The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings describes “ten inconceivable powers for beneﬁcial effect” that accrue to those who practice the sutra. The tenth beneficial effect has several components but the one that I’m focusing on today is this:

“Still in the stages of having delusive worldly passions, they will for the ﬁrst time be able to spontaneously produce countless and unlimited great vows and magniﬁcent aspirations.”

My 800 Years of Faith project is only the latest example. My first vow, as outlined in my “About” page, was my vow prompted by Rev. Ryusho Jeffus’ definition of 500 Yojanas.

Each cycle through Myoho Renge Kyo Romanized is marked by a Post-it arrow on the inside front cover

64 cycles
48 cycles
32 cycles
16 cycles

Today marks the conclusion of my 80th cycle of reciting the shindoku pronunciation of the Lotus Sutra. I started this morning practice in March 2015. Some time in July, I started reciting the same portion of the sutra in English as part of my evening practice. In September, 2015, I decided to start daily blog postings on a portion of each day’s reading. Beginning July 23, 2019, I added the two sutras that complete the Threefold Lotus Sutra – The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings and The Sutra of Contemplation of the Dharma Practice of Universal Sage – between cycles through Myoho Renge Kyo Romanized.

Recognizing that my Post-It arrow tally on the inside cover of Myoho Renge Kyo Romanized would reach the conclusion of the fifth column this month, I made a vow to record my recitation of Senchu Murano’s English translation of the Lotus Sutra and the BDK English Tripiṭaka translation of The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings and The Sutra of Contemplation of the Dharma Practice of Universal Sage Bodhisattva.

My principal reason for recording the English translation was to illustrate that I don’t “chant” the English. I read it as if I were reading to my child. After all, we are the children of the Buddha; these are the words of the Buddha.

I should make clear that these are not professional recordings. If you listen while reading the text you will notice minor errors. In addition, I chose to recite the Dhāraṇīs from Myoho Renge Kyo Romanized in chapters 26 and 28 rather than Murano’s translation. In the Contemplation of Universal Sage, I have used the BDK English Tripiṭaka translation unchanged, which means all references to Universal Sage appear as Bodhisattva All-Embracing Goodness and the title is rendered The Sutra Expounded by the Buddha on Practice of the Way Through Contemplation of the Bodhisattva All-Embracing Goodness.

Still, as a whole, this faithfully reflects my practice, and that’s my secondary purpose. I am more than 70 years old. There may come a time when I can no longer recite aloud the text. I want to have the option to play these recordings.

Finally, on a recent morning while doing my hour-long walking meditation, another purpose for these recordings occurred to me. In 2003, a hospital doctor caring for my mother suggested it was time to stop trying to prolong her life. I agreed and my mother was moved into a private room to die. She lingered for several days.

My mother’s favorite recording was the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Philadelphia Orchestra performing Handel’s Messiah. I received permission from the nursing staff to set up my cd-player on auto-repeat. My mother never regained consciousness and quietly died on Dec. 16 while I listened with her to Handel’s Messiah.

During that recent walking meditation it occurred to me that I could fashion my recordings of the Threefold Lotus Sutra into an audio cd to be played for me on my deathbed.

For those who consider that a macabre thought, I offer the third beneficial effect of the Sutra of Innumerable Meanings: