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Chapter Eight -- Five Hundred Disciples Receive Predictions
At that time Purnamaitreyaniputra, having heard about wisdom and the expedients from the Buddha who speaks of Dharma in accord with what is appropriate, having heard all the great disciples receive predictions of Annuttarasamyaksambodhi, and in addition having heard of the matters of causes and conditions of former lives, and furthermore, having heard of the Buddha's great comfort and the power of his spiritual penetrations obtained what he had never had. His mind was purified and he rejoiced.
Thereupon, he rose from his seat, bowed with his head at the Buddha's feet, and withdrew to one side, gazing unblinkingly at the honored one's countenance.
He then thought, "the World Honored One is most unique. His deeds are rare. He accords with all the various dispositions of beings in the world; employing expedient devices with knowledge and vision, he speaks the Dharma for them, releasing them from various types of greed and attachment. We could never fully express in words the merit and virtue of the Buddha. Only the Buddha, the World Honored One can know our deepest thoughts and past vows."
At that time, the Buddha told the Bhikshus, "Do you see this Purnamaitreyaniputra? I constantly praise him as being foremost of those who speak the Dharma, and I extol his various meritorious qualities, his vigorous and diligent support in helping to proclaim my Dharma. In the midst of the four-fold assembly, he can demonstrate the teaching to the delight and advantage of all. He perfectly interprets the Proper Dharma of the Buddha, greatly benefitting his fellow practitioners of Brahman conduct. Except for the Thus Come One, no one can fully appreciate his eloquence in discussion.
"You should not say that Purnamaitreyaniputra is only able to protect, support, and help propagate my Dharma alone. He has also, in the presence of ninety million Buddhas of the past, protected, supported, and helped to propagate those Buddhas' Proper Dharma, being foremost among the speakers of Dharma.
"Further, he has thoroughly understood the Dharma of emptiness taught by those Buddhas, and gained the Four Unobstructed Wisdoms. He is always able to speak the Dharma, purely and precisely, without doubts. He has perfected the power of the Bodhisattva's spiritual penetrations. Throughout his entire life, he has cultivated Brahman conduct. The Buddhas' contemporaries all spoke of him as actually a Sound Hearer, but this was just an expedient device he used in order to benefit limitless hundreds of thousands of living beings. He further transformed limitless Asankhyeyas of people, causing them to stand in Anuttarasamyaksambodhi.. In order to purify the Buddhalands, he constantly performs the Buddha's work in teaching and transforming living beings.
"O Bhikshus, Purnamaitreyaniputra has been the foremost speaker of the Dharma for the past seven Buddhas, and he is also foremost speaker of Dharma under me. He will also be the foremost speaker of Dharma under all the Buddhas to come in the worthy Kalpa, for whom he will protect, uphold and help in propagating the Buddhadharma. He shall also protect, uphold and help the Dharma of limitless, boundless numbers of future Buddhas, teaching, transforming and benefitting limitless living beings, causing them to stand in Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. In order to purify the Buddhalands, he will be ever vigorous and diligent in teaching and transforming living beings.
"He will gradually perfect the Bodhisattva Path, and after limitless Asankhyeya aeons he will in this land attain Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. His name will be Dharma-Brightness-Thus-Come-One, one Worthy of Offerings, one of Proper and Universal Knowledge, one of Perfect Clarity and Conduct, Well Gone one who Understands the World, Supreme Lord, A Hero Who Subdues and Tames, A Teacher of Gods and Humans, The Buddha, The World Honored One.
"This Buddha shall take great trichiliocosms as many as the sands in the Ganges river as his Buddhaland, with the seven jewels for earth. The land will be as level as the palm of one's hand. It shall have no mountains, or hills, gorges, gullys or ditches. It will be filled with pavilions and palaces of the seven jewels. The palaces of the gods will be located in space nearby so the humans and gods may consort and see one another.
"There will be no evil paths and no women. All the living beings will be born by transformation and have no sexual desire.
"They will obtain great spiritual penetrations. Their bodies will emit light, and they will be able to fly at will. Their resolve will be solid. They will be vigorous and wise. They all will be golden colored, and adorned with the Thirty-two Marks. The living beings in that land will always take two kinds of food: The first, the food of Dharma-joy and the second, the food of Dhyana-happiness.
"The host of Bodhisattvas will number in the limitless Asankhyeyas of thousands of myriads of millions of Nayutas. They will attain great spiritual penetrations and the Four Unobstructed Wisdoms, they will be skilled at teaching and transforming all kinds of living beings. The host of Sound Hearers will be uncountable and unreckonable in number. All will perfect the Six Penetrations, the Three Clarities and the Eight Liberations.
"The realization of this Buddhaland will be thus adorned with limitless meritorious virtues.
"The aeon will be named "Jeweled Brightness." The country will be named "Well-Purified."
"The lifespan of that Buddha will be limitless Asankhyeya aeons and his Dharma will abide for a very long time.
"After that Buddha's extinction, stupas of the seven jewels will be built everywhere in that land."
At that time, the World Honored One, wishing to restate this meaning, spoke verses saying,
All of you Bhikshus listen well,
The path walked by the Buddha's sons,
Because they thoroughly stuided the expedient devices,
Was inconceivable.
Knowing that the multitudes delight in lesser Dharmas,
And also that they fear great wisdom,
Therefore the Bodhisattvas
Become Sound Hearers and Conditioned Enlightened Ones.
Employing countless expedient devices,
They transform all the varieties of living beings.
They speak of themselves as being Sound Hearers,
Very far from the Path of the Buddha.
They cross over limitless multitudes,
Bringing them all to accomplishment.
Even those of little zeal and who are remiss
Are gradually caused to become Buddhas.
Inwardly they practice as Bodhisattvas,
While outwardly they manifest as Sound Hearers
Of few desires, who despise birth and death,
While in reality they are purifying their Buddhalands.
Displaying to the multitudes the Three Poisons,
Appearing to have deviant views
In this way my disciples,
Expediently save living beings.
Were I to speak fully,
Of their various deeds of transformation
Living beings, hearing it,
Would harbor doubts within their minds.
Now, this Purnamaitreyaniputra,
In the past under thousands of millions of Buddhas,
Has cultivated diligently his practice of the Path
Proclaiming and protecting the Dharma of all the Buddhas.
Seeking supreme wisdom,
In the presence of the Buddhas,
He appeared as the head of the disciples.
With much learning and with wisdom
He spoke without fear,
Leading the assembly to rejoice,
And never did he grow weary,
Participating in the Buddhas' work.
Having already crossed over into great spiritual penetrations,
And having perfected the Four Unobstructed Wisdoms,
He knew the faculties of beings, sharp or dull,
And always spoke pure Dharma.
Proclaiming principles such as this,
He taught thousands of millions of miltitudes,
To dwell in the Dharma of the Great Vehicle,
While he purified his own Buddhaland.
In the future, too, he will make offerings,
To limitless, countless Buddhas,
Helping to proclaim the Proper Dharma,
And also purifying his own Buddhaland
Always using expedient devices,
he will speak the Dharma without fear,
Saying incalculable multitudes,
So that they accomplish All-Wisdom.
Having made offerings to Thus Come Ones
And protected and upheld the precious storehouse of Dharma,
He will then become a Buddha
By the name Dharma Brightness.
His country will be named "Well-Purified", made of the seven jewels.
The aeon will be named "Jeweled Brightness."
The host of Bodhisattvas, very great,
Will entirely fill that land,
Numbering in the limitless millions,
All with great spiritual penetrations,
And the perfect power of awesome virtue;
The Sound Hearers also will be countless.
Having the Three Clarities and the Eight Liberations
And the Four Unobstructed Wisdoms,
They will constitute the Sangha there.
The living beings in that land,
Will have all severed sexual desire,
Born purely from transformation,
Their bodies adorned with perfect marks.
Taking Dharma-joy and Dharma-happiness as food,
They will have no thoughts of other kinds of food.
There will be no women there,
Nor any of the evil paths.
The Bhikshu Purna
Having perfected his virtue
Will gain such a pure land,
With a host of very many worthy sages.
Such are the limitless things of which
I have now but spoken in a general way.
At that time, the twelve hundred Arhats whose minds had attained self-control had this thought, "We all rejoice, having attained what we never had before. If the World Honored One would see to conferring upon us a prediction as he has the other great disciples, would this not be a cause for rejoicing?"
The Buddha, knowing the thoughts in their minds, told Mahakashyapa: "I now confer upon these twelve hundred Arhats in succession a prediction of Anuttarasamyaksambodhi."
In this assembly, my great disciple, the Bhikshu, Kaundinya, will make offerings to sixty-two thousands of millions of Buddhas. Having done so, he will then become a Buddha by the name of Universal-Light Thus Come One, one Worthy of Offerings, one of Proper and Universal Knowledge, one of Perfect Clarity and Conduct, Well-Gone One who Understands the World, Unsurpassed Lord, A Taming and Regulating Hero, Teaching of People and Gods, A Buddha, The World Honored One.
"The five hundred Arhats, Uruvilvakashyapa, Gayakashyapa, Nadikashyapa, Kalodayin, Udayin, Aniruddha, Revata, Kapphina, Vakula, Cunda, Svagata, and others all will attain Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, all of them with the same name Universal-Brightness."
At that time the World Honored One, wishing to restate his meaning, spoke verses, saying:
The Bhikshu Kaundinya,
Will see limitless Buddhas,
And after Asankhyeya aeons,
Will realize Equal Proper Enlightenment.
Ever putting forth great light,
Perfecting all spiritual powers,
His name will be heard in the ten directions,
And he shall be revered by all.
He will always speak the Unsurpassed Path,
And will therefore be called Universal-Brightness.
His land will be pure,
With courageous and heroic Bodhisattvas.
All will mount wonderful towers,
And roam through the ten direction lands,
And supreme offerings
They will present to all the Buddhas.
Having made these offerings,
With minds full of rejoicing,
They will instantly return to their own lands,
Such are the spiritual powers they will have.
The lifespan of that Buddha will be sixty-thousand aeons,
His Proper Dharma will dwell twice that long.
The Dharma Image Age will be twice the length of that.
When the Dharma is extinguished, the gods and people will mourn.
These five hundred Bhikshus
Shall in turn become Buddhas
All by the name of Universal-Brightness.
Each shall bestow predictions on his successors
Saying, "After my extinction
Such and such shall become a Buddha.
The World in which he will teach
Will be like mine today.
The adnorments of his land
And his spiritual powers,
The host of Bodhisattvas and Sound Hearers,
The Proper and Dharma Images Ages,
The number of aeons in his lifespan,
Will be as just stated.
Kashyapa, you should know
About these five hundred who have attained self-control.
As for the remaining Sound Hearers,
They shall be likewise.
To those not present in this assembly,
You should expound these matters.
At that time, the five hundred Arhats, having received predictions from the Buddha, jumped for joy.
They rose from their seats and went before the Buddha, bowing with their heads at his feet. Repenting of their errors, they reproached themselves, saying, "World Honored One, we had always thought that we had already gained ultimate extinction. Now we know that we were like unknowing ones. Why is this? We should have obtained the Thus Come one's wisdom, but were content instead with lesser knowledge."
"World Honored One, it is like a person who goes to a close friend's house, gets drunk on wine, and lies down. His friend who is about to go away on official business, sews a priceless pearl inside his clothing as a gift, and then leaves.
"That person, in a drunken stupor, is not aware of anything. On arising, he sets out on his travels and reaches another country, where, for the sake of clothing and food, he expends much effort, endures great hardships, and is content with whatever little he may get.
"Later, his close friend happens to meet him again and says, 'Hey man! How can you, for the sake of food and clothing, have come to this?'
'Long ago, wishing you to gain peace, happiness, and enjoyment of the Five Desires, on such and such a day, month, and year I sewed a priceless pearl into your clothing. From of old until now, it has been present, but you did not know of it. Thus you have toiled and suffered to gain your livelihood. How stupid of you.
'You may now take this jewel, exchange it for what you need, and you will always have whatever you wish and be free from want.'
"The Buddha is also like this. When he was a Bodhisattva, he taught and transformed us, causing us to bring forth the thought of All-Wisdom.
"But, we later completely forgot, and were unknowing and unaware.
"Having attained the way of Arhatship, we said of ourselves that we had gained extinction. In the difficulty of maintaining our livelihood, we were content with what little we had gained."
"Still, our vows for All Wisdom remain; they have not been lost. Now, the World Honored One has caused us to wake up, saying, 'Bhikshus! What you have obtained is not ultimate extinction!
'For a long time, I have been leading you to plant good roots with the Buddha. As an expedient device, I manifested the marks of Nirvana. You said of yourself however, that you had actually attained extinction.'
"World Honored One, now at last we know that we are actually Bodhisattvas, having obtained a prediction for Annuttarasamyaksambodhi. For this reason we rejoice greatly, having gained what we never had before."
At that time, Ajnatakaundinya and the others, wishing to restate this meaning, spoke verses saying,
"Hearing the supreme sound
Of the prediction of peace and tranquility,
We rejoice, gaining what we never had,
And bow before the Buddha of limitless wisdom.
Now, in the presence of the World Honored One,
We repent of our faults and mistakes.
Of the limitless jewels of the Buddha,
We'd gained but a small portion of Nirvana,
And, like unknowing, senseless people,
Contented ourselves with that.
It's like a poor person,
Who goes to a close friend's home,
A very wealthy household,
Stocked with delicacies.
Taking a priceless pearl
The friend sews it in the poor man's clothing
And silently departs,
While the poor man sleeps unaware.
When the man arises,
He travels to another land,
Where, seeking food and clothes to stay alive;
He suffers many difficulties, and
Satisfied with what little he may get,
Wishes for nothing better.
He's unaware that within his clothing
There is a priceless pearl.
The friend who gave him the pearl
Later sees the poor man again,
And having bitterly rebuked him,
Shows him the pearl he sewed in his clothing.
Seeing the pearl, the poor man's
Heart gave rise to great rejoicing.
Rich with much wealth
He enjoys the five desirable objects.
We, too, are like this
In the long night, the World Honored One
Has constantly pitied, seen, taught and transformed us.
Causing us to plant the supreme vows.
But, because we lacked wisdom
We were unaware and did not know,
And, gaining a small portion of Nirvana
We were satisfied and sought nothing more.
Now the Buddha has awakened us,
Saying this is not really extinction.
Gaining the Buddha's supreme wisdom,
That is true extinction.
Now, having heard from the Buddha
Of the matters of predictions and adornments,
And these predictions having been bestowed in succession,
Our bodies and hearts are filled with joy.
Chapter Nine -- Bestowing Predictions Upon Those Studying And Those Beyond Study
At that time Ananda and Rahula had this thought, "We have often thought how happy we would be if we received predictions!"
Then they went before the Buddha, bowed with their heads at his feet, and said, "World Honored One, we, too, should have a share in this, for it is only to the Thus Come One that we go for refuge."
"Further, we are seen, known and recognized by the gods, people and Asuras in all the worlds. Ananda is always your attendant, protecting and upholding the treasury of Dharma. Rahula is the Buddha's son. If the Buddha would see fit to bestow upon us a prediction for Annuttarasamyaksambodhi, our wishes would be fulfilled and the hopes of the assembly would be satisfied."
Then, the two thousand Sound Hearer disciples, those who were studying and those beyond study, all rose from their seats, bared their right shoulders, and went before the Buddha. Singlemindedly they put their palms together and gazed at the World Honored One expressing the same wish as Ananda and Rahula. Then they withdrew to one side.
At that time the Buddha told Ananda, "You in a future age shall become a Buddha by the name of King of Self-control and Penetrations with Wisdom like the Mountains and Seas Thus Come One, One Worthy of Offerings, One of Right and Universal Knowledge, One Whose Clarity and Conduct are Complete, Well-Gone One who Understands the World, Unsurpassed Lord, A Subduing and Taming Hero, Teaching of Gods and People, Buddha, The World Honored One. You shall make offerings to sixty-two million Buddhas, protecting and upholding their storehouses of Dharma. After that, you shall obtain Annuttarasamyaksambodhi. You shall teach and transform twenty-thousand myriads of millions of Gange's sands of Bodhisattvas, causing them to accomplish Annuttarasamyaksambodhi. Your country shall be called 'Banner of Victory Always Raised'. This land will be pure, with lapis lazuli for soil. The Kalpa shall be called 'All-pervasive Wonderful Sound'. This Buddha's lifespan shall be limitless thousands of myriads of millions of Asankhyeya aeons. Were someone to attempt to reckon it through thousands of myriads of millions of limitless Asankhyeya aeons, they could not do so. The Proper Dharma shall dwell in the world for twice that length of time. The Dharma Image Age shall dwell twice the length of the Proper Dharma.
"Ananda, the merit and virtue of the Buddha King of Self control and Penetrations with Wisdom like the Mountains and Seas shall be praised by all the Buddhas of the ten directions equal in number to the sands of limitless thousands of myriads of millions of Ganges rivers."
At that time the World Honored One, wishing to restate this principle, spoke verses saying:
"Now in the midst of the Sangha, I say,
That Ananda, who upholds the Dharma,
Shall make offerings to all the Buddhas
And afterwards realize Right Enlightenment
His name will be The Buddha, King of Self-control and Penetrations,
With Wisdom like the Mountains and Seas.
His country shall be pure;
Called "Banner of Victory Always Raised".
He shall teach and transform the Bodhisattvas,
Uncountable in number.
This Buddha shall have great awesome virtue,
And his name shall be known throughout the ten directions.
His lifespan shall be limitless in length,
Because of his pity for living beings.
The Proper Dharma shall dwell twice as long as his lifespan,
And the Dharma Image Age will last twice that again.
