts of awakening. With wisdom as bright as the sun and the moon, and timely use of skillful means, they make the enterprise of the Great Vehicle prosper and grow, and lead many to attain supreme awakening quickly. Always living in the blessedness of a reality that is fine and wonderful, with immeasurable great compassion, they save the living from suffering.
They are truly good friends of living beings, an excellent field of blessings for the living. Without having to be asked, they teach living beings. They are a place of tranquil happiness for living beings, a place of salvation, a place of protection, and a place of great reliance. For the sake of living beings everywhere they become excellent leaders and teachers, great leaders and teachers. They become eyes for the blind, and ears noses, or tongue for those who are deaf, or have no nose, or cannot speak. They restore defective organs and turn the deranged to great and correct thinking.
Their names were:
- Manjushri
- Avalokitesvara - The Bodhisattva Who Contemplates The World's Sounds
- Mahasthamaprapta - The Bodhisattva Who Has Attained Great Might
- Nityodyukta - The Bodhisattva Constant Vigor
- Aniksiptadhura - The Bodhisattva Unresting
- Ratnapani - The Bodhisattva Jeweled Palm
- Bhaisajyaraja - The Bodhisattva Medicine King
- Pradanasura - The Bodhisattva Courageous Giving
- Ratnacandra - Treasure Moon
| - Candraprabha - Moonbreaker
- Purnacandra - The Bodhisattva Full Moon
- Mahavikramin - The Bodhisattva Great Strength
- Anatavikramin - The Bodhisattva Unlimited Strength
- Trailokyavikrama - The Bodhisattva Who Has Transcended the Three Realms
- The Bodhisattva Bhadrapala
- The Bodhisattva Maitreya
- Ratnakara - The Bodhisattva Jewel Accumulation
- Susathavaha - The Bodhisattva Guiding Master
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—and other Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas such as these, eighty thousand in all.
As the captain or admiral of a ship, they carry masses of living beings across the river of life and death to the shore of nirvana.
As a king or emperor of medicine, they analyze diseases, know well the properties of medicines, give them to all the living according to the disease, and get them to take them.
Advanced in and enjoying the various transcendental practices of bodhisattvas, they are firm and immovable in the land of the Tathagata. Dwelling at peace in the power of their vows, they purify buddha-lands everywhere. They will rapidly attain supreme awakening. All these bodhisattva great ones have such amazing blessings.
At that time, Shakra King of the Divas was present with his retinue of twenty thousand devaputras. Among them were divas named Moon (Candra) Universal Fragrance (Samantagandha), and Jeweled Light (Ratnaprabha); and the Four Great Heavenly Kings with their retinues, ten thousand devaputras in all; including Comfort (Ishvara) and Great Comfort (Maheshvara) with their retinues, thirty thousand devaputras in all.
There was the God King Brahma, ruler of the Saha World, as well as the great Brahma Shikin and the great Brahma Brilliance (Jyotisprabha), and others, with their retinues, twelve thousand devaputras in all.
The eight naga kings—namely, Nanda, Upananda, Sagara, Vasukin, Taksaka, Anavatapta, Manasvin, and Utpalaka—were also there, each of them surrounded by several hundreds of thousands of attendants.
There were four kings of the kimnaras whose names were Dharma, Sudharma, Mahadharma, and Dharmadhara, and each had several hundreds of thousands of attendants.
The four kings of the gandharvas were there. They were Manojna, Manojnasvara, Madhura, and Madhurasvara, each of them also with several hundreds of thousands of attendants.
There, also, were four kings of the asuras, called Badin, Kharaskandha, Vemacitra, and Rahu, each with several hundreds of thousands of attendants.
Mahatejas, Mahakaya, Mahapurna, and Maharddhiprapta, the four kings of the garudas, were there together with several hundreds of thousands of attendants.
Finally, King Ajatasatru, Vaidehi's son, was also there with several hundreds of thousands of his attendants. Each of them, after having bowed at the Buddha's feet, withdrew and sat to one side.
At that time the Bhagavat was respectfully surrounded by the fourfold assembly (i.e., monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen), paid homage, honored, and praised.
