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

To further clarify this teaching, the Lord then expressed his thoughts through the following verses:

A Leader, wise, whose name’s adorned,
In truth’s terrace was he formed,
Ten kalpas sought, but not enlightened,
Still the essence he had sighted.

Gods and Nāgas, demons bright,
Showered flowers on the site,
Where enlightenment was gained,
Honoring the Jina, unchained.

Cymbals high they beat with grace,
Vexed that Jina took his place,
So long delayed, his ascension,
To the highest, their intention.

Ten kalpas past, the Lord arose,
Enlightenment within him glows,
All rejoiced in glad array,
Men and serpents, night and day.

Sixteen sons, young heroes bold,
Virtuous princes, stories told,
Thousands came to honor, see,
The eminent chiefs of men, so free.

“Reveal the law,” they prayed with zest,
“Refresh us, world, you are the best,
O Lion among kings, reveal your word,
Your presence in ten points is heard.”

A long time seen in world’s embrace,
Aerial cars reveal their trace,
Great Leader, stir, show us a sign,
Angelic brilliance, purely divine.

In the east a wondrous shake,
Fifty thousand lands awake,
Angelic cars, so brightly gleaming,
Foretold a message, all believing.

Brahma angels approached with glee,
The Leader of Leaders, they came to see,
With flowers and cars, they made their plea,
“Take our gifts, O Chief, be free!”

“Move forward the wheel of law,” they cried,
But king of kings, his time did bide,
Silent, thinking, “Not the hour,
To proclaim the law, to reveal the power.”

Likewise in directions all,
South, west, north, above, below’s call,
Thousands of Brahma angels bright,
Gathered ’round in wondrous light.

Unremitting, flowers they gave,
The Leader’s feet they sought to lave,
Aerial cars, celebrations grand,
Their prayers again took a stand:

“Move the wheel, O infinite sight,
Rarely met in eons’ flight,
Show the love through ages past,
Open immortality’s gate at last.”

He, with sight that knew no bounds,
Exposed the law, Truths profound,
All existences spring, he declared,
From what came before, he shared.

From Ignorance, the Seer began,
Death, endless woe, the human span,
Evils born from birth’s embrace,
Death, mankind’s destined trace.

Multifarious laws he expounded true,
Eighty myriads of creatures grew,
To the stage of disciples, quickly attained,
Through endless laws, wisdom unchained.

A second time the Jina spoke,
Beings purified, the sands awoke,
Disciples like Ganges, their numbers vast,
Laws many, future and past.

Innumerable became the assembly,
Myriads of eons, a counting spree,
No term reached, the number so great,
The Leader’s world, a wondrous state.

Sixteen princes, sons so dear,
Mendicants and novices, without fear,
To the Jina they spoke, “O Chief, explain,
Superior law, wisdom’s gain.”

“That sages we may be, and know,
Such as you, O Jina, our wisdom to grow,
All beings, O hero, clear-sighted, supreme,
May become like you, in enlightenment’s dream.

The Jina then, with sons in mind,
Explained enlightenment, wisdom defined,
Many myriads of kotis, illustrations so bright,
Highest wisdom’s path, he shed the light.

With thousands of arguments, transcendent lore,
Lord of the world, truth he did pour,
Veritable course, wise Bodhisattvas’ way,
Wisdom’s path, clear as the day.

This Sūtra of truth, Lotus Law divine,
Many thousands of verses, wisdom’s fine line,
Equal to Ganges’ sands, so vast,
By the Lord delivered a boundless cast.

After the Sūtra, meditation’s embrace,
Eighty-four eons, in the same place,
The Lord of the world, in stillness, did sit,
Meditating, absorbing, never to quit.

Those novices perceived the Chief so true,
In the monastery’s depths, their mission they knew,
Many kotis of creatures received the wise word,
Buddha’s knowledge unflawed, blissful, they heard.

Seats prepared one by one, this Sūtra they taught,
Under the Sugata’s guide, wisdom they sought,
This service they render to me as well,
In wisdom’s embrace, where truths dwell.

Innumerable as Ganges’ sands, the beings they swayed,
Each son of Sugata endless minds they arrayed,
After Jina’s Nirvana, they wandered afar,
Homage to Buddhas, like a guiding star.

The course of duty, vast and sublime,
Enlightenment reached in space’s vast climb,
Sixteen sons of Jina, two by two, they became,
Jinas themselves, horizon’s bright flame.

Pupils they were, disciples they grew,
Gradually enlightenment’s possession they knew,
Various means, wisdom’s unending quest,
Guided by sages, they found what was best.

Myself one of them, you taught by me,
Disciples now also, enlightenment’s key,
Devices I use, to lead you to light,
Fear not, monks, we’ll win this great fight.

Like a forest dreadful, terrific and bare,
Wild beasts lurking, water so rare,
Thousands have come, wilderness wide,
Five hundred yoganas, with no place to hide.

A guide, rich and wise, undaunted he leads,
Through the horrible forest, fulfills their needs,
Many tired beings, guide’s wisdom they seek,
“We are tired, Master, strength grows weak.”

The clever guide, a device he does find,
“Going back,” he thinks, “jewels they’ll leave behind.”
By magic, a city, thousands of splendors,
Parks and monasteries, beauty it tenders.

Ponds and canals, gardens in bloom,
Walls and gates, life does resume,
Infinite numbers, men and women reside,
In that city, where treasures do hide.

“Fear not, be cheerful, you’ve reached the city bright,
Enter and do your business, take respite from your plight.
Be joyful, at ease, the forest’s limit is found,”
A time for repose, in comfort they’re bound.

Reposed and recovered, he gathers them near,
“This city’s my magic, listen and hear.
Fatigued, I saw you, this device I’ve employed,
Strain your energy, the Isle you’ll enjoy.”

Thus, monks, I’m your guide, thousands I lead,
Creatures toiling, evils’ shell they need freed,
Reflecting, I ponder, you’ve had your rest,
“Arhat’s stage awaits you, give it your best.”

When Arhat’s state you’ve reached, wisdom so rare,
I’ll gather and explain, how the law’s truly fair,
It’s an artifice, great Seers, three vehicles they show,
One vehicle’s the truth, two more help you grow.

Now rouse, monks, your energy, seek all-knowing’s embrace,
Complete Nirvana awaits, run the wisdom’s race,
Ten powers of Jinas, Buddhas you’ll be,
Marked by signs, in rest you’ll be free.

Leaders’ teachings are thus, quiet they give,
Repose they offer, in wisdom you’ll live,
No final resting place, but knowledge unending,
All-knowing’s vast realm, its power transcending.

Such the path to enlightenment, the way to be found,
Journey’s end and beginning, where wisdom is crowned,
Through forests and cities, guided by love,
Buddhas and Jinas, grace from above.