Mr. Altig’s Overview of the Wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Sutra

In chapter one of the Lotus Sutra, Manjushri describes, once in a remote past, immeasurably boundless and inconceivable asamkhya kalpas ago, a Buddha named Sun Moon Lantern Bright Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfect in True Wisdom and Enlightenment, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Liberated, the Omniscient, the Almighty, Master Trainer, Teacher of Heavenly Gods and Humans, Buddha-Bhagavat described in the first chapter of the Lotus Sutra is a Buddha. He is mentioned as one of the infinite number of Buddhas that Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, has taught the Lotus Sutra in the past. In Buddhism, it is believed that there have been and will be countless Buddhas in the past, present and future who will guide sentient beings to enlightenment. There were a total of twenty thousand Buddhas with the same name, Sun Moon Lantern Bright, and the same surname, Bharadvja. This particular Buddha is used as an example to emphasize the importance and power of the Lotus Sutra and the ability of anyone who practice it to attain Buddhahood.

The 20,000th Buddha with the name Sun Moon Lantern Bright, had eight princes before renouncing secular life. The eight sons of Sun Moon Lantern Bright Tathagata were named Imbibed Intention, Ideal Intention, Infinite Intention, Invaluable Intention, Increased Intention, Indisputable Intention, Imitated Intention, and Instituted Intention. They were all dignified, virtuous, and independent and each ruled over four continents. They renounced their royal positions and left home, following in their father’s footsteps by seeking enlightenment through the Great Vehicle and Brahma practices. After many lifetimes of planting good roots, they all eventually became Teachers of the Law.