The Lord then spoke to the gathering of Bodhisattvas, saying: “Trust me, everyone of noble heart, believe in the truth that the Tathāgata (the Enlightened One) speaks.” Again, He addressed the Bodhisattvas, particularly the youth: “Trust me, young ones of noble heart, believe in the truth that the Tathāgata speaks.” And for the third and final time, He spoke to all present, including the women: “Trust me, everyone and ladies of noble heart, believe in the truth that the Tathāgata speaks.”
Then the entire assembly of Bodhisattvas, led by Maitreya, the Great Bodhisattva, raised their clasped hands and implored the Lord: “Please reveal this truth, O Lord; please share it, O Sugata (Well-Gone One); we will believe in the words of the Tathāgata.” They repeated this request, emphasizing their faith and eagerness to learn, a second and a third time.
The Bodhisattvas repeated their prayer three times, and the Lord responded: “Listen carefully, everyone of noble heart. The powerful vow I made is such that all beings in this world, including gods, humans, and demons, believe that I, as Sakyamuni, reached supreme and perfect enlightenment at the town of Gaya after leaving my home among the Sakyas. But the truth is, many countless eons ago, I already attained supreme, perfect enlightenment. To give you an example, everyone of noble heart, imagine the atoms in the earth of a vast number of worlds; let someone take one of those atoms and travel to a distant eastern world to place that atom there. If this person continues to carry away the whole mass of earth from those worlds and deposits all those atoms in the east, can anyone imagine, measure, or count those worlds?”
After the Lord spoke these words, Maitreya, the Great Bodhisattva, and the entire host of Bodhisattvas replied: “Those worlds are beyond calculation, O Lord, countless and incomprehensible. Even the disciples and Hermit Buddhas, with their profound knowledge, cannot imagine or measure them. This point is beyond our understanding as well, O Lord, even though we are Bodhisattvas committed to the path of enlightenment; those worlds are so numerous.”
The Lord then addressed the gathered Bodhisattvas: “I tell you, everyone of noble heart, however numerous the worlds where that man deposits those atoms of dust, there are not as many dust atoms in those worlds as there are eons since I have reached supreme, perfect enlightenment. From the moment I began teaching the law in this world and countless others, and when other Enlightened Ones such as Dīpankara and others preached, I have skillfully created all of this to guide you to the truth.
“You must understand, everyone of noble heart, that the Tathāgata (the Enlightened One) reveals his own name and the state of enlightenment in various ways to suit the different capacities of each generation. Even though I have long ago reached perfect enlightenment, I declare myself to be newly enlightened to lead all beings to maturity and guide them on the path. All the teachings I deliver, under my own or another’s guise, are true. The Tathāgata sees the world as it is: unchanging, neither real nor unreal, beyond ordinary understanding. Every word spoken by the Tathāgata is true and is revealed to help cultivate goodness in beings who follow different paths.
“The Tathāgata’s life is without limit, eternal. Though I do not become extinct, I make a show of extinction to guide you. My ancient course as a Bodhisattva is not yet complete, and my lifetime is far from over. I announce my final extinction, though I do not become extinct. I do this to inspire you, to make you understand how precious the appearance of the Tathāgata is. If you were to see me too often, you might take my presence for granted and fail to strive for liberation from the world’s suffering.
“Thus, I tell you: the appearance of the Tathāgatas is precious and rare. There are eons when beings might not see a Tathāgata at all. If you come to value the rarity of seeing the Tathāgata, you will desire to see him, and the longing will cultivate lasting goodness in you. Even though I do not become extinct, I announce my extinction to educate you. This is the way of the Tathāgata’s teaching, and there is no falsehood in it.”
“Consider this analogy, everyone of noble heart. Imagine a skilled physician, wise and adept at curing all sorts of diseases. He has many children, and while he is away, they all become afflicted with a disease caused by poison or venom. They suffer greatly, some with confused thinking, others with clear minds. Upon his return, they beg him for help. He prepares a great remedy with the right color, smell, and taste, and offers it to them, promising that it will cure them quickly. Those children with clear thinking take the remedy and are soon healed. But those with confused thinking refuse the remedy, even though they’ve asked for their father’s help, because the color, smell, or taste displeases them.
“The physician realizes that the poison has affected their minds, making them reject the remedy. So, he devises a plan. He tells them that he is old and near death and leaves them with the remedy, instructing them to take it if they wish. Then he goes away and sends word that he has died. His children are filled with grief and sorrow, feeling orphaned and without protection. In their despair, their confused thinking clears, and they see the remedy for what it is. They take it and are cured. When the physician knows they are healed, he returns to them.
“Now, everyone of noble heart, would anyone accuse that physician of falsehood for using this clever means to heal his children? No one would. In the same way, I have reached supreme, perfect enlightenment eons ago, but I use various skillful means to teach beings, guiding them without any falsehood on my part.”
Mr. Altig’s Overview of the Wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Sutra 
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