back to Rissho Kosei-kai web site          

Thus have I heard. Once the Buddha was staying at the City of Royal Palaces on Mount Gridhrakuta with a great assemblage of great bhikshus, in all twelve thousand; all [of them] arhats, faultless, free from [earthly] cares, self-developed, emancipated from all bonds of existence, and free in mind. Their names were Ajnata-Kaundinya, Maha-Kashyapa, Uruvilva-Kashyapa, Gaya-Kashyapa, Nadi-Kashyapa, Shariputra, Maha-Maudgalyayana, Maha-Katyayana, Aniruddha, Kapphina, Gavampati, Revata, Pilindavasta, Vakkula, Maha-Kaushthila, Nanda,¹ Sundara-Nanda, Purna son of Maitrayani,² Subhuti, Ananda, and Rahula - all such great arhats are well known to everybody. In addition there were two thousand under training and no longer under training;³ the bhikshuni Mahaprajapati, with six thousand followers; the bhikshuni Yashodhara, the mother of Rahula, also with her train; there were eighty thousand bodhisattva-mahasattvas, all free from backsliding in regard to Perfect Enlightenment, all having obtained dharani, [all] endowed with knowledge of eloquent discourse,⁴ and rolling the never-retrogressing wheel of the Law; who had paid homage to countless hundreds of thousands of buddhas, under whom they had planted all the roots of virtue, constantly being extolled by them; who cultivated themselves by charity, entered well into the Buddha-wisdom, penetrated the greatest knowledge, and reached the other shore;⁵ whose fame became universally heard in innumerable worlds, they being able to save numberless hundreds of thousands of living beings. Their names were the Bodhisattva Manjushri, the Bodhisattva Regarder of the Cries of the World, the Bodhisattva Great Power Obtained, the Bodhisattva Ever Zealous, the Bodhisattva Never Stopping, the Bodhisattva Precious Palm [of the Hand], the Bodhisattva Medicine King, the Bodhisattva Bold Almsgiver, the Bodhisattva Precious Moon, the Bodhisattva Moon Light, the Bodhisattva Full Moon, the Bodhisattva Great Power, the Bodhisattva Infinite Power, the Bodhisattva Above the Triple World, the Bodhisattva Bhadrapala, the Bodhisattva Maitreya, the Bodhisattva Precious Store, and the Bodhisattva Leader: such bodhisattva-mahasattvas as these, eighty thousand in all. At that time there was Shakra Devendra with his following of twenty thousand divine sons; there were also the Divine Son Excellent Moon, the Divine Son Universal Fragrance, the Divine Son Precious Light, and the four great heavenly kings with ten thousand divine sons in their train; the god Sovereign and the god Great Sovereign,⁶ followed by thirty thousand divine sons; Brahma Heavenly King,⁷ the lord of the saha-world, Great Brahma Shikhin⁸ and Great Brahma Light,⁹ and others, with their following of twelve thousand divine sons. There were [also] the eight dragon kings:¹⁰ Nanda Dragon King, Upananda Dragon King, Sagara Dragon King, Vasuki Dragon King, Takshaka Dragon King, Anavatapta Dragon King, Manasvin Dragon King, and Utpalaka Dragon King, each with some hundred thousand followers: further, the four kimnara kings: Law Kimnara King, Mystic Law Kimnara King, Great Law Kimnara King, and Law-maintaining Kimnara King, each with some hundred thousand followers; besides, the four gandharva kings: Pleasing Gandharva King, Pleasant Sound Gandharva King, Charming Gandharva King, and Charming Sound Gandharva King, each with some hundred thousand followers; further, the four asura kings: Balin Asura King, Kharaskandha Asura King, Vemacitri Asura King, and Rahu Asura King, each with some hundred thousand followers; also the four garuda kings: the Garuda King Great in Dignity, the Garuda King Great in Body, the Garuda King Great in Fullness, and the Garuda King Absolute at Will, each with some hundred thousand followers; and King Ajatashatru, son of Vaidehi,¹¹ with some hundred thousand followers. Each worshiped at the Buddha's feet, retired, and sat to one side.

