Day 11 continues Chapter 7, The Parable of the Magic City

This middle section of Chapter 7 is all about an amazing new light that illumines the entire universe. Last month I discussed what the universe had been like before the light, a time when “the three evil regions are crowded; And the living beings in heaven, decreasing.”

From each of the 10 directions, Brahman-heavenly-kings travel in search of the source of the light illumining their palaces. When they arrive in the Well-Composed World of Great-Universal-Wisdom-Excellence Buddha they find him sitting on the lion-­like seat under the Bodhi-tree at the place of enlightenment, surrounded respectfully by gods, dragon-kings, gandharvas, kirµnaras, mahoragas, men and nonhuman beings.

Continuing yesterday‘s focus on the 16 princes, I’ll note that they play an integral role begging the Buddha to turn the wheel of the Dharma.

All of the Brahman-heavenly-kings encourage the Buddha:

Great Saint, turn the wheel of the Dharma
And reveal the reality of all things!
Save the suffering beings
And cause them to have great joy!

If they hear the Dharma, some will attain enlightenment;
Others will be reborn in heaven.
The living beings in the evil regions will decrease;
And those who do good patiently will increase.

Doing good patiently