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

The young princes were eager to hear this teaching. They went to their mother and said, “We wish to listen to the spiritual teachings of “The One of Resonant Voice, Bedecked with Stars and Blossoms, Profound in Wisdom.”

Queen Vimaladatta cautioned, “Your father respects the Brahmins, so he might not let you go.”

The young men replied, “Even though we were born into a family with different beliefs, we feel drawn to these higher teachings.”

Then Queen Vimaladatta suggested, “If you can show your father a miracle, he might allow you to go.”

The young princes Vimalagarbha^⁠ and Vimalanetra^⁠ rose into the air, as high as seven tall trees, and performed miraculous acts. They created a floating couch in the sky and stirred up a cloud of dust. From the lower half of their bodies, they caused rain to fall, while from the upper half, they produced a blaze of fire. Then they switched it—rain from above and fire from below. They expanded and contracted their sizes, vanished, and reappeared, all while floating in the sky.

Impressed by these wonders, their father, King Subhavyūha^⁠, was filled with joy and awe. He asked, “Who is your teacher? Whose teachings are you following?”

The princes replied, “Our teacher is the Enlightened One, “The One of Resonant Voice, Bedecked with Stars and Blossoms, Profound in Wisdom^⁠.” He is teaching the Lotus of the True Law^⁠ to the world, including divine beings.”

King Subhavyūha declared, “I want to meet this master myself; I’ll go to see him.”