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

Siddhartha, young and true of heart,
Embarked on a journey from the start,
To find enlightenment, to reach the goal,
And learn the ways to make his soul whole.

He traveled far, he talked to wise,
And learned of paramitas, ten in size.
Generosity, ethics, patience, too,
Diligence, concentration, wisdom too.

Skillful means, aspiration, power and grace,
And knowledge, these ten, must find a place,
In heart and mind, a harmonious whole,
To reach enlightenment, and reach his goal.

An old sage met, and gave a seed,
Siddhartha planted it with care and heed,
But to his surprise, it wouldn’t grow,
“You must first cultivate,” the sage did know.

So Siddhartha practiced, day by day,
The paramitas, in his own unique way.
And like a tree, they grew with might,
Supporting each other, shining bright.

The seed of enlightenment took root,
And grew to greatness, a magnificent shoot.
So just like Siddhartha, we can too,
Cultivate the paramitas, and reach our due.