At that time the World-honored One, surrounded, worshiped, revered, honored, and extolled by the four groups, preached, for the sake of all the bodhisattvas, the Great-vehicle sutra called Innumerable Meanings, the Law by which bodhisattvas are instructed and which the buddhas watch over and keep in mind. Having preached this sutra, the Buddha sat cross-legged and entered the contemplation termed the station of innumerable meanings,¹² in which his body and mind were motionless. At this time the sky rained mandarava, maha-mandarava, manjushaka, and maha-manjushaka flowers over the Buddha and all the great assembly, while the universal buddha-world shook in six ways. Then in the congregation bhikshus, bhikshunis, upasakas, upasikas, gods, dragons, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimnaras, mahoragas, human and nonhuman beings, as well as minor kings and the holy wheel-rolling kings: all of this assembly, obtaining that which had never been before, with joy and folded hands and with one mind looked up to the Buddha. Then the Buddha sent forth from the circle of white hair between his eyebrows¹³ a ray of light, which illuminated eighteen thousand worlds in the eastern quarter, so that there was nowhere it did not reach, downward to the Avici hell and upward to the Akanishtha heaven. In this world were seen in those lands all their living creatures in the six states of existence; likewise were seen the buddhas existing at present in those lands; and there could be heard the sutra-laws those buddhas were preaching; there could also be seen there bhikshus, bhikshunis, upasakas, and upasikas who had practiced and attained the Way; further were seen the bodhisattva-mahasattvas, who walked the bodhisattva-way from various causes, with various discernments in faith, and with various appearances;¹⁴ likewise were seen the buddhas who had entered final nirvana; and there were seen the stupas made of the precious seven for the relics of the buddhas, which were erected after the buddhas entered final nirvana.

At that time Maitreya Bodhisattva reflected thus: "Now does the World-honored One display an appearance so marvelous. What is the cause and reason of this auspicious sign? Now that the Buddha, the World-honored One, has entered into his contemplation and such inconceivable and unprecedented [wonders] appear, of whom shall I inquire, and who will be able to answer?" Again, he reflected thus: "Here is Manjushri, the son of the Law-king, who has been in close contact with and paid homage to former innumerable buddhas, and who must have witnessed such unprecedented signs as these. Let me now ask him."

Then [also] the bhikshus, bhikshunis, upasakas, upasikas, and all the heavenly beings, dragons, and other spirits reflected thus: "Of whom shall we now inquire concerning this shining spiritual sign of the Buddha?"

Then Maitreya Bodhisattva, desiring to resolve his own doubts and observing the thoughts [arising] in all the assembly of four groups of bhikshus, bhikshunis, upasakas, and upasikas, as well as the heavenly beings, dragons, and other spirits, inquired of Manjushri, saying: "What are the cause and reason of this auspicious and spiritual sign, shedding so great a luminous ray, lighting up the eighteen thousand eastern lands, revealing in detail the splendor of those buddha-realms?"

Thereupon Maitreya Bodhisattva, desiring to announce this meaning over again, inquired thus in verse:

