The Buddha declared, “The sixteenth is I myself, Sakyamuni Buddha, who has accomplished Perfect Enlightenment in the sahā-domain.” He first reveals here his own history and the cause of his eventual enlightenment.

We should take note of the declaration that Sakyamuni is the Buddha who has accomplished Perfect Enlightenment in the sahā-domain. The Buddha alone is the great teacher for the people of this sahā-world. We cannot but call again to mind here how irreplaceable and important the man Sakyamuni is for us as the historical Buddha.

The Tathāgata Sakyamuni, the Eternal Original Buddha, as the first cause of this appearing Buddha, is the Buddha of non-beginning and non-end who appears everywhere in the universe at all times. These two Buddhas are originally the same, but their significance is different. Unless we understand this, we will not be able to grasp Sakyamuni’s words hereafter.