Countless living beings,
Their number like the Ganges' sands,
Shall plant the causal condition of the Buddha Path,
Within this Buddha's Dharma.
At that time, the eight thousand newly resolved Bodhisattvas within the Assembly all had this thought: "We have never heard even great Bodhisattvas receive predictions such as this. For what reason have the Sound Hearers received such directions?"
Then the World Honored One, knowing the thoughts in the minds of the Bodhisattvas, spoke to them, saying, "Good sons, Ananda and I, in the presence of the Buddha Emptiness King, simultaneously brought forth the thought of Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Ananda always took delight in learning, while I was always diligent and vigorous. Therefore, I have already realized Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, and Ananda protects and upholds my Dharma. He will also protect the Dharma storehouses of all the Buddhas of the future, teaching, transforming and bringing to accomplishment the multitudes of Bodhisattvas. Since his past vow was such as this, he has therefore obtained this prediction.
When, Ananda, facing the Buddha, heard this prediction and heard of the adornments of his Buddhaland, his wishes were fulfilled, and his heart was filled with joy, for he had obtained what he never had before. He immediately recollected the Dharma storehouse of limitless thousands of myriads of millions of past Buddhas, penetrating them without obstruction, as if he had just heard them now. He also recalled his past vow.
At that time, Ananda spoke these verses:
The World Honored One is extremely rare,
Having caused me to remember,
Limitless Buddhadharmas of the past,
As if I had but heard them today.
I now have no further doubts,
But dwell securely in the Buddha Path,
Acting expediently as his attendant,
Protecting and upholding the Buddhas' Dharmas.
The Buddha then addressed Rahula saying, "You in a future age shall become a Buddha by the name of 'One Who Steps Upon Flowers of the Seven Jewels'. Thus Come One, One Worthy of Offerings, One of Proper and Universal Knowledge, One Whose Clarity and Conduct are Complete, Well Gone One Who Understands the World, Supreme Lord, A Subduing and Taming Hero, Teaching of Gods and People, A Buddha, The World Honored One. You shall make offerings to Buddhas, Thus Come Ones, in number as the dust motes in ten world systems, always acting as the eldest son of those Buddhas, just as you are now. "The Buddha Who Steps Upon Flowers of the Seven Jewels" shall have an adorned land, and the number of aeons of his lifespan, the number of disciples he shall teach, the length of the Proper Dharma, and the Dharma Image Age shall be the same as those of the Thus Come One King of Self control and Penetrations with Wisdom like Mountains and Seas. He shall also be the eldest son of this Buddha and thereafter obtain Anuttarasamyaksambodhi.
Then, the World Honored One, wishing to restate this meaning, spoke these verses:
"When I was a crown prince,
Rahula was my eldest son.
Now I have realized the Buddha Path,
He has received the Dharma and is my Dharma-son.
In a future age,
He shall see limitless millions of Buddhas,
And be the eldest son of each of them,
Singlemindedly seeking the Buddha Path.
Rahula's secret practices,
Only I can know.
He manifests as my eldest son
So manifesting himself to living beings.
His limitless thousand of myriads of millions
Of merits cannot be counted.
He abides securely in the Buddhadharma,
And thereby seeks the Supreme Path.
At that time the World Honored One saw that those who study and those beyond study, two thousand in all, were pliant in mind, quiet and pure, singlemindedly contemplating the Buddha. The Buddha spoke to Ananda, saying, "Do you see these two thousand who study and are beyond study?"
"Yes, I have seen them."
"Ananda, they shall all make offerings to as many Buddhas, Thus Come Ones, as there are motes of dust in fifty worlds, revering and honoring them, protecting and upholding their storehouses of Dharma. Then simultaneously, in the lands of the ten directions, they shall each realize Buddhahood. They shall all have the same name, "Jewelled Appearance-Thus Come One," One Worthy of Offerings, One of Proper and Universal Knowledge, One Whose Clarity and Conduct are Complete, Well Gone One who Understands the World, Unsurpassed Lord, a Subduing and Taming Hero, Teacher of Gods and People, Buddha, World Honored One. Their lifespans shall be one aeon, the adornments of their lands, the number of Sound Hearers and Bodhisattvas, as well as the length of the Proper Dharma and Dharma Images Ages shall all be the same.
At that time, the Buddha, wishing to restate this meaning, spoke verses, saying:
Upon these two thousand Sound Hearers,
Now standing before me,
I bestow a prediction,
Of their future realization of Buddhahood.
The Buddhas to whom they shall make offerings
Shall be in number as stated above.
Protecting and upholding their Dharma storehouses,
They shall afterwards realize Proper Enlightenment.
Each one, throughout the ten directions,
Shall have the same name,
And at the same time sit upon their Bodhimandas.
Because they shall have certified to Supreme Wisdom,
They shall all be called "Jeweled Appearance"
Their lands and their disciples,
And the length of the Proper Dharma and Dharma Image Ages,
Shall be identical with no difference.
They shall all use spiritual powers,
To save living beings in the ten directions.
Their renown shall be all pervasive,
As they gradually enter into Nirvana.
At that time, the two thousand people, both those who study and those beyond study, hearing the Buddha bestow these predictions, jumped for joy and spoke verses, saying:
O World Honored One, Bright-Lamp-of-Wisdom,
Hearing the sound of these predictions,
Our hearts are filled with joy,
As if sprinkled with sweet dew.
Chapter Ten -- Master Of The Dharma

At that time the World Honored One, through Medicine King Bodhisattva, spoke to the eighty thousand great lords saying, "Medicine King, do you see within this great assembly the limitless gods, Dragon Kings, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Asuras, Garudas, Kinnaras, Mahoragas. and beings both human and non human, as well as the Bhikshus, Bhikshunis, Upasakas, Upasikas, those seeking to be Sound Hearers, those seeking to be Pratyekabuddhas, and those seeking the Buddha Path? Upon such ones as these, all in the presence of the Buddha, who hear but one verse or one sentence of the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra, or who have even one thought of rejoicing in it, I bestow predictions of their future attainment of Annuttarasamyaksambodhi."
The Buddha told Medicine King: "Furthermore, after the extinction of the Thus Come One, should there be one who hears but a single verse or a single sentence of The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra or who has even one thought of rejoicing in it, I bestow upon him as well a prediction of Annuttarasamyaksambodhi.
"Further, should there be one who receives and upholds, reads and recites, explains and teaches, or copies out The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra, be it even a single verse, looking upon the sutra text with reverence as he would the Buddha himself, making various kinds of offerings of flowers, incense, beads, powdered incense, paste incense, burning incense, silk canopies, banners, clothing and music, or who even join his palms in reverence, O Medicine King, you should know that such a person has in the past already made offerings to tens of myriads of millions of Buddhas, in the presence of those Buddhas, accomplishing great vows. It is out of pity for living beings that he is born among human beings.
"O Medicine King, if someone should ask you what type of living beings shall in the future become Buddhas, you should point out to him that these very people in the future certainly shall become Buddhas. Why is this? If a good man or good woman receives and upholds, reads, recites, explains and teaches, or writes out even a single sentence of the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra, or makes various offerings to the sutra text of flower, incense, beads, powdered incense, paste incense, burning incense, silk canopies, banners, clothing, music, or reverently joined palms, that person should be looked up to in reverence by those in all worlds and should receive offerings befitting the Thus Come One. You should know that this person is a great Bodhisattva, one who has accomplished Annuttarasamyaksambodhi. Out of pity for living beings, he has vowed to be born here and to expound upon The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra broadly and in detail.
"How much the more does this apply to one who can receive and uphold it in its entirety and make various kinds of offerings to it.
"Medicine King, you should know that this person has renounced his own pure Karmic reward and, after my extinction, out of pity for living beings, has been born in the evil world to vastly proclaim this Sutra.
"If this good man or good woman after my extinction can secretly explain even so much as a single sentence of The Dharma Flower Sutra for a single person, you should know that this person is a messenger of the Thus Come One, sent by the Thus Come One to do the Thus Come One's work.
"How much the more so is this the case for one who can in the midst of a great assembly extensively explain it to people.
"O Medicine King, should an evil person with unwholesome mind appear before the Buddha, slandering and scolding him constantly for the length of an aeon, his offenses would be relatively light compared to the offenses of a person who speaks even a single evil word reviling one who reads or recites The Dharma Flower Sutra. That person's offense would be very grave.
"O Medicine King, you should know that one who reads and recites The Dharma Flower Sutra takes the Buddha's adornments as his own adornments. He shall carry the Thus Come One on his shoulders. Wherever he goes, he should be welcomed with obeisance. Single mindedly, and with palms joined, one should pay reverence, make offerings, honor, and praise him. He should receive the finest offerings among people, offerings of flowers, incense, beads, powdered incense, paste incense, burning incense, silk canopies, banners, clothing, fine food, and music. Heavenly jewels should be scattered over him, and clusters of the finest heavenly jewels offered to him.
