The Lotus Sutra Part 12

Now in the presence of the World-Honored One we bewail our faults and errors.

Of the Buddha's immeasurable treasure we have gained only a small portion of nirvana, and like ignorant and foolish persons have taken that to be sufficient.

We are like the poor and impoverished man who went to the house of a close friend.

The house was a very prosperous one and he served many trays of delicacies.

The friend took a priceless jewel, sewed it in the lining of the poor man's robe, gave it without a word and then went away, and the man, being asleep, knew nothing of it.

After the man had gotten up, he journeyed here and there to other countries, seeking food and clothing to keep himself alive, finding it very difficult to provide for his livelihood He made do with what little he could get and never hoped for anything finer, unaware that in the lining of his robe he had a priceless jewel.

Later the close friend who had given him the jewel happened to meet the poor man and after sharply rebuking him, showed him the jewel sewed in the robe.

When the poor man saw the jewel his heart was filled with great joy, for he was rich, possessed of wealth and goods sufficient to satisfy the five desires.

We are like that man.

Through the long night the World-Honored One constantly in his pity teaches and converts us, causing us to plant the seeds of an unsurpa.s.sed aspiration.

But because we are without wisdom, we are unaware of this, unknowing.

Having gained a small portion of nirvana, we are satisfied and seek nothing more.

But now the Buddha awakens us, saying 'This is not really extinction, when you have gained the Buddha's unsurpa.s.sed wisdom, then that will be true extinction!'

Now we have heard from the Buddha these prophecies and descriptions of adornment, and how each in turn will bestow a prophecy on his successor, and in body and mind we are filled with joy.

CHAPTER NINE: PROPHECIES CONFERRED ON LEARNERS.

AND ADEPTS.

At that time Ananda and Rahula thought to themselves, whenever we reflect, we consider how delightful it would be if we should receive a prophecy of enlightenment! Immediately they rose from their seats, advanced to a position in front of the Buddha, touched their heads to the ground and bowed to the Buddha's feet. Together they spoke to the Buddha, saying: "World-Honored One, we too should have a share of this! We have put all our trust in the Thus Come One alone, and we are well known to the heavenly and human beings and asuras of all the world. Ananda constantly attends the Buddha and guards and upholds the Dharma storehouse, and Rahula is the Buddha's son. If the Buddha should bestow on us a prophecy that we will attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, then our wishes will be fulfilled and the longings of the mult.i.tude will likewise be satisfied."

At that time two thousand of the voice-hearers disciples, both learners and adepts who had nothing who had nothing more to learn, all rose from their seats, bared their right shoulders, advanced to a position in front of the Buddha, pressed their palms together with a single mind and, gazing up in reverence at the World-Honored One, repeated the wish expressed by Ananda and Rahula and then stood to one side.

At that time the Buddha said to Ananda: "In a future existence you will become a Buddha with the name Mountain Sea Wisdom Unrestricted Power King Thus Come One, worthy of offerings, of right universal knowledge, perfect clarity and conduct, well gone, understanding the world, unexcelled worthy, and trainer of people, teacher of heavenly and human beings, Buddha, World-Honored One. You will offer alms to sixty-two million Buddhas and will guard and uphold their Dharma storehouses, and after that you will attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. You will teach and convert bodhisattvas as numerous as twenty thousand ten thousand million Ganges sands and will cause them to attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Your land will be named Ever Standing Victory Banner, its soil will be clean and pure and made of lapis lazuli. The kalpa will be named Wonderful Sound Filling Everywhere. The life span of that Buddha will be immeasurable thousands, ten thousands millions of asamkhyas of kalpas-though men should calculate and reckon thousands, ten thousands, millions of immeasurable asamkhyas of kalpas, they could never ascertain the life span of the Buddha and the Counterfeit Law will endure in the world for twice the time of the correct law. Ananda, this Mountain Sea Wisdom Unrestricted Power King Buddha will be praised alike by Thus Come Ones of the ten directions who are equal in number to immeasurable thousands, ten thousands, millions of Ganges sands, and they will extol his blessings."

At that time the World-Honored One, wis.h.i.+ng to state his meaning once more, spoke in verse form, saying: I now say to the monks that Ananda, upholder of the Law, will give alms to the Buddhas and after will achieve correct enlightenment.

