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

From distant realms, a massive gathering of great Bodhisattvas arrived, each embodying the virtue of enlightenment. Eight groups, each as numerous as the sands of the Ganges River, stood up from the assembly. With hands joined in reverence, they addressed the Lord:

“Should you allow us, O Lord, we too wish to carry forth your teachings in this world after you have passed. We will read, write, honor, and devote ourselves fully to your truth. Please, Lord, grant us this sacred duty.”

But the Lord replied, “Why take up this task, young seekers of truth? I have thousands of Bodhisattvas in this world, each with followers as countless as the sands of sixty Ganges rivers. And for each of these great Bodhisattvas, there are equally numerous followers. In the coming time, after I am gone, they shall preserve, read, and spread this sacred teaching.”^⁠

As soon as the Lord had spoken, the world quaked, and it seemed to burst open in all directions. From the cracks emerged countless Bodhisattvas, golden in color and embodying the perfect virtues of a great being. They had been dwelling in the ether^⁠ beneath this world, and they rose to the surface at the sound of the Lord’s voice.

Each of these Bodhisattvas led a vast assembly, as numerous as the sands of sixty Ganges rivers, and each was a guide to a great multitude. They emerged in staggering numbers, followed by groups as vast as the sands of fifty, forty, thirty, and so on, down to even a fraction of a single Ganges river. Their numbers were beyond calculation, including those leading hundreds of thousands, or even just one follower, and those who stood alone.

These figures were beyond count, beyond comparison, and unknown even to mystical knowledge. They emerged from the earth into this world and moved toward the towering Stūpa, a sacred monument in the sky where two great Lords, Prabhūtaratna and Sākyamuni, were seated.

They paid homage to both Lords and to the images of enlightened beings that had emanated from Sākyamuni, seated under jewel trees in all directions across different realms. The Bodhisattvas saluted and circled the Lords, singing hymns of praise, before standing at a distance with hands joined in reverence to honor both Sākyamuni and Prabhūtaratna.

As the Bodhisattvas who had emerged from the earth’s depths were honoring and singing praises to the enlightened Tathāgatas, fifty epochs passed by instantly. But such was Lord Sākyamuni’s magical power that everyone present felt as if it had been only an afternoon. The world transformed, and they saw it filled with countless realms, each brimming with Bodhisattvas.

Among the vast assembly, four Bodhisattvas stood out as the foremost leaders: Visishtakāritra, known as “of Eminent Conduct”; Anantakāritra, “of Endless Conduct”; Visuddhakāritra, “of Correct Conduct”; and Supratishthitakāritra, “of Very Steady Conduct.” Standing at the head of the great multitude, these four approached the Lord with hands joined in respect.

They asked the Lord, “Are you in good health? Do you enjoy comfort and peace? Are the world’s beings behaving properly, following their paths with obedience and correctness, causing you no distress?

The four Bodhisattvas Mahāsattvas spoke to the Lord, presenting two verses:

World’s Lord and shining light, are you at ease?
O Perfect One, from ailment are you free?
May creatures graceful be, obedient too,
Heeding the World’s Lord’s call, causing no ado.

The Lord responded to the four Bodhisattvas Mahāsattvas, who led the vast assembly, saying:

“Yes, young seekers of truth, I am in good health, contentment, and comfort. The beings under my care are respectful, obedient, and well-behaved. They follow my guidance without hesitation. And this is because the ancient and perfectly enlightened Buddhas had already prepared them. Simply seeing and hearing me, they trust me and grasp the wisdom of the Buddha.

I now guide those who have fulfilled their roles as disciples into understanding the Buddha’s knowledge, and they have been taught the highest truths.”

At that moment, the Bodhisattvas Mahāsattvas expressed the following verses:

Excellent, excellent, O Hero grand!
Creatures well-mannered, performing as planned;
They heed your profound wisdom, O Leader wise,
Trusting and grasping it, no doubts arise.

Having heard their words, the Lord approved the four leading Bodhisattvas Mahāsattvas, who were at the forefront of the vast assembly. He said, “Well done, young seekers of truth, well done. It is commendable that you offer such congratulations to the Tathāgata.”