Day 2 completes Chapter 1, Introductory
What everyone is seeing – a Buddha’s light illuminating what is happening at this time in many worlds to the east – is what Mañjuśrī saw in a previous existence:
Thereupon Mañjuśrī said to Maitreya Bodhisattva-mahasāttva and the other great men:
Good men! I think that the Buddha, the World-Honored One, wishes to expound a great teaching, to send the rain of a great teaching, to blow the conch-shell horn of a great teaching, to beat the drum of a great teaching, and to explain the meaning of a great teaching.
“Good men! I met many Buddhas in my previous existence. At that time I saw the same good omen as this. Those Buddhas emitted the same ray of light as this, and then expounded a great teaching. Therefore, know this! I think that this Buddha also is emitting this ray of light, and showing this good omen, wishing to cause all living beings to hear and understand the most difficult teaching in the world to believe.
What the Buddha’s light shows is happening now in the east, what happened in the past life of Mañjuśrī – is setting the stage for what’s to come.