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

Thereafter the Lord looked towards the eighty hundred thousand Bodhisattvas who were gifted with magical spells and capable of moving forward the wheel that never rolls back. No sooner were those Bodhisattvas regarded by the Lord than they rose from their seats, raised their joined hands towards the Lord, and reflected thus: “The Lord invites us to make known the Dharmaparyâya (Universal spiritual truths taught through complex parables and metaphors). Agitated by that thought, they asked one another: What shall we do, young men of good family, so that this Dharmaparyâya may in future be made known as the Lord invites us to do? Thereupon those young men of good family, in consequence of their reverence for the Lord and their own pious vow in their previous course, raised a lion’s roar before the Lord: We, O Lord, will in future, after the complete extinction of the Lord, go in all directions so that creatures shall write, keep, meditate, divulge this Dharmaparyâya, by no other’s power but the Lord’s. And the Lord, staying in another world, shall protect, defend, and guard us.”

Then the Bodhisattvas unanimously, in a chorus, addressed the Lord with the following verses:^⁠

Be at ease, O Lord, we vow,
After thy extinction, even now,
In the world’s horrible last phase,
This sublime Sūtra we will raise.

We’ll endure threats, blows, and stick,
From foolish men, and never flick,
Though the injuries they bestow,
We’ll patiently endure the woe.

Dreadful times will come when men,
Are wicked, dull, again and again,
Conceited, crooked in their way,
Fancying wisdom but led astray.

Some will claim to live austere,
But deceive the ones who’re near,
Frugal life a mere facade,
Their ignorance a clever dodge.

Greedy ones will preach and claim,
Six transcendent qualities, a fame,
While attached to all delights,
Their hollow words ignite no lights.

Wicked men with household care,
Enter forest, spread despair,
Our defamation they’ll construe,
Their cruel minds a tainted view.

Tīrthikas, for profit bent,
Accuse us with malevolent intent,
They preach fiction, spread their lies,
On such monks, shame truly lies.

For greed they’ll invent their lore,
Accuse us, wounds of words they’ll score,
To kings and commoners, they’ll speak,
Their false doctrine they’ll falsely tweak.

Evil spoken, spread with haste,
Tīrtha-doctrine leaves no taste,
But we’ll endure all they throw,
For the great Seers, our respect will show.

Fools who shun our words today,
Enlightenment will find their way,
Patience, forbearance will guide,
Our hearts and minds, and never slide.

That dreadful time, a frightful course,
Fiendish monks with no remorse,
Will revile us, mock our stance,
Yet we’ll stand with unwavering glance.

Respect for the world’s Chief we hold,
Bear the trials, the girdle of patience bold,
Proclaim this Sūtra, a task so dear,
Mindful of the Lord, we’ll never fear.

Body or life, we’ll not protect,
But enlightenment, thine entrusted respect,
O Lord, we care, we keep the flame,
Guiding all to thy sacred name.

Wicked monks, in last dark phase,
Mysterious speech they won’t appraise,
Disavowal, expulsion, abuse we’ll bear,
The girdle of patience our solemn swear.

Lord’s command, our steadfast heart,
In the congregation, our role impart,
Proclaim this Sūtra, undaunted stand,
In the last period, through every land.

Towns and villages, we’ll impart,
Thine entrusted deposit, a sacred art,
O Chief of the world, deliver thy word,
Be tranquil, quiet, O great Seer, our Lord.

Light of the world, thou knowest well,
The disposition here, a truth we tell,
From every direction, they’ve gathered near,
Our word of truth is sincere and clear.