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

Further, Satatasamitabhiyukta, the Bodhisattva Mahasattva who preserves, reads, shares, teaches, and writes this Sacred Teaching (Dharmapāryaya), will be endowed with eight hundred fine qualities of the body. This perfect body will be pure and radiate a clear hue like lapis lazuli, offering a pleasant sight to all beings.

Upon this perfect body, he will perceive the entire universe in all its aspects; the beings that come and go, those who are high or low, of pleasing or displeasing appearance, fortunate or unfortunate. He will see beings inhabiting the circular plane of the horizon and the vast horizon, dwelling on the great mountains Meru and Sumeru, and residing in the depths of the hell Avici, extending upward to the furthest reaches of existence. All of this he will see within his own body.

He will see the Disciples, Hermit Buddhas (Solitary Enlightened Ones), Bodhisattvas, and Tathagatas (Enlightened Ones) that reside in the universe. He will perceive the teachings imparted by these Tathagatas and the beings who serve them, all within his own body. He will do so because his body becomes a receptacle for the true nature of all beings, a reflection of the perfection of his physical form.

At that moment, the Lord expressed these verses:

His body pure, with a lustrous sheen,
Clear as lapis lazuli, a sight serene,
Keeper of this Sutra, a sight to adore,
Pleasant to creatures, forever and more.

As a mirror reflects an image so true,
On his body, this world comes into view,
Self-born, seeing no others, he stands,
Perfect in body, in wisdom’s commands.

Indeed, all beings, both near and far,
Men, gods, demons, where’er they are,
Hell’s inhabitants, spirits, the brute,
On his body reflected, no dispute.

Aerial cars of gods, rocks, and ridge,
Himâlaya, Sumeru, great Meru’s image,
Extremity of existence, all seen in his form,
On that body reflected, a mystical norm.

Buddhas too, disciples, sons divine,
Bodhisattvas solitary, or preaching in line,
On his body, they appear, a vision so grand,
Such is his perfection, none can withstand.

Though not yet divine, his body’s embrace,
Reflects the natural world, every form, every face,
Such is his body, in perfectness so,
A natural wonder, a celestial glow.