"What is the reason? When this person joyfully speaks the Dharma, those who hear it for but an instant shall directly achieve ultimate Annuttarasamyaksambodhi"
At that time, the World Honored One, wishing to restate these principles, spoke verses, saying:
One wishing to dwell in the Buddha Path
And to accomplish spontaneous wisdom
Should diligently make offerings
To those who receive and uphold The Dharma Flower.
One wishing quickly to gain
The wisdom of all modes
Should receive and uphold this Sutra
And make offerings to those who uphold it.
One who can receive and uphold
The Wonderful Dharma Flower Sutra
You should know the Buddha sent him,
Out of pity for living beings.
Those who can receive and hold
The Wonderful Dharma Flower Sutra,
Have renounced their pure lands,
And, pitying beings, have been reborn here.
You should know that such people,
Are free to be born wherever they wish,
And can, in this evil world
Vastly teach the supreme Dharma.
One should make offerings of heavenly flowers
Incense and heavenly jeweled garments,
And heaven's finest, most marvelous gems,
To the teachers of this Dharma.
One who can uphold this Sutra
After my extinction, in the evil age,
Should be worshipped with palms joined
As if making offerings to the World Honored One
Fine food and many sweet delicacies
And various kinds of clothing,
Should be offered to this disciple of the Buddha,
Hoping to hear him speak even for a moment.
One who can, in the latter age.
Receive and uphold this Sutra,
Has been sent by me into the human realm,
To carry out the Thus Come One's work.
If for the space of an aeon,
One were to harbor an unwholesome mind
And scowling, scold the Buddha,
he would incur measureless offenses.
But if one were, but for a moment, to speak ill
Of one who reads, recites, or upholds The Dharma Flower Sutra,
His offenses would exceed the former's
If one who seeks the Buddha Path
Were for the length of an aeon
To stand before me with palms joined,
Praising me with countless verses,
Because of his praise of the Buddha,
He would gain limitless merit and virtue.
But one who praises the keeper of this Sutra
Would gain blessings exceeding that.
One who, throughout eighty million aeons
Made offerings to the keeper of this Sutra
Of the finest forms, sounds,
Fragrances, tastes, and tangible objects,
And having made such offerings,
Gets to hear it for but an instant,
He should be filled with rejoicing
Thinking, "I have gained great benefit!"
Medicine King, I tell you now,
Of all the Sutras I have spoken,
The Dharma Flower is foremost.
At that time, the Buddha further told the Bodhisattva, Mahasattva Medicine King, "Of all the limitless thousands of myriads of millions of Sutras I have spoken, am speaking, or will speak, The Dharma Flower is the hardest to believe and the hardest to understand.
"Medicine King, this Sutra is the treasury of the Buddhas' secrets and essentials. It must not be distributed or falsely presented to people. That which the Buddhas, the World Honored Ones, have guarded from the distant past until now, has never been explicitly taught. This Sutra incurs much hatred and jealousy even now, when the Thus Come One is present. How much the more so will this be the case after his extinction!"
"Medicine King, you should know that after my extinction, those who can write out, uphold, read, recite, make offerings to and explain it for others, shall be covered with the Thus Come One's robes and shall also be protected and held in mind by the Buddhas present in other directions. These people have great powers of faith, powers of resolution and vows and the power of good roots. Know that these people shall dwell together with the Thus Come One and shall have their heads rubbed by the hand of the Thus Come One."
"Medicine King, in any place where this Sutra is spoken, read, recited, written out, or stored, one should build a Stupa of the seven jewels, making it high, broad, and adorned. It is not necessary to place Sharira in it. Why is this? Within it already is the complete body of the Thus Come One. To this Stupa one should make offerings of all kinds of flowers, incense, beads, silk canopies, banners, vocal and instrumental music, honoring and praising it. If people should see this Stupa, bow before it, and make offerings to it, you should know that they are close to Annuttarasamyaksambodhi.
"Medicine King, many people, both at home and left home, practice the Bodhisattva Path. If they are unable to see, hear, recite, write out, uphold, or make offerings to The Dharma Flower Sutra, know that these people have not yet skillfully practiced the Bodhisattva Path. If they are able to hear this Sutra, then they will be able to skillfully practice the Bodhisattva Path.
"If living beings who seek the Buddha Path get to see or hear The Dharma Flower Sutra and, having done so, receive and uphold it with faith and understanding, know that these people have drawn near to Anuttarasamyaksambodhi.
"Medicine King, it is like a person who is thirsty and in need of water. Although he digs for it on a high plain, all he sees in dry earth, and he knows the water is still far off. He continues efforts without cease and eventually sees moist earth and then mud. He is then certain that water must be close at hand.
"The Bodhisattvas are also like this. Know that those who have not yet heard, not yet understood, or not yet put into practice The Dharma Flower Sutra, are still far from Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Those who have heard and understood, thought upon, and put it into practice certainly should be known as coming near to Anuttarasamyaksambodhi.
"What is the reason? The Anuttarasamyaksambodhi of all the Bodhisattvas belongs to this Sutra. Thus Sutra opens the expedient Dharma doors. It demonstrates the true, real mark. The storehouse of The Dharma Flower Sutra is deep, solid, recondite, and far reaching. No one could reach it except that now, the Buddha, in teaching and transforming the Bodhisattvas and bringing them to accomplishment, demonstrates it for their sakes.
"Medicine King, if a Bodhisattva upon hearing The Dharma Flower Sutra is frightened or afraid, you should know that he is a Bodhisattva of newly resolved mind. If a Sound Hearer, upon hearing this Sutra is frightened or afraid, you should know that he is one of overweening arrogance.
Medicine King, if there is a good man or a good woman, after the extinction of the Thus Come One, who wishes to speak The Dharma Flower Sutra for the sake of the Four Assemblies, how should they speak it? This good man or good woman should enter the Thus Come One's room, put on the Thus Come One's role, sit on the Thus Come One's throne, and only then expound upon this Sutra for the sake of the Four Assemblies.
"The Thus Come One's room is the mind of great compassion towards all living beings. The Thus Come One's robes are the mind of gentleness and patience. The Thus Come One's throne is the emptiness of all Dharmas.
"Established security in these one may then, with an unflagging mind expound upon The Dharma Flower Sutra for the sake of the Bodhisattvas and the Four Assemblies.
"Medicine King, from another country, I will send transformed people to gather an assembly of Dharma listeners. I will also send transformed Bhikshus, Bhikshunis, Upasakas, and Upasikas to listen to the Dharma being spoken. All these transformed people, hearing the Dharma, will believe it and accept it, and comply with it without objection. If one speaks the Dharma in an uninhabited place, I will send gods, ghosts, spirits, Gandharvas, Asuras, and so forth, to listen to him speak the Dharma. Although I am in another country, I will at all times cause the speaker of Dharma to be able to see me. Should he forget a single punctuation mark of the Sutra, I will remind him of it, causing his knowledge to be perfected."
At that time, the World Honored One, wishing to restate this meaning, spoke verses saying,
One who wishes to get rid of laxness,
Should listen to this Sutra.
This Sutra is hard to hear,
And those who believe it and accept it are also rare.
It is like a person thirsty and in need of water
Who digs for it on a high plain,
And sees only dry, parched earth,
And knows that water is still far off.
Gradually he sees most earth and then mud.
And knows for sure that water is near.
Medicine King, you should know
In this way, those people
Who do not hear The Dharma Flower Sutra
Are very far from the Buddha's wisdom.
Those who hear this profound Sutra,
Will thoroughly understand the Sound Hearer Dharmas.
This is the king of Sutras
And as to those who hear it and ponder upon it,
You should know that such people,
Have drawn close to the Buddha's wisdom.
One who speaks this Sutra
Should enter the Thus Come One's room
Put on the Thus Come One's robes,
And sit on the Thus Come One's throne,
And fearlessly, in the assembly,
Expound it to them in detail.
Great compassion is the Thus Come One's room,
Gentleness and patience are the Thus Come One's robes,
The emptiness of all Dharmas is the Thus Come One's throne.
Dwelling in this, one should speak the Dharma.
If, when one speaks this Sutra
Someone should slander him with evil mouth,
Or hit him with knives, sticks, tiles or stones
Recollecting the Buddha, he should endure this.
In a thousand myriads of millions of lands
I manifest a pure, solid body,
Throughout limitless millions of aeons,
Speaking Dharma for the sake of living beings.
If after my extinction,
There is one who can speak this Sutra,
I will send by transformation the Four Assemblies,
Bhikshus and Bhikshunis,
As well as men and women of purity,
To make offerings to that Dharma Master.
I will gather living beings there
To listen to the Dharma.
Should someone wish to harm him,
With knives, sticks, tiles, or stones,
I will send transformed people,
To surround and protect him.
Should the speaker of Dharma
Be alone in an uninhabited place
Where it is lonely without a human sound,
And there be reading and reciting this Sutra,
I will then manifest
A pure and radiant body.
