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

Oh Lotus Sutra, divine and grand, A guide to help us understand, The path to peace and pure delight, And bring us into Buddha’s light. Bodhisattvas-mahasattvas vow, To spread your teachings here and now, To share the way to enlightenment, With all, without discrimination. The Buddha’s divine powers are shown, By extending tongue and light,…

The Lotus Sutra is a central text in the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism. Within this sutra, there is a chapter entitled “Divine Powers of Tathagata,” which contains two sections. Section 1, comprising of paragraphs 1─9, outlines the vow made by bodhisattvas-mahasattvas to uphold and propagate the Lotus Sutra, the manifestation of divine powers by the…

In chapter 20 of the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha narrates the story of Bodhisattva Never Disrespectful, who lived during the age of King of Majestic Voices Buddha. Despite not spending his time learning and studying the sutras, Bodhisattva Never Disrespectful treated everyone he met with the utmost respect by bowing to them and giving praise…

In chapter twenty of the Lotus Sutra, A story of great reverence doth occur. Bodhisattva Never Disrespectful’s name, A man of virtue, bowing all the same. He did not study, nor did he read, But treated all with utmost care indeed. By bowing low and praising each he’d meet, He planted seeds of Buddhahood complete.…

If those of virtue embrace with heart,The Lotus Sutra, in every part,Reading, reciting, expounding well,Copying, transcribing, its tale to tell, They’ll earn eight hundred merits bright,For eyes that see with righteous sight,For ears that listen, twelve hundred more,To hear the Dharma’s sacred lore. For nose that breathes with noble intent,Eight hundred merits to it are…

In the Lotus Sutra’s eighteenth chapter, The Buddha imparts a valuable capture, Of the merits of spontaneous joy, That when embraced, one’s blessings multiply. Bodhisattva Maitreya asks the Buddha, What benefits come from joy that’s true? The Buddha responds with wisdom bright, Joy brings the Law’s message to light. The ones who hear and with…