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

Then Bodhisattva Medicine King, known as Bhaishajya Rāja, and Great Wit, or Mahāpratibhāna, along with twenty hundred thousand fellow Bodhisattvas, spoke before the Buddha:

“Dear Lord, please find peace in knowing that after you leave this world, we will share these complex spiritual teachings, these Parāya, with all beings. We recognize that in those times, many will be lost, filled with pride, greed, and illusion, lacking goodness, and resistant to love and understanding. Nevertheless, we will courageously teach, honor, respect, and cherish this Sūtra. We will even risk our lives to spread these teachings. Rest assured, Lord, we are committed.”

At this moment, five hundred monks in attendance, some still learning and others more advanced, spoke up:

“We too, dear Lord, will go forth and spread these universal spiritual truths, the Dharmaparyāya, even if we must travel to distant worlds to do so.”

Then, all eight thousand monks present, each having received the Buddha’s assurance of their future enlightenment, raised their hands in unity and said:

“Let your heart be at peace, Lord. We also vow to share these spiritual teachings, these Dharmaparyāya, after your time here has ended. We will continue your work, even in the most challenging times and places. For in this world, people are often misguided, lacking virtue, trapped in harmful thoughts, and naturally resistant to wisdom.”