His name will be Mountain Sea Wisdom Unrestricted Power King Buddha, His land will be clean and pure, named ever Standing Victory Banner.

He will teach and convert bodhisattvas in numbers like Ganges sands.

This Buddha will possess great dignity and virtue, his renown will fill the ten directions.

His life span will be immeasurable because he takes pity on living beings.

His Correct Law, twice that again.

His Counterfeit Law, twice again.

As numerous as Ganges sands will be the countless living beings who in the midst of the Buddha's Law will plant causes and conditions leading to the Buddha way.

At that time in the a.s.sembly eight thousand bodhisattvas who had newly conceived the determination to attain enlightenment all thought to themselves, We have never heard of even a great bodhisattva receiving a prophecy such as this. For what reason should these voice-hearers receive such a prediction?

At that time the World-Honored One, knowing the thought that was in the mind of these bodhisattvas, said to them: "Good men, when Ananda and I were at the place of Void King Buddha, we both at the same time conceived the determination to attain anuttara-samyaksambodhi. Ananda constantly delighted in wide knowledge [of the Law], I constantly put forth diligent effort. Therefore I have already succeeded in attaining anuttara-samyaksambodhi, while Ananda guards and upholds my Law. And he will likewise guard the Dharma storehouses of the Buddha of future existences and will teach, convert and bring success to the mult.i.tude of bodhisattvas. Such was his original vow, and therefore he has received this prophecy."

When Ananda in the presence of the Buddha heard this prophecy delivered to him and heard of the land and adornments he was to receive, all that he had vowed to achieve was realized and his mind was filled with great joy, for he had gained what he had never had before. Immediately he recalled to mind the Dharma storehouses of immeasurable thousands, ten thousands, millions of Buddhas of the past, and he could fully comprehend them without hindrance, as though he had just now heard them. He also recalled his original vow.

At that time Ananda spoke in verse form, saying: The World-Honored One, very rarely met with, has caused me to recall the past, the Law of immeasurable Buddhas, as though I had heard it today.

Now I have no more doubts but dwell securely in the Buddha way.

As an expedient means I act as attendant, guarding and upholding the Law of the Buddhas.

At that time the Buddha said to Rahula: In a future existence you will become a Buddha with the name Stepping on Seven Treasure Flowers Thus Come One, worthy of offerings, of right and universal knowledge, perfect clarity and conduct, well gone, understanding the world, unexcelled worthy, trainer of people, teacher of heavenly and human beings, Buddha, World-Honored One. You will offer alms to Buddhas and Thus Come Ones as numerous as the dust particles of ten worlds. In all cases you will be the eldest son of those Buddhas, just as you are my son now. The adornments of the land of Stepping on Seven Treasure Flowers Buddha, the number of kalpas in his life span, the disciples he converts, his Correct Law and Counterfeit Law will not differ from those of the Thus Come One Mountain Sea Wisdom Unrestricted Power King. You will be the eldest son of that Buddha, and after that you will attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi."

At that time the World-Honored One, wis.h.i.+ng to state his meaning once more, spoke in verse form, saying: When I was crown prince Rahula was my eldest son.

Now that I have gained the Buddha way he receives the Dharma and is my Dharma son.

In existences to come he will see immeasurable millions of Buddhas.

As eldest son to all of them, with a single mind he will seek the Buddha way.

The covert actions of Rahula I alone am capable of knowing.

He manifests himself as my eldest son, showing himself to living beings.

With immeasurable millions, thousands, ten thousands of blessings beyond count, he dwells securely in the Buddha's Law and thereby seeks the unsurpa.s.sed way.

At that time the World-Honored One observed the two thousand learners and adepts, mild and gentle in will, serenely clean and pure, gazing at the Buddha with a single mind. The Buddha said to Ananda, "Do you see these two thousand learners and adepts?"

"Yes, I see them."

"Ananda, these persons will offer alms to Buddhas and Thus Come Ones equal in number to the dust particles of fifty worlds, paying honor and reverence to them, guarding and upholding their Dharma storehouses. In their final existence they will all at the same time succeed in becoming Buddhas in lands in the ten directions. All will have the identical designation, being called Jewel Sign Thus Come One, worthy of offerings, of right and universal knowledge, perfect clarity and conduct, well gone, understanding the world, unexcelled worthy, trainer of people, teacher of heavenly and human beings, Buddha, World-Honored One. Their life span will be one kalpa, and the adornment of their lands, their voice-hearers and bodhisattvas, Correct Law and Counterfeit Law will be all cases the same."

At that time the World-Honored One, wis.h.i.+ng to state his meaning in verse form, saying: These two thousand voice-hearers who now stand in my presence- on all of them I bestow a prophecy that in a future existence they will become Buddhas.

The Buddhas to whom they offer alms will be numerous as the dust particles described above.

They will guard and uphold the Dharma storehouses and after that will gain correct enlightenment.

Each will have a land in one of the ten directions and all will share the same name and designation.

All at the same time will sit in the place of practice and thereby will gain proof of unsurpa.s.sed wisdom.

All will be named Jewel Sign and their lands and disciples, their Correct Law and Counterfeit Law will all be identical and without difference.

All will employ transcendental powers to save living beings in the ten directions.

Their renown will spread everywhere around and in due time they will enter nirvana.

At that time, when the two thousand learners and adepts heard the Buddha bestow this prophecy, they danced for joy ad spoke in verse form, saying: World-Honored One, bright lamp of wisdom, we hear your voice bestowing this prophecy and our hearts are filled with joy as though we were bathed in sweet dew!

At that time the World-Honored One addressed Bodhisattva Medicine King. And through him the eighty thousand great men, saying: "Medicine King, do you see in this great a.s.sembly the immeasurable number of heavenly beings, dragons kings, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimnaras, mahoragas, human and nonhuman beings, as well as monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen, those who seek to become voice-hearers, who seek to become pratyekabuddhas, or those seek the Buddha way? Upon these various kinds of beings who in the presence of the Buddha listen to one verse or one phrase of of the Wonderful Law and for a moment think of it with joy I will bestow on all of them a prophecy that they will attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.

The Buddha said to Medicine King: "In addition, if after the Thus Come One has pa.s.sed into extinction there should be someone who listens to of the Wonderful Law, even one verse or one phrase, and for a moment thinks of it with joy, I will likewise bestow on him a prophesy that he will attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Again if there are persons who embrace, read, recite, expound and copy of the Wonderful Law, even only one verse, and look upon this sutra with the same reverence as they would the Buddha, presenting various offerings of flowers, incense, necklaces, powdered incense, paste incense, incense for burning, silken canopies, streamers and banners, clothing and music, and pressing their palms together in reverence, then, Medicine King, you should understand million Buddhas that such person have already offered alms to a hundred thousand million Buddhas and in the place of the Buddhas have fulfilled their great vow, and because they take pity on living beings they have been born in this human world "Medicine King, if someone should ask what living beings will be able to attain Buddhahood in a latter-day existence, then you should show him all these people in a latter-day existence are certain to attain Buddhahood. Why? Because if good men and good women embrace, read, recite, expound and copy , even one phrase of it, offer various kinds of alms to the sutra, flowers, incense, necklaces, powdered incense, paste incense, incense for burning, silken canopies, streamers and banners, clothing and music, and press their hands together in reverence, then these persons will be looked up to and honored by all the world. Alms will be offered to them such as would be offered to the Thus Come One. You should understand that these persons are great bodhisattvas who have succeeded in attaining anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Pitying living beings, they have vowed to be born among them where they may broadly expound and make distinctions regarding of the Wonderful Law. How much more so is this true, then, of those who embrace the entire sutra and offer various types of alms to it!

"Medicine King, you should understand that these persons voluntarily relinquish the reward due for their pure deeds and, in the time after I have pa.s.sed into extinction, because they pity living beings, they are born in this evil world so they may broadly expound this sutra. If one of these good men or good women in the time after I have pa.s.sed into extinction is able to secretly expound to one person, even one phrase of it, then you should know that de or she is the envoy of the Thus Come One. He has been dispatched by the Thus Come One and carries out the Thus Come One's work. And how much more so those who in the midst of the great a.s.sembly broadly expound the sutra for others! the Thus Come One and carries out the Thus Come One's work. And how much more so those who in the midst of the great a.s.sembly broadly expound the sutra for others!