Should he forget a single passage or sentence,
I will remind him so he recites it smoothly.
Should persons of such virtue
Preach for the Four Assemblies,
Or recite the Sutra in a deserted place,
They shall all see me.
Should one be dwelling in an empty place
I will send gods and dragon kings,
Yakshas, ghosts, spirits, and so forth
To be listeners in the Dharma assembly.
This person will delight in speaking the Dharma,
And explain it in detail without obstruction.
Because the Buddhas are protective and mindful of him,
He can cause the assembly to rejoice greatly.
One who draws near this Dharma Master
Will quickly gain the Bodhisattva Path.
One who follows this master in study
Will see Buddhas as countless as the Ganges' sands.
Chapter Eleven -- Vision Of The Jeweled Stupa

At that time, there manifested before the Buddha a Stupa made of the seven jewels. It was five hundred Yojanas in height and two hundred and fifty Yojanas in breadth. It welled up out of the earth and stood in empty space, adorned with all kinds of jeweled objects. It had five thousand railings and thousands of myriads of alcoves. Countless banners and pennants adorned it as well. Jeweled beads were hung from it and myriads of millions of jeweled bells were suspended from its top. The scent of Tamalapatracandana issued from all four sides and filled the entire world. All its banners and canopies were made of the seven jewels: gold, silver, lapis lazuli, mother of pearl, carnelian, real pearls and agate reaching up to the palace of the four heavenly kings.
From the Heaven of the Thirty-Three there rained heavenly Mandarva flowers as an offering to the jeweled Stupa. All the gods, dragons, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Ashuras, Garudas, Kinnaras, Mahoragas, humans, non-humans and so forth, thousands of myriads of millions of them, made offerings to the jeweled Stupa of all kinds of flowers, incense, beads, banners, canopies and instrumental music, reverently honoring it and praising it.
At that time, a loud voice issued from the Stupa speaking in praise, saying, "Good indeed, good indeed, Shakyamuni, World Honored One that you are able, by means of your undifferentiating great wisdom, to speak for the great assembly, The Wonderful Dharma Flower Sutra, a Dharma for teaching Bodhisattvas of whom the Buddhas are protective and mindful. So it is, so it is, Shakyamuni, World Honored One, that all you say is true and real."
Just then the Four Assemblies, seeing the great jeweled Stupa standing in mid-air and hearing the voice from within it, all gained Dharma joy and marveled at this unprecedented occurrence. They rose from their seats, revently placed their palms together and withdrew to one side.
Just then a Bodhisattva Mahasattva by the name of Great Delight in speaking, knowing the doubts in the minds of all the gods, humans, and Asuras and others from all the worlds, spoke to the Buddha saying, "World Honored One, by means of what causes and conditions has this jeweled Stupa welled up out of the earth and produced this loud sound?"
Then the Buddha told the Bodhisattva Great Delight in speaking, "Within this jeweled Stupa is the complete body of the Thus Come One. Long ago, limitless thousands of myriads of millions of Asankheya worlds to the east, in a land called Jeweled Purity, there was a Buddha by the name of Many Jewels. When this Buddha was practicing the Bodhisattva path, he made a great vow saying, 'After I have become a Buddha and passed into extinction, in any of the ten direction lands where the Dharma Flower Sutra is being spoken, my Stupa shall appear there, that I may hear the Sutra and certify it, praising it, saying, 'Good indeed! good indeed!'
"After that Buddha had realized the Way, when he was about to enter into extinction, in the great assembly of gods and humans he spoke to the Bhikshus saying, 'After my extinction, those who wish to make offerings to my complete body should build a large Stupa.'
"By the power of his spiritual penetrations and his vow? throughout the ten direction worlds wherever anyone speaks The Dharma Flower Sutra that Buddha's jeweled Stupa containing his complete body wells up from the earth before the one speaking and expresses praise by saying, 'Good indeed! Good indeed!'
"Great Delight in speaking! Because he has heard The Dharma Flower Sutra being spoken, the Stupa of the Thus Come One Many Jewels has now welled up out of the earth with these words of praise, "Good indeed! Good indeed!'"
Just then, the Bodhisattva Great Delight in speaking, by means of the spiritual power of The Thus Come One, spoke to the Buddha saying, "World Honored One, we all wish to see this Buddha's body."
The Buddha told the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Great Delight in speaking, "The Buddha Many Jewels has made a profound and solemn vow: When my jeweled Stupa manifests in the presence of the Buddhas because The Dharma Flower Sutra is heard, if there is anyone who wishes me to show my body to the Four Assemblies, then the division body Buddhas of that Buddha who is speaking Dharma in the worlds of the ten directions, must all return and gather together in one place. Afterward, my body will appear.
"Great Delight in Speaking, my division body Buddhas present in the ten direction worlds speaking Dharma should now gather together."
Great Delight in Speaking said to the Buddha, "World Honored One, we also wish to see the division bodies of the World Honored One so that we may bow to them and make offerings."
At that time the Buddha emitted a white-hair mark light in which were seen the Buddhas of the lands in the eastern direction equal in number to the grains of sand in five hundred myriads of millions of Nayutas of Ganges rivers. All the Buddhalands had crystal for soil, and were adorned with jeweled trees and jeweled clothing. Countless thousands of myriads of millions of Bodhisattvas filled them. They were covered with jeweled canopies and jeweled nets. The Buddhas in those lands with a great and wonderful sound, were speaking the Dharma. Also seen were limitless thousands of myriads of millions of Bodhisattvas filling those lands speaking the Dharma for the multitudes. Thus it was also in the south, west, north, the four intermediate directions, as well as up and downward wherever the white hair-mark light shone.
At that time all the Buddhas of the ten directions addressed the host of Bodhisattvas saying, "Good men! We should now go to the Saha world, to the place of Shakyamuni Buddha and make offerings to the Stupa of the Thus Come One Many Jewels."
Just then the Saha world was transformed into one of purity, with lapis lazuli for soil and adorned with jeweled trees. Its eight roads were bordered with golden cards. In it there were no towns, villages, cities, oceans, rivers, streams, mountains, brooks, forests or thickets. Precious incense was burned and Mandarava flowers completely covered the ground. Above it were spread jeweled nets and banners hung with jeweled bells. Only those in the assembly remained, as the gods and humans had been moved to another land.
Then all the Buddhas, each bringing with him one great Bodhisattva as an attendant, reached the Saha world and went to the foot of a jeweled tree. Each jeweled tree was five hundred Yojanas in height and adorned with branches, leaves, flowers and fruits. Beneath each jeweled tree was a lion throne five hundred Yojanas in height adorned with great jewels. Then each of the Buddhas sat in the lotus posture on his own throne.
In this way, by turns, the lands of the three thousand great thousand world were filled, and still there was no end to the division bodies of Shakyamuni Buddha from even one direction.
Then Shakyamuni Buddha, wishing to accommodate his division body Buddhas, transformed in each of the eight directions, two hundred myriads of millions of Nayutas of lands, purifying them all. They were without hells, hungry ghosts, animals or Asuras. The gods and humans were all moved to other lands. The lands he transformed all had lapis lazuli for soil and were adorned with jeweled trees five hundred Yojanas tall, decorated with branches, leaves, flowers and fruits. Beneath each tree was a jeweled lion throne, five Yojanas tall decorated with various gems. There were no oceans, rivers or streams and no Mucilinda or Mahamucilinda mountains, no iron ring or great iron ring mountains, and no Mount Sumerus or other kings of mountains. All became one Buddha land. The jeweled earth was level and flat, covered entirely with gem-studded canopies and hung with banners. Precious incense was burned and heavenly, precious flowers covered the ground.
Shakyamuni Buddha, in order that the Buddhas who were coming might have a place to sit, then further transformed in each of the eight directions, two hundred myriads of Nayutas of lands, purifying them all. They were without hells, hungry ghosts, animals or Asuras. The gods and humans were all moved to other lands. The lands he transformed all had lapis lazuli for soil and were adorned with jeweled trees five hundred Yojanas tall, decorated with branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits. Beneath each tree was a jeweled lion throne five Yojanas tall decorated with various gems. There were no oceans, rivers, or streams, and no Mucilinda or Mahamucilinda mountains, no iron ring or great iron ring mountains, and no Mount Sumerus or any other kings of mountains. All became one Buddha land. The jeweled earth was level and flat, covered entirely with gem-studded canopies, and hung with banners. Precious incense was burned and heavenly, precious flowers covered the ground.
Then, the division bodies of Shakyamuni Buddha from the eastern direction, Buddhas in number to the grains of sand in a hundred thousand myriads of millions of Nayutas of lands, each speaking the Dharma, assembled there. In like manner, in turn, the Buddhas from all the ten directions arrived and assembled there, taking their seats in the eight directions.
At that time, each direction was filled with Buddhas, Thus Come Ones, from the four hundred myriads of millions of nayutas of lands in each of the four directions.
