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

At that moment, a thought arose in the mind of the Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Maitreya, as well as in the minds of the countless Bodhisattvas, as numerous as the sands of the river Ganges: “We have never before seen or heard of such an immense gathering of Bodhisattvas. Where did this multitude come from, those who have emerged from the depths of the earth to stand in the presence of the Lord? They honor, respect, and venerate him, greeting him with joyous acclaim. From where have all these Bodhisattvas come?”^⁠

At that point, the Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Maitreya, sensing his own uncertainty and recognizing the same feeling among the countless Bodhisattvas, as numerous as the sands of the river Ganges, approached the Lord with hands joined in respect. Driven by his doubt and curiosity, he sought to question the Lord about the remarkable phenomenon he had witnessed.

Preparing to articulate his thoughts, he began to express the following verses:^⁠

Here countless thousands, myriads, Bodhisattvas vast,
Unseen before now; tell us, O Man unsurpassed!
Whence and how have these mighty ones come to this place?
Great forms they embody; explain their origin and trace.

All are Seers, wise and strong, lovely to behold,
Whence have they arrived, their stories yet untold?
Each Bodhisattva, O World’s Lord, with followers grand,
Numerous as Ganges’ sands, an immense, endless band.

Glorious Bodhisattvas, each with a mighty train,
Equal to sixty Ganges, enlightenment they attain.
Such heroes, mighty leaders, each with a following vast,
Equal to sixty Ganges, their wisdom unsurpassed.

Others still more numerous, their trains without end,
Like the sands of fifty, forty, thirty Ganges they transcend.
Some with trains equal to twenty Ganges’ sands,
Mighty Buddha-sons abound with followers in bands.

With ten, with five Ganges, their numbers expand,
O Leader, whence comes this assembly so grand?
Others have followers, companions vast,
Equal to four, three, two Ganges amassed.

Still, others more numerous, beyond any measure,
Counting their number is no feasible treasure.
Equal to half, one-third, one-tenth Ganges’ sands,
Mighty Bodhisattvas with heroic bands.

Yet others incalculable, beyond any count,
Even in hundreds of eons, the numbers mount.
Many more with endless trains, kotis they command,
Half kotis, kotis again, an endless band.

Other great Seers, wise, respectful in sight,
Numbers beyond computation, Bodhisattvas of light.
With a thousand, a hundred, or fifty attendants in tow,
In eons uncountable, their numbers still grow.

Some heroes have twenty, ten, five in their crew,
Four, three, or two, and they’re countless too.
Those walking alone, resting alone, in numbers vast,
Beyond computation, they’ve gathered so fast.

Even with magic, counting for eons without cease,
Ganges’ sands eons, one wouldn’t reach peace.
Where do these noble heroes, these mighty ones arise?
Bodhisattvas of strength, where’s their home in the skies?

Who taught them the law? Who destined their light?
Whose command do they follow? Whose wisdom’s their sight?
Bursting forth from all points, magic and wisdom they bear,
Great Sages emerging, earth’s extent everywhere.

The world’s pierced on every side, O Seer, the wise appear,
Emerging now, these Bodhisattvas so dear.
Never before seen, O Leader, this marvel we face,
Tell us the world’s name, its time and its place.

We’ve roamed in all directions, yet never saw these,
Bodhisattvas hidden, now revealed with ease.
No infants were seen, and now suddenly here,
Tell us their story, O Seer, make it clear.

Hundreds, thousands, ten thousands gaze,
Bodhisattvas curious, in wonder and amaze,
Looking up to the highest, the leader of men,
Seeking answers and wisdom again and again.

Explain to us, O boundless great Hero so rare,
Where do these wise Bodhisattvas come from? Where?
These heroes, these seekers, their origin tell,
Enlighten our minds with the truth you know well.