Day 32 covers Chapter 28, The Encouragement of Universal-Sage Bodhisattva, closing the Eighth Volume of the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma.
Last month, I covered Sakyamuni’s promise to “anyone who keeps, reads and recites this Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma, memorizes it correctly, studies it, practices it, and copies it.”
This month I start at the beginning with the arrival of Universal-Sage Bodhisattva:
World-Honored One! I heard the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma, which you expounded in this Saha World, from a remote world in which lives Treasure-PowerVirtue-Superior-King Buddha. I came here with many hundreds of thousands of billions of Bodhisattvas in order to hear and receive [this Sutra. World-Honored One! Tell me how the good men or women who live after your extinction will be able to obtain this Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma!
The Buddha said to Universal-Sage Bodhisattva:
The good men or women will be able to obtain this Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma after my extinction if they do the following four things: 1. secure the protection of the Buddhas, 2. plant the roots of virtue, 3. reach the stage of steadiness [in proceeding to enlightenment], and 4. resolve to save all living beings. The good men or women will be able to obtain this sutra after my extinction if they do these four things.
Underscore 4. resolve to save all living beings. This is a bodhisattva practice, not a lesser vehicle for Sravakas or Pratyekabuddhas.