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

Thereupon, monks, the great Brahma angels in the fifty hundred thousand myriads of kotis of spheres, mounted their own divine aerial cars, took with them divine bags filled with celestial flowers, and followed the trail of splendor and glory through the quarters until they arrived at the destined location. There, they beheld the Lord Mahabhignagnanabhibhu (Great-Knowledge-and-Dominance) , the Tathagata, seated on the summit of the exalted terrace of enlightenment, surrounded by an awe-inspiring assembly of divine beings.

Upon seeing the Lord, their hearts filled with reverence and joy, the Brahma angels approached him, saluted his feet with their heads, and circled him many times with deep respect. They strewed flowers, overwhelming the Lord and the Tree of Enlightenment with their fragrant offerings.

After that, they presented to the Lord their aerial cars with the words: “Accept, O Lord, these aerial cars out of compassion to us; use, O Sugata, these cars out of compassion to us.”

The scene was one of celestial grandeur and spiritual unity, as the Brahma angels celebrated the Lord face to face with seasonable verses, expressing their devotion, their recognition of his enlightenment, and their longing for the wisdom he embodied.

Most rare and precious is the sight of Leaders wise,
Welcome, O Dispeller of worldly ties,
After hundreds of complete eons, now you arise,
A beacon of truth beneath the earthly skies.

Refresh the thirsty creatures, Lord of all,
Now first revealed, your presence does enthrall,
As precious as the fig-tree’s blooming call,
Your appearance, O Lord, is cherished by all.

By your power, our aerial cars gleam bright,
Uncommonly illumined in radiant light,
Accept them, O Leader, in your infinite sight,
O thou whose look pierces darkness and night.

After the great Brahma angels had sung their praises, they approached the Lord Mahabhignagnanabhibhu, the Tathagata, with a deep sense of reverence and devotion. Their faces illuminated with joy, they made their heartfelt request: “May the Lord move forward the wheel of the law! May the teachings flow forth to benefit all beings, bringing clarity, wisdom, and compassion to every corner of existence, from the highest realms of the gods to the depths of the human experience.”

The vast assembly of Brahma angels, spanning fifty hundred thousand myriads of kotis, stood in solemn unity. With a collective energy that reverberated throughout the cosmos, they addressed the Lord, their voices harmonizing into a single, resonant chorus. And as the air was filled with their combined devotion, they began to express their shared aspiration through the following verses.

Preach the law, O Lord and Leader, let the wheel of truth take its course,
Sound the drum of sacred wisdom, blow the conch with fearless force.

Let the teachings ring through the heavens, let them echo through the earth,
Guide us on the path of virtue, lead us to enlightened birth.

Shed the rain of true law over lands both near and far,
Proclaim the word, sweet and noble, like the guiding northern star.

Manifest the law required, save myriads of kotis of beings,
Unfurl the sails of enlightenment, let us feel the joy it brings.

And the Lord, monks, silently intimated his assent to the Brahma angels, acknowledging their request with the serenity of perfect wisdom.