At that time, all those Buddhas each seated on a lion throne beneath a jeweled tree, sent an attendant to inquire after Shakyamuni Buddha giving them each a sack full of flowers and saying to them, "Good men! Go to Mount Grdhrakuta, to the place of Shakyamuni Buddha and ask, in our name, 'Are you free from illness and distress? Are you strong and at ease? Are the hosts of Bodhisattvas and Sound Hearers at peace?' Then scatter these precious flowers before the Buddha as an offering saying, 'The Buddha so-and-so wishes that the jeweled Stupa be opened.'" All the Buddhas sent attendants in this manner.
Then, Shakyamuni Buddha, seeing that the division body Buddhas had all assembled there, each seated on a lion throne, and hearing that all the Buddhas together wished that the jeweled Stupa be opened, immediately arose from his seat into empty space. All those of the Four Assemblies rose, placed their palms together, and singlemindedly beheld the Buddha.
Then, Shakyamuni Buddha, using his right-forefinger, opened the door of the Stupa of seven jewels, which made a great sound like that of a bolt being removed from a large city gate.
Thereupon, the entire assembly perceived the Thus Come One Many Jewels seated upon the lion throne inside the jeweled Stupa, his body whole and undecayed as if he were in Dhyana Samadhi. They also heard him say, "Good indeed! Good indeed! Shakyamuni Buddha! Quickly speak The Dharma Flower Sutra! I came here to hear this Sutra!"
The Four Assemblies, upon seeing a Buddha who had crossed over into extinction limitless thousands of myriads of millions of aeons ago, speak in this way, praised it as something unprecedented, they scattered heaps of precious heavenly flowers upon the Buddha Many Jewels and Shakyamuni Buddha.
The Buddha Many Jewels, in the jeweled Stupa, offered half of his seat to Shakyamuni Buddha, saying, "Shakyamuni Buddha, would you take this seat?" Shakyamuni Buddha then entered the Stupa and sat down in full lotus on half of that seat.
The great assembly, seeing the two Thus Come Ones seated in the jeweled Stupa in full lotus on the lion throne, all had this thought, "The Buddhas are sitting up so high and far off. We only wish that the Thus Come One would use the power of his spiritual penetrations and enable us all to dwell in empty space."
Shakyamuni Buddha then used his spiritual powers and took the entire assembly up into empty space.
With a great voice he addressed the Four Assemblies, saying; "Who, in this Saha land, can broadly speak this Sutra of the Dharma Flower? Now is the proper time, for the Thus Come One will shortly enter Nirvana. The Buddha wishes to bequeath The Dharma Flower Sutra."
The World Honored One, wishing to restate this meaning, spoke verses saying:
The sagely lord, World Honored One,
Although long extinct
Within this jeweled Stupa
Has come here for the Dharma.
Who would not be diligent
For the sake of the Dharma?
This Buddha became extinct
Countless aeons ago and yet,
In place after place, he listens to the Dharma,
Because it is difficult to encounter.
In the past this Buddha made a vow,
"After my extinction,
I will go everywhere
In order to hear the Dharma."
Also, my division bodies,
Limitless Buddhas,
Equal in number to the Ganges' sands
Have come, wishing to hear the Dharma
And to see the extinct
Thus Come One, Many Jewels.
Casting aside their wondrous lands
And assemblies of disciples
Gods, people, dragons and spirits,
And various offerings,
They have come here
To cause the Dharma long to abide.
In order to seat those Buddhas,
I have used my spiritual powers,
To move countless multitudes
And purify the lands.
Each one of the Buddhas
Takes his place beneath a jeweled tree
Like a lotus adoring
A clear, clean pond.
Beneath the jeweled trees,
There are lion thrones
Upon which the Buddhas sit,
Adorned with brilliant light,
Like great torches gleaming
In the darkness of the night.
Their bodies emit a delicate fragrance
Prevading the ten direction lands
All beings perfumed by it
Are overwhelmed with joy.
Like a great wind
Blowing the small trees,
By means of this expedient device,
The Dharma is caused long to abide.
To the great assembly. I say:
"After my extinction
Who can protect and uphold,
Read, speak and recite this Sutra?
Now, in the presence of the Buddhas
He should make a vow.
The Buddha Many Jewels
Although long extinct
By means of his great vow
Utters the lion's roar.
The Thus Come One Many Jewels,
As well as myself,
And the transformation Buddhas here assembled
Will know of this resolution.
All you disciples of the Buddha,
Whoever can protect this Dharma,
Should make a great vow
To cause the Dharma long to abide.
Whoever can protect
The Dharma of this Sutra,
The Buddha Many Jewels
Has thereby made offerings
To me and Many Jewels.
Dwelling in the jeweled Stupa,
Always travels throughout the ten directions,
For the sake of this Sutra.
Moreover, they will have made offerings,
To the transformation Buddhas here,
Who adorn with splendor,
All the worlds.
If one speaks this Sutra,
They will then see me,
The Thus Come One Many Jewels,
And the transformation Buddhas.
All of you good men
Think it over carefully!
This is a difficult matter
Requiring a great vow.
Other Sutras number
Like the Ganges river's sands
But although one spoke them,
It would not be thought difficult.
If one took Mount Sumeru
And tossed it to another land
Across countless Buddhas lands,
That also would not be difficult.
Or if with a toe
One kicked the great thousand worlds
To another, far-off land,
That also would not be difficult.
Were one to stand on the peak of being
And for the multitudes proclaim,
Limitless other Sutras,
That, too, would not be difficult.
But if after the Buddha's extinction
Within the evil age,
One can speak this Sutra,
That is difficult.
If someone took
Empty space in his hand
And wandered around with it
That would not be difficult.
But if, after my extinction
One can write out and uphold it
And encourage others to write it out,
That is difficult.
If one were to take the earth
And place it on one's toenail,
And carry it up to the Brahma heavens,
That, too, would not be difficult.
After the Buddha's extinction,
In the evil age
To read this Sutra but for an instant,
That is difficult.
If, during the fire at the Kalpa's end
One carried a load of dry grass on one's back
And entering the fire was not burned
That would not be difficult.
But after my extinction
If one can uphold the Sutra
And speak it to a single person,
That is difficult.
If one upheld eighty four-thousand
Dharma treasuries
And the Twelve Divisions of the canon
Expounding upon them to others
Causing all the listeners
To gain the Six Spiritual Penetrations,
Even if one could do this
It would not be difficult.
But if, after my extinction,
One can listen to and accept this Sutra
And inquire into its meaning
That is difficult.
If one were to speak the Dharma
And cause a thousand myriads of millions
Of limitless, countless
Beings, like the Ganges' sands,
To obtain Arhatship
And perfect the Six Spiritual Penetrations,
Although it would be beneficial,
It would not be difficult.
But after my extinction,
If one can reverently uphold
such a Sutra as this
That indeed is difficult!
I, for the sake of the Buddha Way,
Throughout limitless lands,
From the beginning until now,
Have broadly expounded all the Sutras
And among them all
This Sutra is foremost.
If one can uphold it
He then upholds the Buddha's body.
Good men,
After my extinction,
Who can receive and uphold,
Read, and recite this Sutra,
Now, in the presence of the Buddhas should make a vow.
This Sutra is hard to uphold,
If one upholds it for but an instant,
I will rejoice,
And so will all the Buddhas.
One such as this
Shall be praised by all the Buddhas:
"This is courage!
This is vigor,
This is called morality
And the practice of the Dhutas."
He will then quickly obtain
The supreme Buddha Way.
If, in the future, one
Can read and uphold this Sutra,
He is then a true disciple of the Buddha,
Dwelling in the pure, good stage.
And one who after the Buddha's extinction,
Can understand its meaning,
Will act as eyes
For all gods and humans in the world.
In the gate of terror,
One who can speak it for an instant,
Will be worthy of the offerings
Of all the gods and humans.
Chapter Twelve – Devadatta

At that time, the Buddha told the Bodhisattvas, gods, humans, and the Four Assemblies, "In the past, throughout limitless aeons, I sought the Dharma Flower Sutra without laxness or weariness.
"For many aeons, I was a king and vowed to seek supreme Bodhi with an unretreating mind.
"Wishing to perfect the Six Paramitas, I diligently practiced giving, my mind not begrudging elephants, horses, the seven precious things, countries, cities, wives, children, slaves servants, even my head, eyes, marrow, brains, body, flesh, hands, and feet--not sparing even life itself.
"The people of that time had a limitless lifespan. For the sake of the Dharma, I renounced the royal position, leaving the government to the crown prince. I beat upon the Dharma drum, announcing my search for Dharma in the four directions, saying, 'Whoever can speak the Great Vehicle for me, for him I will act as a servant for the rest of my life!'
"At that time a seer came forth and spoke to the king, saying, 'I have a Great Vehicle scripture by the name of The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra. If you do not disobey me, I will expound it for you.'
