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

At that moment, a spiritual seeker named Peak of Wisdom, who came from the realm of enlightenment, spoke to the Enlightened One, Prabhūtaratna: “My Lord, shall we return to our realm of enlightenment?” But the Buddha Sākyamuni replied, “Wait a moment, young seeker. First, speak with my disciple, Mañjuśrī, to discuss a matter of spiritual truth.”

Suddenly, Mañjuśrī, an enlightened prince, rose up on a magnificent lotus, large as a chariot drawn by four horses. Many spiritual seekers surrounded him as he appeared from the ocean’s depths, from the domain of the Nāga Ocean King. Ascending into the sky, he flew to Vulture Peak, where he met the Lord.

There, Mañjuśrī dismounted his lotus and respectfully greeted both the Buddha Sākyamuni and Prabhūtaratna. Then, he turned to Peak of Wisdom and, after exchanging pleasantries, sat at a distance.

Peak of Wisdom asked, “Mañjuśrī, how many beings have you enlightened during your stay in the sea?”

Mañjuśrī replied, “Countless, innumerable beings. Words can’t express it, nor thoughts conceive it. Watch, and you’ll see a sign.”

With these words, thousands of lotuses sprang from the sea to the sky, each bearing a spiritual seeker. They soared to Vulture Peak, looking like meteors. All had been guided by Mañjuśrī to the ultimate enlightenment. Among them, some praised the path of the great vehicle and the six perfect virtues, while others lauded the path of discipleship. But all recognized the emptiness of earthly things and the greatness of the spiritual path.

Mañjuśrī said to Peak of Wisdom, “Young seeker, while I was in the great ocean’s depths, I educated many beings, and here you see the result.”^⁠18

Peak of Wisdom then asked Mañjuśrī, singing the following verses:

O Blessed One, the Sage by name,
From wisdom’s source, your power and fame,
How have you led, this very day,
Countless souls upon the way?

O god amongst men, tell me true,
On my quest, I ask of you.
What law, what Sūtra did you preach,
The path of enlightenment did you teach?

Those gathered ’round, what seed was sown,
That once they reached the Ford, the known,
Omniscience embraced, they stood,
Within the grasp of ultimate good?