"Manjushri!
Why does [our] master
From the white hair between his eyebrows
Universally radiate so great a ray?
The rain of mandarava
And manjushaka flowers
And fragrant breezes of sandal
Delight [our] every heart.
By reason of this
All the earth is replete with splendor,
While this [whole] world
Shakes in six [different] ways.
At this moment the four groups
Are all full of joy,
Glad in body and in mind
To obtain [a sign so] unprecedented.
The ray between his brows
Illuminates the eastern quarter
Of the eighteen thousand lands,
Coloring them all with gold.¹⁵
From the Avici hell
Up to the Summit of All Existence,
[The dwellers] in all the worlds,
The living beings in their six states,
The progress of those being born and of the dying,
Their good and evil karma and environment,¹⁶
The retribution, good or evil,
I see them all from here.
I see also the buddhas,
The holy masters, the lions,¹⁷
Expounding the sutra,
Mystic and supreme;
Their voices clear and pure
Send forth softly sounding tones,
Teaching the bodhisattvas
In numberless myriad kotis;
Their sacred voices, deep and mystic,
Cause men to rejoice in hearing;
Each in his own world,
Proclaiming the good Law
By various reasonings
And innumerable illustrations,
Reveals the Buddha-law
And opens the understanding of all creatures.
If any have met with distress
And are weary of age, disease, and death,
For these they announce nirvana
To bring to an end all distresses.
If any are in a happy estate,
Having paid homage to buddhas,
Devoted to seeking the victorious Law,
For these they announce pratyekabuddhahood.
If any Buddha-sons
Have carried out their various duties,
Seeking after the supreme wisdom,
For those they announce the pure way.
Manjushri!
Abiding here,
I see and hear such things as these
And thousands of kotis of things;
These things so numerous
Let me now briefly describe.
I see in those lands
Bodhisattvas like the sands of the Ganges,
Who in various degrees
Seek after the Buddha-way.
Some there are who give alms of
Gold, silver, and coral,
Pearls¹⁸ and jewels,
Moonstones and agates,¹⁹
Diamonds and precious stones,
Male and female slaves, carriages and animals to ride,
Wagons and litters gem-adorned.
They give all these alms with joy
And, turning toward the Buddha-way,
Seek to gain this vehicle,
The supreme in the triple world,
Magnified by the buddhas.
Besides, there are bodhisattvas
Who give precious four-horse carriages
With railed [seats] and ornate covers
And [other] adorned vehicles as alms.
Also I see bodhisattvas
Who give their own flesh, hands, and feet,
And their wives and children, as alms,
To seek after the supreme Way.
Again I see bodhisattvas
Who give their own heads, eyes, and bodies,
Cheerfully and gladly, as alms,
To seek after the wisdom of the Buddha.
Manjushri!
I see many kings
Who go to visit the buddhas
To ask about the supreme Way,
And then abandon their pleasant lands,
Palaces, ministers, and concubines,
And shaving beard and hair,
Put on the robes of the Law.
I see also bodhisattvas
Who become bhikshus,
Live alone in seclusion and quiet,
And take their joy in reciting sutras.
And I see bodhisattvas
Who in their zeal and earnestness
Enter the depths of the mountains
To ponder the Buddha-way.
I see also those who, renouncing [all] desires,
Constantly dwell in the seclusion of the wilds,
Profoundly to practice meditation
And obtain the five transcendent faculties.
Further I see bodhisattvas
Peacefully meditating with folded hands
And in myriads of stanzas
Extolling the kings of the Law.
Again I see bodhisattvas,
Profound in wisdom, firm in will,
Able to question the buddhas
And receive and retain all they hear.
And I see Buddha-sons,
Perfect in meditation and wisdom,
With innumerable illustrations
Proclaiming the Law for the multitude,
Cheerfully and gladly preaching the Law
To transform bodhisattvas,
And, destroying the army of Mara,
