Chapter 1, Introductory (Conclusion).
Having last month considered what Mañjuśrī saw as a result of the light emitted by the Buddha in the past, we witness what happened when Sun-Moon-Light Buddha emerged from his samādhi.
The four kinds of devotees
Of the world of Sun-Moon-Light Buddha
Also saw the Buddha displaying this great wonder.
They had great joy.
They asked one another:
“Why is he doing this?”He who was honored by gods and men
Emerged from his samādhi,
And praised Wonderful-Light Bodhisattva, saying:
“You are the eyes of the world.You are believed and relied on
By all living beings.
You are keeping the store of the Dharma.
Only you will understand the Dharma which I shall expound.”Having praised Wonderful-Light
And caused him to rejoice,
That World-Honored One expounded
The Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma.
He never rose from his seat for sixty small kalpas.
Wonderful-Light, the Teacher of the Dharma,
Kept the Wonderful Dharma
Expounded by that World-Honored One.
That the Buddha expounded the Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma for sixty small kalpas underscores that there are many versions of the Lotus Sutra beyond what we read here.