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He then taught the bodhisattvas the Mahayana sutra called Immeasurable Meanings (Mahanirdesa), the instruction for the bodhisattvas and the treasured lore of the buddhas.
After having taught this sutra, the Buddha sat cross-legged, entered the samadhi called the "abode of immeasurable meanings" (ananta-nirdesa-pratisthana) and remained unmoving in both body and mind.
Mandarava and great mandarava flowers, manjusaka and great manjusaka flowers then fell like rain from the sky, scattering upon the Buddha and all of his attendants; and the whole buddha world quaked in six ways.
At that time, that whole assembly of such humans and nonhumans as monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen, the devas, nagas, yaksas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimnaras, mahoragas, kings, and noble emperors, having experienced something unprecedented, were filled with joy, and with their palms pressed together they gazed attentively at the Buddha.
Then the Buddha emitted a ray of light from the tuft of white hair between his eyebrows. It illuminated all the eighteen thousand worlds in the east, down as far as the lowest hell, Avici, and up as high as the Akanishta Heaven.
All the sentient beings in those worlds living in the six transmigratory states became visible from this world. The buddhas in those worlds were also seen, and the Dharma they were teaching could be heard.
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The monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen and those who had practiced and achieved the path were also to be seen, while the bodhisattva mahasattvas, of various background causes and conditions, endowed in various degrees with the willingness to understand and having various appearances, were also seen practicing the bodhisattva path.
All of the buddhas who had achieved parinirvana were seen, as well as their relic stupas made of the seven precious treasures. At that moment it occured to Bodhisattva Maitreya: "The Bhagavat has now manifested the sign of great transcendent power. What could be the reason for this marvel? The Buddha, the Bhagavat, has now entered samadhi. Whom should I ask about this wonderful marvel? Who would be able to answer my question?"
Then he thought further: "This Manjusri, Prince of the Dharma, has closely attended and paid homage to innumerable buddhas of the past. He must certainly have seen such a marvelous sign before. I should ask him now."
At the same time it occured to the monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen, devas, nagas, yaksas, and others: "Now whom should we ask about the illumination and marvelous sign of this buddha?"
Then Bodhisattva Maitreya, wanting to clear up his own confusion, and knowing the minds of the fourfold assembly of monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen and of the nagas, yaksas, and other beings in that gathering, anked Manjusri: "What is the reason for this marvelous sign, this great ray of light that illuminates the eighteen thousand worlds in the east and renders visible the adornments of all the buddha worlds?"
Thereupon Bodhisattva Maitreya, wanting to elaborate the meaning of this further, spoke to Manjusri in verse:
"Manjusri, what is the reason
For the guiding master's emanation
From the white hair between his brows
Of a great light which shines everywhere,
and for the rain of Mandaravas
and of Manjushaka flowers,
the breenze of fragrant Chandana (sandalwood) which
gladdens the hearts of those assembled?
For this reason,
the earth is all adorned and pure,
and within this world the earth
quakes in six different ways.
Then the four-fold assembly
rejoices altogether;
in body and in mind enpaptured,
they experience an unprecedented marvel.
The bright light from between the brows
shines into the eastern quarter,
causing eighteen thousand lands
all to become of golden hue.
And from the Avici hell,
upwards to the peak of being,
within each of the worlds are seen
the beings of the six desire bodies,
their destinies in birth and death,
their karmic conditions, good or evil,
their retributions, favorable or ill—
all of this is seen, herein.
Further seen are all the Buddhas,
the lions, the sagely masters,
expounding on the Sutra scriptures,
of foremost subtlety and wonder.
Clear and pure is the sound
of their soft, compliant voices,
teaching all the Bodhisattvas,
numbering in the countless millions.
The Brahma sound, profound and wondrous,
fills those who hear with joy
as, within his world, each one proclaims the proper Dharma.
Through various causes and conditions,
and limitless analogies,
they clarify the Buddhadharma
to enlighten living beings.
To those who've encountered suffering,
weary of sickness, aging, death,
they speak about Nirvana,
which brings all suffering to an end.