Strike the drum of the Law.
I see also bodhisattvas,
Calm in perfect meditation,
Who, though honored by gods and dragons,
Count it not a joy.
Again I see bodhisattvas
Who, dwelling in forests, emit radiance
That saves the sufferers in hell
And causes them to enter the Buddha-way.
I see also Buddha-sons
Who, unsleeping,
Walk about in the forest,
Diligently seeking the Buddha-way.
Further I see perfect [observers of the] commandments,
In strictness without flaw,
Pure as precious pearls,
Who thereby seek the Buddha-way.
And I see Buddha-sons
Who, abiding in the power of perseverance,
[Though] men of the utmost arrogance
Hate, abuse, and beat them,
Are able to endure all of these
In order to seek the Buddha-way.
I see also bodhisattvas
Who leave all play and laughter
And all foolish companions,
Who seek association with the wise,
And with all their mind get rid of distraction,
Concentrating their thoughts in mountain forests
For myriads of kotis of years,
To seek the Buddha-way.
Or I see bodhisattvas
Who bestow edibles, dainties, drink and food,
And all kinds of medicaments
On buddhas and monks as alms;
Who give famous clothes and superior garments
Worth thousands and myriads,
Or clothes of priceless value,
To buddhas and monks as alms;
Who give myriads of kotis of kinds
Of precious buildings built of sandalwood,
With all sorts of wonderful bed furniture,
To buddhas and monks as alms;
Who give immaculate gardens
Abounding with flowers and fruits,
With flowing springs and bathing pools,
To buddhas and monks as alms;
Who give alms like these,
Every kind most wonderful,
Joyfully without grudging,
Seeking after the supreme Way.
Moreover, there are bodhisattvas
Who preach the Law of tranquillity,
Teaching in various ways
The numberless living beings.
Also I see bodhisattvas
Who observe that the nature of all laws
Is not in two [opposing] forms,²⁰
But like space.
Again I see Buddha-sons,
With minds free from attachments,
By this mystic wisdom
Seeking after the supreme Way.
Manjushri!
There are also bodhisattvas
Who, after the extinction of buddhas,
Pay homage to [their] relics.
Also I see Buddha-sons
Who build numerous stupas,
Innumerable as the sands of the Ganges,
Splendidly adorning the domains,
Precious stupas of height most wonderful,
Five thousand yojanas,
Their height and breadth proportionate,
Two thousand yojanas [around];
Each of those stupas
Has thousands of banners and flags,
Curtains decorated with jewels,
And precious bells harmoniously sounding;
Gods, dragons, and other spirits,
Human beings and beings not human
With perfumes, flowers, and music
Are always paying homage [to them].
Manjushri!
All the Buddha-sons
For worshiping the relics
So splendidly adorn the stupas
That all the domains are thereby
Made extraordinarily wonderful and fine,
Like the king of celestial trees
In full bloom.
The Buddha sends forth but a single ray
And I with all the assembly
See that these domains
Are extraordinarily wonderful.
Rare are the divine powers
And wisdom of the buddhas;
Sending forth a single pure ray,
They illuminate innumerable domains.
We, beholding this,
Attain that which has never been before.
Son of Buddha, Manjushri,
Do you resolve all their doubts!
All of the four groups, joyfully expecting,
Gaze on [thee], O virtuous one, and on me.
Why has the World-honored One
Emitted such a ray of light?
Son of Buddha! Now give answer;
Remove our doubts and make us glad.
For what abundant benefits
Has he spread such a ray of light?
Seated on the wisdom throne,
The Wonderful Law which he has obtained--
Does the Buddha [now] wish to preach it?
Is he [now] going to prophesy?²¹
He shows us all the buddha-lands,
Ornate and pure with precious things,
And we see the buddhas [there];
This is not for any trivial reason.
Know, Manjushri!
All the four groups, the dragons and spirits
Are gazing on and questioning thee
As to what thou wilt say."

