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.

Having last month covered the promises made to those who copy the Lotus Sutra, we move on to the promise Sakyamuni makes to those who keep Universal Sage’s name.

Thereupon Sakyamuni Buddha praised him, saying:

Excellent, excellent, Universal-Sage! You will protect this sutra so that many living beings may obtain peace and benefits. You have already obtained inconceivable merits and great compassion. You aspired for Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi and vowed [to protect this sutra] by your supernatural powers in the remotest past, and have been protecting this sutra since then. By my supernatural powers, I will protect anyone who keeps your name.

And I pause here to consider the example of Universal-Sage, who, from the “remotest past,” has been protecting the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma “so that many living beings may obtain peace and benefits.”