To those possessed of blessings who've
made offerings to past Buddhas and
resolved to seek the superior Dharma
they teach the ideal of the pratyekabuddha.
To those heirs of the buddhas,
who cultivate various practices,
seeking wisdom unsurpassed,
they teach the pure path.
O Manjusri, while dwelling here,
I see and hear such things as these,
things numbering in the millions;
such a multitude of them
which I shall now explain in brief.
In these worlds I see Bodhisattvas,
equal in number to the sands of the Ganges River,
seeking the Buddha Way.
according to their various stations.
Perhaps they practice giving,
with gifts of silver, gold, and coral
of conch shells, and of pearls,
mother-of-pearl, carnelian,
of vajra (diamond) and of other gems,
of servants and of carriages,
jeweled hand drawn carts and palanquins.
These they offer up with joy,
in dedication to the Buddha Way,
vowing to obtain the vehicle
foremost in the triple world,
the one which all the Buddhas praise.
There are Bodhisattvas who
give a jeweled coach-and-four,
with rails and flowered canopies,
richly ornamented carriages.
Again are Bodhisattvas seen
who give their flesh, hand, and feet,
who even give their wives and children,
seeking for the utmost Way.
Again are Bodhisattvas seen
whose heads, eyes, and bodies whole
are offered up most joyfully,
seeking the Buddha's wisdom.
O Manjusri,
I see royal monarchs who
visiting those Buddhas' courts
ask about the utmost Way,
and then forsake their pleasant lands,
palaces, ministers, concubines,
and, cutting off their beards and hair,
clothe themselves in Dharma robes.
Seen are Bodhisattvas who
beoming Bhikshus (monks), dwell alone
within the wilds, in quietude,
reciting Sutra texts with joy.
Again are Bodhisattvas seen,
striving with heroic vigor,
entering the mountains deep,
to ponder on the Buddha Way.
Seen, too, are those who've left desire,
who dwell in constant solitude,
deeply cultivating Dhyana Samadhi
and attaining five spiritual penetrations.
Again are Bodhisattvas seen
in the peace of Dhyana, with palms joined,
who, with a thousand ten thousand lines,
sing praises of the Dharma kings.
Again are Bodhisattvas seen,
of profound wisdom and solid will,
able to question the Buddhas and
accept and hold all they have heard.
Further seen are Buddha's disciples,
with wisdom and Samadhi perfect,
who, with limitless analogies,
preach Dharma to the multitudes.
Joyfully they preach the Dharma,
transforming all the Bodhisattvas,
defeating thus the troops of Mara,
and beating on the Dharma drum.
Seen too are Bodhisattvas
in silence and tranquility;
though worshipped by the devas and nagas,
they do not find it cause for joy.
Also seen are Bodhisattvas
dwelling in forests, radiating light,
relieving those suffering in the hells,
and leading them to the Buddha Way.
Also seen are Buddha's disciples
who never sleeping, walk at ease
within the forest groves; they seek
with diligence the Buddha Way.
Seen too are those with perfect precepts
intact, with awe-inspiring manner,
their purity like precious pearls,
with which they seek the Buddha Way.
Also seen are the Buddha's disciples
abiding in the strength of perseverance
and patiently endure those of overweening pride
who maliciously rebuke and beat them.
They are able to endure it all,
seeking for the Buddha Way.
Again are Bodhisattvas seen
who have renounced all frivolity,
idlers and foolish companions,
instead drawing near to those with wisdom.
Singlemindedly casting out confusion,
collecting their thoughts in the mountain forests,
for tens of thousands of millions of years
in quest of the Way of the Buddha.
Bodhisattvas there are seen,
who, with fine food and drink and with
a hundred kinds of broths and medicinal herbs
make offerings to the Buddha and the Sangha.
Who, with fine robes and superior garments,
of value in the millions,
or with invaluable robes
make offerings to the Buddha and the Sangha.
Who, with a million different kinds
of dwellings of precious sandalwood
and with much fine bedding
make offerings to the Buddha and the Sangha.
Who, with gardens and groves, clear and pure,
with flowers and fruits in abundance
with flowing springs and bathing ponds,
make offerings to the Buddha and the Sangha.