At that time Manjushri spoke to Maitreya Bodhisattva-Mahasattva and all the other leaders:²² "All ye good sons! According to my consideration, the Buddha, the World-honored One, is now intending to preach the great Law, to pour the rain of the great Law, to blow the conch of the great Law, to beat the drum of the great Law, and to expound the meaning of the great Law. All ye good sons! Whenever from any of the former buddhas I have seen this auspice, after emitting such a ray, they have thereupon preached the great Law. Because of this, know ye that now the Buddha, having displayed this ray, in like manner intends to cause all creatures to hear and know the Law which all the worlds will find hard to believe. That is why he displays this auspice.

"All ye good sons! In time of yore, infinite, boundless, inconceivable asamkhyeya kalpas ago, there then was a buddha styled Sun Moon Light Tathagata, Worshipful, All Wise, Perfectly Enlightened in Conduct,²³ Well Departed,²⁴ Understander of the World, Peerless Leader,²⁵ Controller,²⁶ Teacher of Gods and Men, Buddha, World-honored One.²⁷ He proclaimed the Right Law, which is good at its commencement, good in its middle, and good at the end; which is profound in its meaning, subtle in its terms, pure and unadulterated, perfect, flawless, and noble in practice.²⁸ For those who sought to be shravakas he preached response to the Law of the Four Noble Truths for the overcoming of birth, old age, disease, and death, and finally [leading to] nirvana; for those who sought pratyekabuddhahood he preached response to the Law of the Twelve Causes; for the bodhisattvas he preached response to the Six Paramitas to cause them to attain Perfect Enlightenment and to accomplish perfect knowledge.

"Next again there was a buddha, also named Sun Moon Light, and again a buddha, also named Sun Moon Light; and in like manner there were twenty thousand buddhas all bearing the same name Sun Moon Light and the same surname Bharadvaja.²⁹ Know, Maitreya! All these buddhas, from the first to the last, bore the same name Sun Moon Light and perfectly possessed the ten titles. The Law which they should preach was good at its commencement, in its middle, and at the end.

"Before the last of these buddhas left his home, he had eight royal sons: the first was named Possessing the Will, the second named Excellent Will, the third named Infinite Will, the fourth named Precious Will, the fifth named Increasing Will, the sixth named Undoubting Will, the seventh named Echoed Will, and the eighth named Law Will.

"These eight princes in their honorable estate were independent, each having dominion over four continents. All these princes, hearing that their father had left his home and attained Perfect Enlightenment, renounced the royal position and, following him, left home, resolute on the Great-vehicle; they constantly practiced noble deeds, and all become teachers of the Law, having planted all roots of goodness under thousands of myriads of buddhas.

"At that time the Buddha Sun Moon Light preached the Great-vehicle sutra called Innumerable Meanings, the Law by which bodhisattvas are instructed and which the buddhas watch over and keep in mind. Having preached this sutra, he at once, amidst the great assembly, sat cross-legged and entered the meditation [termed] the station of innumerable meanings, in which his body and mind were motionless. At this moment the sky rained mandarava, maha-mandarava, manjushaka, and maha-manjushaka flowers over the buddha and all the great assembly, while the universal buddha-world shook in six ways.

"Then, in the congregation, bhikshus, bhikshunis, upasakas, upasikas, gods, dragons, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimnaras, mahoragas, human and nonhuman beings, as well as minor kings and the holy wheel-rolling kings, all of this assembly, obtaining that which had never been before, with joy and folded hands and with one mind looked up to the buddha.

"Then the tathagata sent forth, from the circle of white hair between his eyebrows, a ray of light, which illuminated eighteen thousand buddha-lands in the eastern quarter, so that there was nowhere it did not reach, just like all these buddha-lands which now are seen.

"Know, Maitreya! At that time in the assembly there were twenty kotis of bodhisattvas, who joyfully desired to hear the Law. All these bodhisattvas, beholding this ray of light illuminating the buddha-lands universally, and obtaining that which they had never had before, desired to know the causes of and reasons for that ray.

"Then there was a bodhisattva named Mystic Light, who had eight hundred disciples. When the Buddha Sun Moon Light arose from his contemplation, he preached, by means of the Bodhisattva Mystic Light, the Great-vehicle sutra called the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law, by which bodhisattvas are instructed and which the buddhas watch over and keep in mind. During sixty minor kalpas he rose not from his seat and during [these] sixty minor kalpas his hearers in that assembly remained seated in their places, motionless in body and mind, listening to the buddha's preaching and deeming it but the length of a meal. During that time there was no one in the assembly who felt fatigue in either body or mind.

"The Buddha Sun Moon Light, for sixty minor kalpas having preached this sutra, at once proclaimed these words to the host of Brahmas, Maras, shramanas, Brahmans, gods, men, and asuras: 'Today, at midnight, will the tathagata enter the nirvana of no remains.'³⁰

"Thereupon there was a bodhisattva named Virtue Treasury. The Buddha Sun Moon Light then spoke to all the bhikshus, foretelling³¹ [thus]: 'This Bodhisattva Virtue Treasury will become the next buddha and his name will be Pure Body Tathagata, Arhat, Samyaksambodhi.'