"Medicine King, if there should be an evil person who, his mind dest.i.tute of goodness, should for the s.p.a.ce of a kalpa appear in the presence of the Buddha and constantly curse and revile the Buddha, that person's offense would still be rather light. But if there were a person who spoke only one evil word to curse or defame the lay persons or monks or nuns who read and recite , then his offense would be very grave.

"Medicine King, these persons who read and recite -you should understand that these persons adorn themselves with the adornments of the Buddhas they are borne upon the shoulders of the Thus Come One. Wherever they may go, one should greet them with bows, with palms pressed single-mindedly together, with reverence and alms, with respect and praise, flowers, incense, necklaces, powdered incense, paste incense, incense for burning, silken canopies, streamers and banners, clothing, delicacies and the making of music. The finest alms that can be offered to a person should be offered to them. Heavenly treasures should be scattered over them, the treasure h.o.a.rds of heaven should be given them as gifts. Why do I say this? Because these persons delight in expounding the Law.

And if one listens to them for even a moment, he will immediately attain the ultimate anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.

An that time the World-Honored One, wis.h.i.+ng to state his meaning once more, spoke in verse form, saying: If you wish to abide in the Buddha way and successfully gain the wisdom that comes of itself, you should be constantly diligent in offering alms to those who embrace .

If you have a wish to quickly obtain wisdom regarding all species of things, you should embrace this sutra and at the same time give alms to those who do so.

If one is capable of embracing of the Wonderful Law, know that such a person is an envoy of the Buddha who thinks wit pity of living beings.

Those who are capable of embracing the Lotus of the Wonderful Law relinquish their claim to the pure land and out of pity for living beings are born here.

Know that persons such as these freely choose where they will be born, and choose to be born in this evil world so they may broadly expound the unsurpa.s.sed Law.

You should offer heavenly flowers and incense, robes decked with heavenly treasures, the wonderful treasure h.o.a.rds of heaven as alms to those who preach the Law.

In the evil world following my extinction if there are those who can embrace this sutra, you should press your palms together in reverence and offer alms to them as you would to the World-Honored One.

The choicest delicacies, all that is sweet and tasty, along with various types of clothing you should offer as alms to these Buddha sons in hopes you may hear a moment of their preaching.

If there are those in a later age who can accept and embrace this sutra, they are my envoys sent out among the people to perform the Thus Come One's work.

If for the s.p.a.ce of a kalpa one should constantly harbor a mind dest.i.tute of good and with angry looks should revile the Buddha, he will be committing an offense of immeasurable gravity.

But if toward those who read, recite and embrace this Lotus Sutra one should even for a moment direct evil words, his offense will be even greater.

If there is someone who seeks the Buddha way and during a certain kalpa presses palms together in my presence and recites numberless verses of praise, because of these praises of the Buddha he will gain immeasurable blessings.

And if one lauds and extols those who uphold this sutra, his good fortune will be even greater.

For the s.p.a.ce of eighty million kalpas, with the most wonderful shapes and sounds, with that which is pleasing to smell, taste and touch, offer alms to the upholders of this sutra!

If you have offered alms in this manner and have heard the teachings for even a moment, then you will experience joy and good fortune, saying, "I have gained great benefit!"

Medicine King, now I say to you, I have preached various sutras, and among those sutras the Lotus is foremost!

At that time the Buddha spoke once more to the bodhisattva and mahasattva Medicine King, saying: "The sutras I have preached number immeasurable thousands, ten thousands millions, among the sutras I have preached, now preach, and will preach, this Lotus Sutra is the most difficult to believe and the most difficult to understand. Medicine King, this sutra is the storehouse of the secret crux of the Buddhas, it must not be distributed recklessly transmitted to others. It has been guarded by the Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, and from times past until now has never been openly expounded, and since hatred and jealousy toward this sutra abound even when the Thus Come One is in the world, how much more will this be so after his pa.s.sing?

"Medicine King, you should know that after the Thus Come One has entered extinction, if there are those who can copy, uphold, read and recite this sutra, offer alms to it and expound it for others, then the Thus Come One will cover them with his robe, and they will also be protected and kept in mind by the Buddhas who are now present in other regions.

Such persons possess the power of great faith, the power of aspiration, the power of good roots, you should know that such persons lodge in the same place as the Thus Come One, and the Thus Come One pats them on the head with his hand.