Offerings such as these,
of many kinds, extremely fine,
do they give with joy untiring,
seeking for the utmost Way.
There are Bodhisattvas who
teach the Dharma of tranquility
with various instructions
to living beings without number.
Seen are Bodhisattvas who
have perceived the essential character
of all phenomena as lacking the mark of duality,
just like empty space.
Also seen are Buddha's disciples
whose minds have no attachments and
who use this wondrous wisdom,
seeking for the utmost Way.
O Manjusri,
Again, there are Bodhisattvas who,
after the Buddhas cross into parinirvana,
make offerings to the holy relics.
Again are seen Buddha's disciples,
building stupas, building temples,
countless as the sands of the Ganges River,
to adorn those realms and lands.
The Jeweled stupas, tall and fine,
are five thousand Yojanas in height,
two thousand Yojanas in breadth.
Each stupa and temple is adorned
with a thousand curtains and banners
circled around and studded with gems,
and jeweled bells which harmoniously chime.
All the devas, nagas, and spirits,
humans and non-humans,
with incense, flowers, and instrumental music,
constantly make offerings.
O Manjusri,
All the Buddhas' disciples,
adorn the stupas and the shrines
making offerings to the holy relics;
spontaneously, the realms and lands
are superbly fine and exquisite,
like the king of heavenly trees
when its flowers bloom.
The Buddha sends forth this single ray of light,
and I and those assembled here
view within those realms and lands,
the various marvelous wonders.
The transcendent powers of the Buddhas
and their wisdom is most extraordinary:
by emitting a single, pure ray of light,
he has illuminated limitless lands.
Seeing this, we have all
obtained what we have never had.
Disciple of the Buddha, Manju,
pray resolve the assembly's doubts.
The Four-fold assembly joyfully
looks up to you, humane one, and to me.
Why has the World Honored One, the Bhagavat,
emitted such a brilliant ray of light?
O disciple of the Buddha, answer now;
resolve our doubts, so we may rejoice.
What benefit is to be gained
by putting forth this brilliant light?
That wondrous Dharma the Buddha gained
as he sat in the field of the Way——
Does he wish, now, to preach it?
or is he going to give predictions?
The vision of the Buddha-lands,
adorned as they are with many jewels;
as well as the vision of the Buddhas
does not betoken small conditions.
Manju, it should be known,
the four-fold assembly, nagas and devas,
look to you, humane one, hopefully;
what you shall reveal?
Thereupon, Manjusri spoke to Bodhisattva Maitreya and the other worthy beings:
"O sons of a virtuous family, I am very sure that the Buddha, the Bhagavat, the World Honored One, will now teach the great Dharma, rain down the great Dharma, blow the conch of the great Dharma, beat the drum of the great Dharma, and reveal the meaning of the great Dharma.
O sons of a virtuous family, I have seen buddhas in the past who have shown this marvel and have taught the great Dharma immediately after emitting a ray of light.
Therefore, you should conclude that in the very same way the Buddha has now emitted this light and has shown this marvel in order to cause all sentient beings to hear and understand the Dharma which in all the worlds is difficult to understand.
O sons of a virtuous family, in the past, more than innumerable, unthinkable, incalculable eons ago, there was a buddha called Candrasuryapradipa, a Tathagata, Arhat, completely enlightened, perfect in knowledge and conduct, well-departed, knower of the world, unsurpassed, tamer of humans, teacher of devas and humans, Buddha, Bhagavat:
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He taught the True Dharma that was good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end. It was profound in meaning, elegant in speech, and endowed with the character of the pure path of discipline and integrity.
To those seeking for the sravaka vehicle he taught the Dharma with respect to the Four Noble Truths, causing them to overcome birth, old age, illness, and death and to attain nirvana. To the pratyekabuddhas, he taught the Dharma with respect to dependent origination; and to the bodhisattvas he taught the Dharma with respect to the six perfections (paramitas), causing them to attain highest, complete enlightenment and perfect omniscience (sarvajnata).
Candrasuryapradipa begat another buddha also named Candrasuryapradipa. They continued in this way for twenty thousand generations, all buddhas having the same name, Candrasuryapradipa. They also had the same family name, Bharadvaja.