"When I, the king, heard the seer's words, I jumped for joy. I then followed the seer, supplying all of his needs: picking fruit, drawing water, gathering firewood, and preparing food, even offering my own body as a couch for him, feeling no weariness in body or mind. I served him for a thousand years, for the sake of the Dharma, diligently waiting upon him so he lacked nothing."
At that time the World Honored One, wishing to restate this meaning, spoke verses, saying,
I recall, in Kalpas past, when seeking Dharma,
Although I was a king at the time
I had no greed to enjoy the Five Desires.
Ringing the bell, I announced in the four directions:
"If whoever has the Great Dharma
Will explain it to me, I will be his servant."
"Then the seer Asita came and spoke to me,
The king, saying, 'I have the subtle, wonderful Dharma,
Rare in all the world. If you can cultivate it,
I will speak it for your sake.'
"Hearing what the seer said,
My heart was filled with great joy.
I then followed the seer,
Supplying him with all his needs,
Gather firewood, fruit, and melons,
Respectfully presenting them at the proper time.
Because I cherished the Wonderful Dharma,
I was neither lax nor tired in body or mind.
I diligently sought the Great Dharma
For the sake of all living beings.
And not for my own sake,
Or for the pleasure of the Five Desires.
Thus as King of a Great Realm,
I diligently sought to obtain this Dharma,
And accordingly achieved Buddhahood,
And now I speak it to you.
The Buddha told the Bhikshus, "The king was I, myself, in a former life and the seer was the present Devadatta.
"It is because of my good and wise advisor, Devadatta, that I have perfected the Six Paramitas of kindness, compassion, joy, and giving, as well as the Thirty-two Marks and Eighty Fine Characteristics, coloring of burnished purple-gold, the Ten Powers, the Four Fearlessnesses, the Four Dharmas of Attraction, the Eighteen Unshared Dharmas, the power of the way of spiritual penetrations, the accomplishment of equal, proper enlightenment, and the vast rescue of living beings. All this came about because of my good and wise advisor, Devadatta.
"I announce to the Four Assemblies that, after limitless aeons have passed, Devadatta will become a Buddha by the name of King of Gods Thus Come One, One Worthy of Offerings, One of Right and Universal Knowledge, One Whose Clarity and Conduct are Complete, Well-gone One Who Understands the World, Supreme Lord, Regulating Hero, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, World Honored One. His world shall be called Pathway of the Gods.
"He shall dwell in the world for twenty middle-sized aeons, broadly speaking the wonderful Dharma for living beings. Living beings in number like the Ganges sands shall attain the fruit of Arhatship. Limitless living beings will bring forth the resolve to enlighten to conditions. Living beings in number like Ganges sands will bring forth the Supreme Mind of the Path, attain Patience with the Non-production of Dharmas, and arrive at irreversibility.
"After the Parinirvana of the Buddha King of Gods, the proper Dharma will dwell in the world for twenty middle-sized aeons. A stupa sixty Yojanas high and forty Yojanas wide, made of the seven jewels will be built to hold the Sharira of his complete body. All the gods and humans shall make offerings to and worship the wonderful stupa of seven jewels, using various flowers, powdered incense, burning license, paste incense, clothing, beads, banners, jeweled canopies, instrumental and vocal music.
Limitless living beings shall attain the fruit of Arhatship. Limitless living beings will awaken to Pratyeka Buddhahood. An inconceivable number of living beings will bring forth the resolve for Bodhi and reach irreversibility."
The Buddha told the Bhikshus, in the future if a good man or good woman hears the Devadatta chapter of The Wonderful Dharma Flower Sutra and with a pure mind believes and reveres it, having no doubts, he will not fall into the hells, into the realm of hungry ghosts, or into the animal realm. He will be born in the presence of the Buddhas of the ten directions, always hearing this Sutra wherever he may be born. Should he be reborn among humans and gods, he will receive supreme and subtle bliss. If born in the presence of a Buddha, he will be born by transformation from a Lotus Flower."
At that time, a Bodhisattva-attendant of Many Jewel, World Honored One, from the lower regions by the name of Wisdom Accumulation, spoke to the Buddha Many Jewels, saying, "Let's return to our own land."
Shakyamuni Buddha told Wisdom Accumulation, "Good man, wait a moment longer. There is a Bodhisattva named Manjushri. You should meet him and discuss the Wonderful Dharma. Then you may return to your country."
Then Manjushri, sitting on a thousand petalled lotus as large as a carriage wheel, along with the Bodhisattvas who accompanied him, also sitting on jeweled lotuses, spontaneously rose up out of the Great Sea from the Sagara Dragon Palace. They rose high into the air and went to Magic Vulture Mountain. Descending from his lotus, he went before the Buddhas and bowed in worship at the feet of the two World Honored Ones. Having paid his respects, he went up to Wisdom-Accumulation and when they had inquired after each other's welfare, they moved to one side and sat down.
Wisdom Accumulation Bodhisattva asked Manjushri, "Humane one, how many living beings have you taught there in the Dragon Palace?"
Manjushri Bodhisattva, replied, "An unlimited, unreckronable number, one that cannot be expressed in words or fathomed by the mind. Wait just a moment and you will have proof for yourself."
Before he had finished speaking, countless Bodhisattvas sitting upon jeweled lotuses rose up out of the sea, went to Magic Vulture Mountain and hovered there in space. These Bodhisattvas had been taught and crossed over by Manjushri Bodhisattva. All of them had perfected the Bodhisattva practices and were discussing among themselves the Six Paramitas. Those who had been Sound Hearers were in empty space expounding upon the practices of Sound Hearers. All of them were now cultivating the principle of emptiness of the Great Vehicle.
Manjushri Bodhisattva said to Wisdom Accumulation, "Such is the work of teaching and transforming that I have done within the sea."
At that time, Wisdom Accumulation spoke these verses of praise:
"O greatly wise, virtuous and courageous one,
You have taught and saved countless beings.
Now this great assembly and I
Have seen this for ourselves.
Proclaiming the Real Mark's principle,
Opening the Dharma of One Vehicle,
You are a guide for all living beings
Leading them quickly to Bodhi's realization."
Manjushri said, "While in the sea, I have proclaimed and taught only The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra!"
Wisdom Accumulation asked Manjushri, "This Sutra is extremely profound and subtle. Among all the Sutras, it is a jewel rarely found in the world. Is there any living being who can, through diligence and vigor, cultivate this Sutra and quickly gain Buddhahood?"
Manjushri said, "There is a Dragon King's daughter who is just eight years old. She is the faculties, conducts, and Karmas of living beings and has attained Dharani. She is able to receive and uphold the entire storehouse of extremely profound secrets spoken by the Buddha. She has deeply entered Dhyana Samadhi and thoroughly penetrated all Dharmas. In the space of a Kshana she brought broth the Bodhi mind and attained to irreversibility. Her eloquence is unobstructed and she is compassionately mindful of all living beings as if they were her children. Her merit and virtue is complete. The thoughts of her mind and the words from her mouth are subtle, wonderful, and expansive. She is compassionate, humane and yielding; harmonious and refined in mind and will, and she is able to arrive at Bodhi."
Wisdom Accumulation Bodhisattva said, "I have seen the Thus Come One Shakyamuni practicing difficult ascetic practices throughout limitless aeons, accumulating merit and virtue as he sought Bodhi without ever resting. As I observe the three thousand great thousand worlds, there is no place, not even one the size of a mustard seed, where as a Bodhisattva he did not renounce his life for the sake of living beings. Only after that did he attain the Bodhi Way. I do not believe that this girl can accomplish proper enlightenment in the space of an instant.
They had not yet finished their daughter suddenly appeared before them, bowed with her head at their feet, and withdrew to one side to speak these verses:
"Having deeply understood the marks
Of offenses and blessings,
By shining throughout the ten directions,
Now the wondrous, pure Dharma Body,
Is complete with the Thirty-two Marks and
The Eight Minor Characteristics.
The adorned Dharma Body
Is honored and looked up to by gods and humans,
And revered by all the dragons and spirits.
Of all the varieties of beings,
None fail to respect and revere it.
Hearing about the realization of Bodhi,
Which only a Buddha can certify to,
I proclaim the Great Vehicle teaching,
Which liberates suffering living beings."
At that time, Shariputra spoke to the Dragon Girl, saying, "You claim quick attainment to the Supreme Path. This is difficult to believe. Why? The body of a woman is filthy and not a vessel for the Dharma. How can you attain to the Supreme Bodhi? The Buddha Path is remote and distant. Only after one has passed through limitless aeons, diligently bearing suffering and accumulating one's conduct, perfecting one's cultivation of all Paramitas, can one then attain realization. What is more, a woman's body has Five Obstacles: one, she cannot become a Brahma heaven king; two, she cannot become Shakra; three, she cannot become a Mara king; four, she cannot become a Wheel Turning Sage king; five, she cannot become a Buddha. How can a woman quickly realize Buddhahood?"
