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

To elaborate further on this topic, the Lord expressed the following verses on that occasion:

Eons beyond measure, thousands of kotis wide,
Since first enlightenment, I’ve never ceased my guide,
Teaching the law eternal, with wisdom by my side.

Bodhisattvas I’ve awakened, in knowledge they reside,
Myriads of beings, endless, in wisdom they confide,
Through countless eons ripened, in Buddha’s light they glide.

I show the place of ending, a device I don’t hide,
Though I don’t become extinct, I’m here, I haven’t died,
In this very place, the law’s wisdom I provide.

I rule myself and beings, unseen by minds denied,
Deluded minds don’t see me, in their confusion, wide,
They think I’m gone, yet here I stand, their guide.

They worship relics, thinking I’m no more beside,
They see me not, but aspiration grows inside,
Their minds become upright, in piety they confide.

Upright and gentle creatures, when their bodies slide,
I appear on Gridhrakuta, with disciples by my side,
I show myself and speak the truth, no secrets do I hide.

I was not gone, I tell them, by a device, I bide,
Repeatedly I’m born, in the world of living, wide,
It’s but a way I teach, in truth, I never died.

Honored by others, enlightenment I guide,
You wouldn’t heed my words, unless Nirvana I tried,
The world’s Lord must enter, or you’d cast truth aside.

I see how creatures suffer, my true self I hide,
Let them aspire to see me, then truth won’t be denied,
The true law I’ll reveal, in wisdom, they’ll confide.

Firm has been my resolve, through eons’ endless tide,
Thousands of kotis counted, on Gridhrakuta’s side,
I have not left this place; in truth, I do abide.^⁠

And when this world seems aflame, creatures in fright,
My Buddhafield thrives with gods and men in sight,
With manifold pleasures, gardens, and palaces bright.

Hills of gems and trees with blossoms take flight,
Aerial cars and splendors, a wondrous delight,
All embellished and radiant, in day and in night.

Gods play music aloft, a heavenly rite,
Rain of Mandaras falls, a celestial sight,
Covering me and disciples, in wisdom’s pure light.

My field is eternal, though others see fright,
They see a world burning, wretched in might,
Terrific and woeful, in their limited sight.

Years pass without mention, my name out of sight,
The law and congregation hidden from light,
Sinful deeds bear this fruit, in endless night.

But gentle beings born in humanly flight,
See me reveal the law, in their heart’s right,
Good works bring them near, to wisdom’s pure light.

Infinitude of action, I don’t speak in sight,
I’ve existed for ages, the Jinas in might,
Rare and precious they are, in eternal light.

Glorious power of wisdom, endless in might,
My life’s duration endless, a boundless flight,
Acquired through due course, in truth’s pure light.

Doubt not, O sages, uncertainty take flight,
My word is true and real, in day and in night,
Never false, always steadfast, in wisdom’s pure light.^⁠

Like the physician skilled, with children in fright,
He feigned his own death, to set their minds right,
No sensible man would charge him with spite.

I am the world’s father, Self-born in might,
Healer, Protector, in wisdom’s pure light,
Though they’re confused, I teach rest in their fright,
I’m not at rest myself, in eternal night.

Why should I always show myself in sight?
When disbelief and ignorance take flight,
Careless and sensual, thoughtless in spite,
They wander in misfortune, lost in their plight.

Knowing the world’s course, I ponder their right,
I declare myself thus, in wisdom’s pure light,
How can I lead them to enlightenment bright?
How can they partake in Buddha’s laws’ light?^⁠