O Maitreya, you should know that this dynasty of buddhas, twenty thousand generations in succession, all had the same name Candrasuryapradipa, endowed with the ten epithets. The Dharma that they taught was good in the beginning, the middle, and the end.
The last in this line was the father of eight princes before he renounced household life. The first was called Mati, the second Sumati, the third Anantamati, the fourth Ratimati, the fifth was called Visesamati, the sixth Vimatisamudghatin, the seventh Ghosamati, and the eigth was called Dharmamati.
These eight princes were endowed with dignity and power, and each of them ruled over four great continents. Having heard that their father had renounced household life and obtained highest, complete enlightenment, all of them abandoned their kingdoms and also renounced household life. Each caused the spirit of the Mahayana to arise within himself, practiced the pure path of discipline and integrity, and became an expounder of the Dharma. They all planted roots of good merit under many thousands of myriads of buddhas.
At that time, the Buddha Candrasuryapradipa taught the Mahayana sutra called Immeasurable Meanings, the instructions for the bodhisattvas and treasured lore of the buddhas. Having taught this sutra, he sat down cross-legged, undisturbed in body and mind among the great assembly and entered the samadhi state called the 'abode of immeasurable meanings.' Then mandarava and great mandarava flowers, manjusaka and great manjusaka flowers fell like rain from the sky, scattering over the Buddha and all of his attendants. And the whole buddha world quaked in six ways.
At that time all in the assembly of humans and nonhumans—monks, nuns, laymen, laywomen, devas, nagas, yaksas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimnaras, mahoragas, kings, and noble emperors—having experienced such an unprecedented marvel, were filled with joy and pressing their palms together they gazed attentively at the Buddha.
Then, the Buddha Candrasuryapradipa emitted a ray of light from the tuft of white hair between his eyebrows which completely illuminated all the eighteen thousand worlds in the east, in the same way that all of these buddha worlds are visible now.
O Maitreya, you should know that at that time there were twenty million (20,000,000) bodhisattvas in the assembly who wanted to hear the Dharma. All of these bodhisattvas, having seen all the buddha worlds completely illuminated by this ray of light, were struck with wonder and wanted to know why it was emitted.
A bodhisattva named Varaprabha was there with his eight hundred disciples. At that time the Buddha Candrasuryapradipa, having emerged from the samadhi state remained sitting for sixty short-eons (a very long time) and revealed to Bodhisattva Varaprabha the Mahayana sutra called Saddharmapundarika, the White Lotus of the Marvelous Law, hereafter called the Lotus Sutra, which was the instruction for bodhisattvas and the treasured lore of the buddhas.
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The assembly also sat there undisturbed in body and mind listening to the Buddha's exposition for sixty short-eons (a very long time) as if only a single mealtime had passed; during that time not a single person among them experienced fatigue of body or mind. [An extreme form of time-dilation called 'blowing open the seconds' where every second passes like a million years.]
Having taught this sutra for sixty short-eons (a very long time), the Buddha Candrasuryapradipa made this proclamation to the assembly of Brahmas, maras, sramanas, brahmans, devas, humans, and asuras, saying:
‟On this day during the middle watch of the night, the Tathagata will enter nirvana without residue.”
Then the Buddha Candrasuryapradipa gave this prediction to a bodhisattva called Srigarbha. Addressing the monks, he said:
‟This Bodhisattva Srigarbha will become the next buddha after me. He will be called Vimalanganetra, a Tathagata, Arhart, Completely Enlightened.”
The Buddha Candrasuryapradipa, after having made this prediction, entered nirvana without residue during the middle of the night. [It was the end of an era : twenty thousand generations vanished into the night.] After the Buddha passed into extinction, Bodhisattva Varaprabha, having preserved the Lotus Sutra, taught it to humans for the full period of eighty short-eons (a very long time, indeed).
This Bodhisattva Varaprabha was made the teacher for the Buddha Candrasuryapradipa's eight princes. Varaprabha led and inspired them and caused them to be firm in highest, complete enlightenment.