Now the Dragon Girl had a precious pearl, its worth equal to the entire system of three thousand great thousand worlds, which she took before the Buddha and presented to him. The Buddha immediately accepted it. The Dragon Girl then said to Wisdom Accumulation and the venerable Shariputra, "I just offered up this precious pearl and the World Honored One accepted it. Was that quick or not?"
"Very quick!" They answered.
The girl said, "With your spiritual powers, watch as I become a Buddha even more quickly than that!" At that moment, the entire assembly saw the Dragon Girl suddenly transform into a man and perfect the Bodhisattva conduct. Instantly she went off to the south, to the world without filth, where, seated on a jeweled lotus, she accomplished Equal and Proper Enlightenment and embodied the Thirty two Marks and Eighty Minor Characteristics. There, for the sake of all living beings throughout the ten directions, she proceeded to proclaim the wonderful Dharma.
While the Bodhisattvas, Sound Hearers, gods, dragon, and the rest of the Eightfold Division, both humans and non-humans in the Saha world all watched from a distance as the Dragon Girl became a Buddha and spoke the Dharma for all the gods and humans, they rejoiced exceedingly and reverently made obeisance from afar. Hearing that Dharma, limitless living beings understood and awoke, attaining to irreversibility. Countless living beings received predictions of the Way. The world without filth quaked in six ways, while in the Saha world, three thousand living beings came to dwell on the ground of irreversibility, and three thousand living beings brought forth the BodhI mind and gained predictions.
Wisdom Accumulation Bodhisattva, Shariputra and the entire assembly silently believed and accepted.
Chapter Thirteen -- Exhortation To Maintain
At that time the Bodhisattva, Mahasattva Medicine King, and the Bodhisattva, Mahasattva Great Delight in speaking, along with a retinue of twenty thousand Bodhisattvas came before the Buddha and made the following vow: "We only pray that the World Honored One will not be concerned. After the Buddha's extinction, we will reverently maintain, read, recite, and explain this Sutra.
"In the future evil ages, as their good roots diminish, living beings will become increasingly arrogant, greedy for benefits and offerings, of increasingly unwholesome roots, far removed from liberation, and difficult to teach and transform. Still, we shall give rise to the great power of patience, read and recite this Sutra, maintain and speak it, write it out, and make various kinds of offerings to it, not sparing our very bodies and lives."
Then, the five hundred Arhats in the assembly who had received predictions, spoke to the Buddha saying, "World Honored One, we too vow to speak this Sutra extensively in other lands."
Again, those still study and those beyond study, eight thousand in number, who had received predictions, rose from their seats, placed their palms together, and facing the Buddha made this vow, "World Honored One, we too, will speak this Sutra extensively in other lands. Why? The people in the Saha world are for the most part evil, arrogant, of scanty merit and virtue, hateful, turbid, flattering, and deceitful their hearts untrue."
The Buddha's foster mother, the Bhikshuni Mahaprajapti, together with six thousand Bhikshunis, both those still studying and those beyond study, rose from their seats, singlemindedly joined their palms, and gazed at the Honored One's countenance without removing their eyes for an instant. The World Honored One then spoke to Gautami saying, "Why do you stare at the Thus Come One with such a worried expression? Are you not thinking of saying that I have not mentioned your name in connection with receiving a prediction for Anuttarasamyaksambodhi? Gautami, I included all of you when previously I conferred predictions upon all of the Sound Hearers. Now you wish to know about your prediction. In the future, within the Dharma of sixty-eight billion Buddhas, you shall be a great Dharma master. You and the six thousand Bhikshunis who are studying and who are beyond study shall all become Dharma masters. In this way you shall gradually perfect the Bodhisattva path and become a Buddha by the name of "Thus Come One Upon Whom All Beings Look With Delight," One Worthy of Offerings, of Right and Universal Knowledge, Perfect in Clarity and Conduct, Well-gone One Who Understands the World, Supreme Lord, Regulating Hero, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, World Honored One. Gautami! The Buddha Upon Whom All Beings Look With Delight and the six thousand Bodhisattvas will successfully confer predictions for Anuttarasamyaksambodhi upon one another.
The Bhikshuni Yashodhara, Rahula's mother, then thought, "When conferring predictions, the World Honored One never mentioned my name."
The Buddha told Yashodhara, "In a future age, within the Dharma of hundreds of thousands of ten thousands of millions of Buddhas, you shall cultivate the Bodhisattva conduct as a great Dharma master, gradually perfecting the Buddha path. In the World 'Wholesome' you shall become a Buddha by the name of 'The Thus Come One Complete with Tens of Thousands of Radiant Marks.' One Worthy of Offerings, of Right and Universal Knowledge, Perfect in Clarity and Conduct, Well-gone, One Who Understands the World, Supreme Lord, Regulating Hero, Teacher or Gods and Humans, Buddha, World Honored One. As a Buddha, your lifespan will be limitless Asankhyeya aeons.
At that time, the Bhikshuni Mahaprajapati and the Bhikshuni Yashodhara, together with their retinues, all rejoiced greatly, having gained what they never had. The spoke these verses in the presence of the Buddha:
The World Honored One, Our leader,
Brings tranquillity to gods and humans:
Hearing this prediction
Our hearts know perfect peace.
When they had finished speaking this verse, the Bhikshunis said to the Buddha, "World Honored One, we too shall extensively proclaim this Sutra in other lands."
At that time, the World Honored One looked upon the eighty billion Nayutas of Bodhisattva Mahasattvas.
All of these Bodhisattvas were Avaivartikas who turned the irreversible Dharma wheel and who had attained all of the Dharanis. They immediately rose from their seats, went before the Buddha, singlemindedly with palms joined, and thought, "If the World Honored One were to command us to maintain and speak this Sutra, we would follow the Buddha's instruction and vastly proclaim this Dharma."
They further thought, :The Buddha is silent now and gives no command. What should we do?"
Then all the Bodhisattvas, reverently complying with the Buddha's will, and wishing to fulfill their own past vows, went directly before the Buddha, and uttered the lion's roar, proclaiming this vow: "World Honored One, after the Thus Come One's extinction, we shall circulate throughout the ten directions to lead living beings to copy out this Sutra, to receive, maintain, read and recite, and explain its meaning, to cultivate in accord with Dharma, and to keep it properly in mind--all through the awesome power of the Buddha. We only pray that the World Honored One although dwelling in another direction will lend us his protection form afar."
At that time, all the Bodhisattvas in unison raised their voices to speak verses saying:
"Pray do not be concerned,
For after the Buddha's extinction
In the frightening evil age,
We will vastly preach.
Ignorant people
With evil mouth will revile us,
Or even beat us with knives or staves,
But we will endure it all.
Bhikshus in the evil age
With deviant knowledge and
Flattering, crooked minds,
Who claim to have gained what they have not,
Have minds filled with arrogance.
Some may appear to be Aranyakas,
For they wear rags and dwell in the wilds.
But although they claim to be on the true path,
They scorn those who live among people.
Coveting profit and offerings,
They will speak Dharma to the white-robed
And be held in reverence by the world
As Arhats with the Six Penetrations.
These people harbor evil thoughts,
Always thinking of vulgar, worldly matters.
Falsely calling themselves Aranyakas,
They will take delight in pointing out our faults,
Saying things like,
"All of these Bhikshus
Are greedy for profit and offerings,"
And so they preach externalist doctrines.
They have written the Sutras themselves
To deceive and confuse worldly people
All for the sake of reputation.
They will single out this Sutra
And in the midst of the multitudes
Slander us
Before the kings, ministers, Brahmans, and lay-people
And even to other Bhikshus.
Attempting to defame us, they will say,
"These are people of deviant views
Who preach an externalist doctrine."
Because we revere the Buddha,
We will enquire all of this evil.
For this we will be mocked
And people will flippantly say,
"All of you are Buddhas."
All such words of ridicule
We will patiently endure.
In the turbid aeon, in the evil age
When there will be much to fear,
Evil ghosts will possess others
In order to slander and insult us.
But, revering and trusting the Buddha,
We shall put on the armor of patience;
In order to speak this Sutra,
We shall endure all these difficulties.
Not cherishing body or life itself,
But caring only for the Supreme Path
We in the ages to come,
Will protect and uphold the Buddha's entrustment.
As the World Honored One himself knows,
In the turbid age, evil Bhikshus,
Not knowing of the Buddha's expedients
Whereby the Dharma is spoken appropriately,
Will frown and speak ill of us,
Repeatedly banishing us
From stupas and temples.
So will be the host of evils,
And yet, recollecting the Buddha's command,
We shall bear up under these events.
If there are those who seek the Dharma,
In the villages, cities, and towns,
We will go to those places
To speak the Dharma entrusted
To us by the Buddha.
We are the Buddha's attendants
Dwelling fearlessly among the multitudes,
We speak the Dharma skillfully,
And hope the Buddha will remain at peace.
We in the presence of the World Honored One,
And before the Buddhas who have come from the ten directions,
Make vows such as these,
And the Buddha himself knows our thoughts."