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.
So today I was immediately struck by the number of visitors who arrive today with Universal-Sage Bodhisattva.
Thereupon Universal-Sage Bodhisattva, who was famous for his virtues and supernatural powers without hindrance, came from a world [in the distance of many worlds] to the east [of this Saha-World]. He was accompanied by innumerable, uncountable great Bodhisattvas. All the worlds quaked as he passed through. [The gods] rained down jeweled lotus-flowers, and made many hundreds of thousands of billions of kinds’ of music. He was also surrounded by a great multitude of innumerable gods, dragons, yaksas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimaras, mahoragas, men and nonhuman beings.
It goes on to say, “They reached Mt. Grdhrakuta of the Saha-World by their virtues and supernatural powers.” That supernatural merit travel is important. Imagine the number of draft animals necessary to haul that crowd. Cleaning up their mess would take a whole other type of supernatural powers.
OK. Couldn’t resist. Back to the point.
Asked by Universal-Sage Bodhisattva how people will hear of the Lotus Sutra after the Buddha’s extinction, Sakyamuni says:
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:
- secure the protection of the Buddhas
- plant the roots of virtue
- reach the stage of steadiness [in proceeding to enlightenment]
- 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.
For those who succeed in these four steps, Universal-Sage Bodhisattva vows:
If anyone keeps, reads and recites this sutra while he walks or stands, I will mount a kingly white elephant with six tusks, go to him together with great Bodhisattvas, show myself to him, make offerings to him, protect him, and comfort him, because I wish to make offerings to the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma.
And of particular interest to me:
If he forgets a phrase or a gatha of the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma, I will remind him of it, and read and recite it with him so that he may be able to understand it.
Universal-Sage Bodhisattva also vows:
Anyone who keeps, reads and recites this sutra, memorizes it correctly, understands the meanings of it, and acts according to it, know this, does the same practices that I do. He should be considered to have already planted deeply the roots of good under innumerable Buddhas [in his previous existence]. He will be caressed on the head by the hands of the Tathagatas.
In response Sakyamuni makes his own vows:
Universal-Sage! 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, should be considered to see me, and hear this sutra from my mouth. He should be considered to be making offerings to me. He should be considered to be praised by me with the word ‘Excellent!’ He should be considered to be caressed by me on the head. He should be considered to be covered with my robe.
Of particular interest to me:
He will not be troubled by the three poisons. He will not be troubled by jealousy, arrogance from selfishness, arrogance from self-assumed attainment of enlightenment, or arrogance from self-assumed acquisition of virtues. He will want little, know contentment, and practice just as you do.
And when the show was over:
When the Buddha expounded this sutra, the great congregation including the Bodhisattvas headed by Universal-Sage, the Sravakas headed by Sariputra, and the other living beings such as gods, dragons, men and nonhuman beings, had great joy, kept the words of the Buddha, bowed [to him], and retired.