After paying homage to innumerable hundreds of thousands of billions of buddhas, all these princes attained the path of the buddhas. The last of these to become enlightened was named Dipamkara.
Among the eight hundred disciples of Bodhisattva Varaprabha there was a man named Yasaskama who was attached to profit. Even though he had repeatedly recited the sutras he never became versed in them and forgot the greater part. That is why he was called Yasaskama, "Fame Seeker." But because he had also planted various roots of good merit, he was able to meet innumerable hundreds of thousands of billions of buddhas whom he rendered homage to, honored, revered, and praised.
O Maitreya, you should know that Bodhisattva Varaprabha was none other than myself, and Bodhisattva Yasaskama was none other than you. The marvel we see here is exactly the same as the previous one. Therefore, I am certain that today the Tathagata will teach the Mahayana sutra called the Lotus Sutra, the instruction for bodhisattvas and treasured lore of the buddhas.
Thereupon, Manjusri, wanting to explain the meaning of this further spoke to the great assembly in verse:
I recall that in ages past,
Limitless, countless aeons ago,
There appeared a Buddha, one honored among people
By the name of Brightness of Sun-Moon-Lamp,
That World Honored One proclaimed the Dharma,
Taking limitless living beings across,
Causing countless millions of Bodhisattvas
To enter the wisdom of the Buddhas.
Before that Buddha had left home,
The eight royal sons born to him,
Seeing the Great Sage leave him home,
Also followed him to practice Brahman conduct.
The Buddha then spoke a Great Vehicle
Sutra by the name of Limitless Principles;
Amidst the assembly, and for their sake,
He set it forth in extensive detail.
When the Buddha had finished speaking the Sutra,
Seated in the Dharma-seat,
He sat in full lotus and entered the Samadhi
Called the Station of Limitless Principles.
From the heavens fell a rain of Mandarava flowers,
And heavenly drums of themselves did sound,
While all the gods, dragons, ghosts and spirits,
Made offerings to the Honored One;
And, within all the Buddha lands,
There occurred a mighty trembling.
The light emitted from between the Buddha's brows
Manifested all these rare events.
The light illumined to the east
Eighteen thousand Buddha lands,
Revealing the places of living beings'
Karmic retributions of birth and death.
Seen, too, were Buddha lands adorned
With a multitude of gems,
The color of lapiz lazuli and crystal,
Illumined by the Buddha's light.
Seen as well were gods and people,
Dragons, spirits, and Yaksha Hordes,
Gandharvas and Kinnaras,
Each making offering to the Buddha.
Thus come ones, too, all were seen
As they naturally accomplished the Buddha Way,
Their bodies' hue like mountains of gold,
Upright, serene, subtle, and fine,
As, within pure lapis lazuli
Would appear an image of real gold.
The World Honored Ones in those assemblies
Proclaimed the profound principle of the Law.
In all the Buddhas' lands,
Were Shravaka hosts, uncountable;
Through the illumination of the Buddha's light
Those assemblies all were fully seen.
There were also Bhikshus who,
Dwelt within the mountain groves,
Vigorously upholding the pure precepts
As if guarding brilliant pearls.
Also seen were Bodhisattvas
Practicing giving, patience, and so forth,
Their number like the Ganges' sands,
Illumined by the Buddha's light.
Seen too were Bodhisattvas who
Had deeply entered Dhyana Samadhi,
With bodies and minds still and unmoving
They sought the Way unsurpassed.
Bodhisattvas, too, were seen who knew
The Mark of Dharmas' still extinction;
Each one within his Buddhaland
Spoke Dharma, seeking the Buddha's path.
Then the four-fold multitudes
Seeing the Buddha Sun-Moon-Lamp
Manifest great and powerful spiritual penetrations,
In their hearts all rejoiced,
And inquired, each of the other,
"What is the reason for these events?"
The Honored One, revered by gods and humans,
Just then from Samadhi did arise,
And praised the Bodhisattva Wondrous Light:
"You act as eyes for the world,
All return to you in faith; you are
Able reverently to hold the Dharma-store.
Dharma such as I do speak——
You alone can certify to its understanding."
