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

After sharing these poetic lines, the Master turned to the gathered spiritual seekers: I have something important to tell you all. In a distant spiritual dimension known as ‘Manifestation,’ during an era named the ‘Grand Arrangement,’ our seeker named Kassapa will embark on a profound journey of self-discovery. Over time, he encounters many enlightened beings, their numbers reaching into the tens of billions. He pays homage to them and carries forward their profound teachings, integrating their wisdom into his life’s path.

During the epoch of ‘Grand Arrangement,’ Kassapa transforms into an illuminating guide to spiritual enlightenment in the far reaches of this’ Manifestation’ realm. He attains the enlightened state of Buddhahood, adopting the glowing title of ‘Lustrous Beam.’ As the ‘Lustrous Beam,’ Kassapa shines a brilliant light onto the world, highlighting the path to all conscious beings’ liberation. His spiritual voyage exemplifies the potential every being possesses to journey toward enlightenment, sparking their inner glow to become a Buddha. His lifespan will span twelve intermediate epochs, his actual teachings will last for twenty such epochs, and his teachings’ facsimile, or imitation, will endure as many epochs but may lack the full depth, authenticity, or power of the original teachings.

His Buddha realm will be immaculate and unspoiled, free from rocks, dust, and gravel; free from pits and cliffs; and devoid of drains and murky ponds. It will be level, attractive, lovely, and pleasing to the eye, composed of lapis lazuli, decorated with gem-laden trees, and appearing like an exquisite chessboard marked with gold threads. The realm will be strewn with flowers, and countless Bodhisattvas, enlightened beings, will manifest. As for his followers, their numbers will reach into the billions. Neither Mara, the embodiment of temptation and desire, nor his minions will be found in this realm, though they will arrive later; they will commit themselves to learning the actual teachings under the guidance of the same ‘Lustrous Beam.’

On that occasion, the Master voiced these verses:

With my enlightened gaze, dear monks, I foresee,
Here, our senior Kassapa, in epochs yet to be,
Will pay homage to the greatest men, and a Buddha he shall be,
In an era immeasurable, a beacon for all to see.

Kassapa will witness thirty billion enlightened sages,
Under their guidance, he’ll seek knowledge through the ages,
A spiritual life he will lead, with Buddha wisdom his wages,
In the quest for supreme truth, his spirit engages.

After paying homage to the greatest men, with knowledge supreme,
He’ll be a world leader, a Seer of dreams^⁠,
In his final earthly existence, he will gleam,
A matchless guide, in wisdom’s stream.

His realm will be stunning, pure and resplendent,
Gold-threaded and delightful, its beauty incessant,
Goodly, beautiful, pretty, and friendly, its presence,
A magnificent field of spiritual effervescence.

In that realm, monks, a board of eight-fold divisions^⁠,
Jewel trees will blossom, causing delightful collisions,
Each compartment with its own tree, radiating sweet emissions^⁠,
A fragrant paradise, fulfilling divine visions.

Adorned with blossoms, flowers aplenty,
No pits or precipices, the landscape is friendly,
Even and lovely, its beauty is uncanny,
A realm goodly and beautiful, the sight is heavenly.

This realm will host Bodhisattvas, beyond measure,
Calm and serene, they are the realm’s treasure,
With extraordinary abilities, their wisdom is a pleasure,
Guardians of Buddha’s teachings, profound and without measure.

As for disciples, the law’s princes, faultless in their stand,
In their final life period, across the Buddha’s land,
Countless in number, like grains of sand,
Even if counted for eons, with divine knowledge at hand.

Lustrous Beam will shine for twelve intermediate epochs,
His actual teachings will last twenty complete blocks,
The facsimile teachings will continue, the spiritual clock,
In the domain of Lustrous Beam, timeless as the rocks.

Then, venerable Mahamoggallana, Subhuti, and Maha-Kaccana, filled with awe,
Looked at the Master, unblinking, as if in a trance, they saw,
And together they voiced, in a mental concert raw:

O hallowed one, great hero, lion of the Sakya clan,
Speak the Buddha’s word to us, as only a Buddha can,
Shower us with your wisdom, according to your plan,
Out of compassion for us, let enlightenment span.

The highest among men, the Jina, knowing the end,
Will sprinkle us with nectar, our paths he’ll commend,
By predicting our destiny, a message he’ll send,
A prophecy of our future, on which we’ll depend.

It’s like a man in famine, good food he attains,
But as he holds it in his hands, he’s told he must refrain,
Just as we, after seeking wisdom, are left in pain,
Longing for Buddha’s knowledge, but our longing is in vain.

We’re left in suspense, the food within our grasp,
But the great Seer, perfectly enlightened, has not yet unclasped,
The prediction of our destiny, our hands remain unclasped,
As if told not to eat the food, in our hands tightly clasped.

Indeed, O great hero, we yearn to hear your voice,
When we receive a prediction, our hearts will rejoice,
Then, we will find rest, satisfaction, and choice,
In our spiritual fulfillment, we’ll loudly rejoice.

Speak a prophecy, O hero, with mercy and grace,
Let our spiritual poverty find its resting place,
Your benevolent voice, our hearts will encase,
In the promise of enlightenment, we’ll keep pace.