"Medicine King, in any place whatsoever where this sutra is preached, where it is read, where it is recited, where it is copied, or where a roll of it exists, in all such places there should be erected towers made of the seven kinds of gems, and they should be made very high and broad and well adorned. There is no need to enshrine the relics of the Buddha there. Why? Because in such towers the entire body of the Thus Come One is already present. All kinds of flowers, incense, necklaces, silken canopies. Streamers and banners, music and hymns should be offered as alms to these towers. And they should be accorded reverence, honor and praise. If when people see these towers they bow in obeisance and offer alms, then you should know that such persons have all drawn near to anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.

"Medicine King, suppose there is a man who is parched with thirst and in need of water. On an upland plateau he begins digging a hole in search of water, but he sees that the soil is dry and knows that water is still far away. He does not cease his efforts, however, and bit by bit he sees the soil becoming damper, until gradually he has worked his way into mud.

Now he is determined in his mind to go on, for he knows that he is bound to be nearing water.

"The way of the bodhisattva is the same as this. As long as a person has not yet heard. Not yet understood. And not yet been able to practice this Lotus Sutra, then you should know that person is still far away from anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Why? Because all bodhisattvas who attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi in all cases do so through this sutra.

This sutra opens the gate of expedient means and shows the form of true reality. This storehouse of is hidden deep and far away where no person can reach it.

But the Buddha, teaching, converting and leading to success the bodhisattvas, opens it up for them.

"Medicine King, if there are bodhisattvas who, on hearing this Lotus Sutra, respond with surprise, doubt and fear, then you should know that they are bodhisattvas who have only newly embarked on their course. And if there are voice-hearers who, on hearing this sutra, respond with surprise, doubt, and fear, then you should know that they are persons of overbearing arrogance.

"Medicine King, if there are good men and good women who, after the Thus Come One has entered extinction, wish to expound this Lotus Sutra for the four kinds of believers, how should they expound it? These good men and good women should enter the Thus Come O One's room put on the Thus Come One's robe, sit in the Thus Come One's seat, and then for the sake of the four kinds of believers broadly expound this sutra.

"The 'Thus Come One's room' is the state of mind that shows great pity and compa.s.sion toward all living beings. The Thus Come One's robe is the mind that is gentle and forbearing. The 'Thus Come One's seat is the emptiness of all phenomena. One should seat oneself comfortably therein and after that, with a mind never lazy or remiss, should for the sake of the bodhisattvas and the four kinds of believers broadly expound this Lotus Sutra.

"Medicine King, I will send persons conjured up by magic to other lands to gather together a.s.semblies to listen to the Law, and I will also send monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen conjured up by magic to listen to the preaching of the Law, believe and accept it, and abide by it without violation. If the preachers of the Law are in an empty and silent place, I will at that time send large numbers of heavenly beings, dragons, spirits, gandharvas, asuras, and others to listen to their preaching of the law. Though I should be in another land, from time to time I will make it possible for the preachers of the Law to see my body. If they should forget a phrase of this sutra, I will appear and prompt them so that they are able to recite the text correctly and in full."

At that time the World-Honored One, wis.h.i.+ng to state his meaning once more, spoke in verse form, saying: If you wish to put aside all sloth and remissness, you must listen to this sutra, It is hard to get a chance to hear this sutra, and believing and accepting it too is hard.

If a person is thirsty and wants water he may dig a hole in the high plateau, but as long as he sees the soil dry he knows the water is still far away.

But bit by bit he sees the soil grow damp and muddy and then he knows for certain he is nearing water.

Medicine King, you should understand that people are like this- if they do not hear , they will be far removed from the Buddha's wisdom, But if they hear this profound sutra which defines the Law of the voice-hearer, if they hear this king of the sutras and afterward carefully ponder it, then you should know such persons are close to the wisdom of the Buddha.

If a person expounds this sutra, he should enter the Thus Come One's room, put on the Thus Come One's robe, sit in the Thus Come One's seat, confront the a.s.sembly without fear and broadly expand it for them, making distinctions.

Great pity and compa.s.sion are the room.

Gentleness and patience are the robe.

The emptiness of all phenomena is the seat, and from that the position one should expound the Law for them.

If when a person expounds this sutra there is someone who speaks ill and reviles him or attacks him with swords and staves, tiles and stones, he should think of the Buddha and for that reason be patient.