The World Honored One having praised him,
And caused Wondrous Light to rejoice,
Then spoke the Sutra of the Dharma Flower.
For a full sixty minor aeons
He did not rise from his seat.
The supreme and wondrous Dharma that he spoke,
The Dharma Master Wondrous Light
Was fully able to receive and hold.
The Buddha, having spoken The Dharma Flower,
And caused the assembly to rejoice,
Later, on that very day,
Announced to the host of gods and humans;
"The meaning of the real mark of all Dharmas
Has already been spoken for all of you,
And now at midnight, I
shall enter into Nirvana.
You should single-heartedly advance with vigor,
And avoid laxness, for
Buddhas are difficult indeed to meet,
Encountered but once in a million aeons."
All of the disciples of the World Honored One
Hearing of the Buddha's entry into Nirvana,
Each harbored grief and anguish,
"Why must the Buddha take extinction so soon?"
The sagely Lord, the Dharma King,
Then comforted the limitless multitude:
"After my passage into extinction,
None of you should worry or fear,
For the Bodhisattva Virtue Treasury,
With respect to the non-outflow mark of reality,
In heart has penetrated it totally;
He will next become a Buddha,
By the name of Pure Body, and
Will also save uncounted multitudes.
That night the Buddha passed into extinction,
As a flame dies once its fuel has been consumed.
The Sharira were divided up,
And limitless stupas built.
The Bhikshus and Bhikshunis,
Their number like the Gange's sands,
Redoubled their vigor in advancing
In their quest for the unsurpassed path.
The Dharma Master Wondrous Light
Reverently kept the store of the Buddha's Law;
For eighty minor aeons, he
Widely spread the Sutra of the Dharma Flower.
All of the eight royal sons
Taught and led by Wondrous Light,
Became solid in the unsurpassed path,
And met with Buddhas beyond all count.
Having presented them offerings,
They accordingly practiced the Great Way,
And in succession, became Buddhas,
Transmitting prophecies in turn.
The last of these, a god among gods,
Was a Buddha by the name of Burner of the Lamp,
A guiding master of all the immortals,
Who brought release to countless multitudes.
The Dharma Master Wondrous Light
Had a disciple at that time
Whose heart harbored laxness, and who
Was greedily attached to fame and gain.
Seeking fame and gain untiringly,
He often visited the great clans;
He cast aside his recitations
Nelgelcted, forgot, and failed to comprehend them.
These, then, were the reasons why
He was given the name "Seeker of Fame."
Yet he also practiced many good deeds,
Enabling him to meet uncounted Buddhas,
And make offerings to all of them.
Accordingly he walked the great path,
And perfected the Six Paramitas.
Now he meets the Shakyan Lion;
Later, He will become a Buddha
By the name of Maitreya,
Who will broadly take all beings over——
Their number far beyond all count.
After that Buddha had passed into extinction,
the indolent one was you,
And the Dharma Master Wondrous Light,
Was I, myself, now present here.
I saw the Buddha Brightness of Lamp;
His light and portents were like these.
Thus I know the present Buddha,
Wishes to speak The Dharma Flower Sutra.
The present marks are like the portents past,
Expedient devices of the Buddhas.
The Buddha now puts forth bright light,
To help reveal the real mark's meaning.
All of you now should understand, and
With one heart, join your palms, and wait;
The Buddha will let fall the Dharma rain,
To satisfy all those who seek the Way.
Those who seek three vehicles,
Should they have doubts or regrets,
The Buddha will remove them now,
So that they vanish and none remain.
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Geopolitics expert warns China preparing for total war against the United States 2021-06-11 05:47
The long-term global domination plan has always been for China to invade and conquer the continental United States by launching attacks from Mexico, while Russia plans to attack and take Alaska, then proceed to conquer Canada.
What has changed recently in all this, however, is that China has sharply accelerated its timetable of attacking America due to emerging revelations about the origins of the covid-19 biological weapon, which was developed under the supervision of the communist Chinese military.
China now knows it must attack and attempt to destroy America before these investigations show China deliberately built the bioweapon and released it on the world.
See the full podcast here. |
20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
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