"The buddha, having predicted him, at midnight entered the nirvana of no remains. After the buddha's extinction, the Bodhisattva Mystic Light, having retained [in memory] the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law, expounded it for men during fully eighty minor kalpas. All the eight sons of the Buddha Sun Moon Light took Mystic Light as their teacher. Mystic Light taught and influenced them to be firm in Perfect Enlightenment. All these princes paid homage to innumerable hundred thousand myriad kotis of buddhas and accomplished the Buddha-way. The last to become a buddha was named Burning Light.³²

"He had eight hundred disciples, one of whom was named Fame Seeker. This one was greedily attached to the development of gain, and though he read and recited many sutras repeatedly, none of them penetrated and stuck, for he forgot and lost almost all. So he was named Fame Seeker. This man also, because he had planted many roots of goodness, was able to meet innumerable hundred thousand myriad kotis of buddhas, whom he worshiped, revered, honored, and extolled.

"Know, Maitreya! The Bodhisattva Mystic Light of that time, was it some other person? [No,] it was I myself, [while] the Bodhisattva Fame Seeker was you yourself. Now I see that this auspice is no different from the former one.

"Therefore I consider that the present Tathagata will preach the Great-vehicle sutra called the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law, by which bodhisattvas are instructed and which the buddhas watch over and keep in mind."

Then Manjushri in the great assembly, desiring to announce this meaning over again, spoke thus in verse:

“I remember a past age,
Infinite and numberless kalpas ago;
There was a buddha, the most honored of men,
Named Sun Moon Light.
That world-honored one preached the Law
To save innumerable creatures
And countless kotis of bodhisattvas
And cause them to enter the Buddha-wisdom.
Before that buddha left his home
The eight princes born to him,
Having seen the great sage leave his home,
Also followed him and practiced the noble life.
Then that buddha preached the Great-vehicle,
The sutra called Innumerable Meanings,
Amongst the hosts of living beings,
And in detail defined it for them.
When the buddha had preached this sutra
He then, on the seat of the Law,
Sat cross-legged in the contemplation
Termed the station of innumerable meanings.
The sky rained mandarava flowers,
[While] the heavenly drums sounded of themselves;
Gods, dragons, and spirits
Worshiped the most honored of men.
All of the buddha-lands
At that moment trembled greatly.
The ray sent forth from the buddha's brows
Revealed unprecedented wonders.
This ray, illuminating the eastern quarter
Of eighteen thousand buddha-lands,
Showed everywhere all living creatures
In the state of their mortal karmas.
Some of the buddha-lands were seen
Adorned with every precious thing,
Many-hued with lapis lazuli and crystal,
From the shining of the buddha's ray.
Besides I saw gods, men,
Dragons, spirits and yakshas,
Gandharvas and kimnaras,
Each of them worshiping that buddha.
Further I saw tathagatas
Who of themselves had accomplished the Buddha-way,
Their appearance like mountains of gold,
Very wonderful in their majesty.
As within pure lapis lazuli
A real golden image is made apparent,
So the world-honored one in the great assembly
Expounded the meaning of the profound Law.
In each of the buddha-lands
Were shravakas innumerable;
By the shining of the buddha's ray
Their great host was completely visible.
Besides there were the bhikshus
Who, having dwelt in the mountain forests,
Had zealously advanced and kept the pure commandments
As if they were protecting bright jewels.
And I also saw bodhisattvas
Who practiced donations and perseverance,
As the sands of the Ganges in number,
By the radiance of the buddha's ray.
I saw also bodhisattvas
Who, entering into deep meditation,
Were at rest, motionless in body and mind,
Seeking the supreme Way.
Again I saw bodhisattvas
Who, knowing the nirvana-nature of the Law,
Each in his own domain
Preached the Law and sought the Buddha-way.
Thereupon all of the four groups,
Seeing the Buddha Sun Moon Light
Display great supernatural powers,
With joy in all their minds
Each asked one of another:
'For what reason are these things?'
He who is honored by gods and men
Soon rose from his contemplation,
[Thus] extolling the Bodhisattva Mystic Light:
'Thou art the eye of the world,
To whom all turn in faith,
Able to keep the treasury of the Law.
Such a law as I preach,
Thou alone art able to bear it witness.'
The world-honored one, having [thus] praised him
And caused Mystic Light to rejoice,
Then preached this Law-Flower Sutra
During full sixty minor kalpas,
Never rising from his seat.
The supreme and wonderful Law so preached,
This Mystic Light, Teacher of the Law,
Was wholly able to receive and retain.
When the buddha had preached this Law-Flower
And caused all of them to rejoice,
Then he, on that very day,
Proclaimed to the hosts of gods and men:
'The Truth of the Reality of All Existence
Has [just] been preached for all of you.
I now, at midnight,
Must enter into nirvana.
Do you, with all your mind, advance zealously
And depart from all slackness;
Buddhas are very rarely encountered;
In kotis of kalpas but one is met.'
The sons of the world-honored one,
Hearing that the buddha was entering nirvana,
Every one felt grieved and distressed:
'How sudden is the Buddha's extinction!'
The holy lord, the king of the Law,
Comforted the countless multitude:
'Even when I am extinct,
Be ye not sad and afraid!
This Bodhisattva Virtue Treasury,
In the realization of faultlessness,
Has gained complete understanding.
He will become the next buddha,
Whose name will be called Pure Body;
He, too, will save innumerable creatures.'
That night the buddha became extinct,
As [when] firewood is finished the fire dies out.
His relics were distributed
And innumerable stupas erected.
Bhikshus and bhikshunis,
Numerous as the sands of the Ganges,
Doubled their zealous advance,
Seeking the supreme Way.
This Mystic Light, Teacher of the Law,
Having kept the treasury of the Law,
During eighty minor kalpas
Widely proclaimed the Law-Flower Sutra.
All these eight princes,
Converted by Mystic Light,
Kept firmly the supreme Way
And would see countless buddhas.
Having worshiped the buddhas
And followed them, walking the Great Way,
In succession they could become buddhas,
And one by one they were foretold.
The last, the god of gods,³³
Was called the Buddha Burning Light.
He, the leader of all the sages,³⁴
Saved innumerable living beings.
This Mystic Light, Teacher of the Law,
At that time had a pupil
Who was always of a lazy spirit,
Greedily attached to fame and gain,
Tireless in seeking fame and gain,
Addicted to enjoyment in noble families,
Casting aside that which he had learned,
Forgetting everything and dull of apprehension,
Who because of these things³⁵
Was called Fame Seeker.
He also by practicing good works
Was enabled to see numberless buddhas,
Also to pay homage to buddhas
And to follow them, walking the Great Way,
Perfecting the Six Paramitas,
And now has seen Shakya, the Lion.
He will afterward become a buddha
And will be named Maitreya,
Who shall widely save living creatures
Countless in number.
He who, after the extinction of the other buddha,
Was the slothful one was yourself.
And Mystic Light, Teacher of the Law,
Was I myself who now am [here].
Having seen the Buddha of Light³⁶
Of yore [send forth] a like auspicious ray,
I therefore know that the present Buddha
Desires to preach the Law-Flower Sutra.
The present sign is like the former auspice;
It is the tactful method of buddhas.
Now the Buddha sends forth a ray
To help reveal the Truth of Reality.
Be aware, all of you!
Fold your hands and with all your mind await!
The Buddha will pour the rain of the Law
To satisfy those who seek the Way.
If those who seek after the three vehicles
Have any doubts or regrets,
The Buddha will rid them of them
So that none whatever shall remain."＊

back to top