The Lotus Sutra

Chapter 28: Encouragement of Bodhisattva Universal Worthy

Overview Summary

Section 1:       Paragraphs 1─15

1.1        At that time, Bodhisattva Universal Worthy, who was renowned for his effortless divine powers, dignity, and virtues, arrived together with immeasurably boundless great bodhisattvas from the east. The lands he passed by trembled, jeweled lotus flowers were rained down, and immeasurable hundreds of thousands of millions of billions of orchestral songs were played. In addition, he was surrounded by a great multitude of innumerable heavenly gods, dragons, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimnaras, mahoragas, humans, and non-human beings; each of them displayed their dignity, virtues, and divine powers.

1.2        Upon his arrival at Eagle Peak in the Saha world, he greeted Shakyamuni Buddha by performing a full prostration and circling him to the right seven times before speaking to the Buddha: “O Lord of the World! When I was in the faraway land of King of Precious Dignity and Superior Virtue Buddha, I heard the Lotus Sutra being expounded in the Saha world. Therefore, together with immeasurably boundless hundreds of thousands of millions of billions of bodhisattvas, I have come all the way to listen to and embrace the Dharma. O Lord of the World! We entreat you to enlighten us on this question: ‘After the parinirvana of Tathagata, how will virtuous men and women be able to obtain the Lotus Sutra?’”

1.3        The Buddha replied to Bodhisattva Universal Worthy: “After the parinirvana of Tathagata, virtuous men and women will be able to obtain the Lotus Sutra if they fulfill the following four conditions:

First, they are protected and kept in mind by the Buddhas.

Second, they have cultivated an abundance of virtuous roots.

Third, they have entered the clusters of right concentration.

Fourth, they have awakened the aspiration to save all living beings.

1.4        “If any virtuous men and women have fulfilled the above-mentioned criteria, they will then be certain to obtain the Lotus Sutra after the parinirvana of Tathagata.”

1.5        At that moment, Bodhisattva Universal Worthy said to the Buddha: “O Lord of the World! During the evil age in the last five hundred years in the future, I will protect and shield those who are able to accept and embrace the Lotus Sutra, bringing peace and comfort to them so that they are free from harm, especially from those people who wish take advantage of their shortcomings: the devil, the devil’s son, the devil’s daughter, the devil’s minion, or one possessed by the devil, as well as yaksha, rakshasa, kumbhanda, pishacha, kritya, putana, vetada, or others who harass humans will have no opportunities to take advantage of them.

1.6        “If they read and recite the Lotus Sutra—be it walking or standing—at that instant I will mount my six-tusked white elephant king together with a multitude of great bodhisattvas to arrive at their places. Because of my wish to give offerings to the Lotus Sutra, I will manifest myself in front of them, give offerings to them, and protect them so as to bring peace and comfort to their minds.

1.7        “When these people are pondering the Lotus Sutra in a seated position, I will mount my white elephant king to manifest myself in front of them at that moment. Should they forget a single phrase or stanza of the Lotus Sutra, I will teach and recite it with them so that that they are able to gain mastery of it.

1.8        “Thereafter, those who accept, embrace, read, and recite the Lotus Sutra will be able to view my body and experience immense happiness. They will, in turn, exert themselves further assiduously. Because they have seen me, they will acquire the following samadhis and dharanis: the Dharani of Repetition, the Dharani of Hundreds of Thousands of Millions of Billions of Repetitions, and the Dharani of Dharma Voice of Expedient Methods.

1.9        “O Lord of the World! During the evil age in the last five hundred years in the future, if there are any monks, nuns, lay male disciples, or lay female disciples who wish to practice the Dharma by seeking, accepting, embracing, reading, reciting, copying, and transcribing the Lotus Sutra, they should diligently advance for twenty-one days with a focused mind. After the full twenty-one days, surrounded by immeasurable bodhisattvas, I will mount on my six-tusked white elephant and appear in front of them with my body that is a delightful sight for all living beings. I will then expound by showing and teaching the Dharma so as to enrich and bring joy to them. I will also bestow the dharani incantation to them. Because of the dharani, non-human beings will not be able to harm them, nor will they be seduced by women. Moreover, I will use my body to personally protect and guard them at all times. O Lord of the World! I entreat you to listen to my recitation of the dharani incantation.” Immediately, he recited the incantation in front of the Buddha:

1.10      “Adaṇḍe daṇḍapati daṇḍāvartani daṇḍakuśale daṇḍa sudhāri sudhāri sudhārapati buddhapaśyane sarvadhāraṇī āvartani sarvabhāṣyā vartane suāvartane saṃghaparīkṣani saṃ gha nirghātani asaṃge saṃgāpagate tṛadhvasaṃgatulya prāpte sarvasaṃgasamatikrānte sarvadharmasuparīkṣite sarva sattvarutakauśalyānugate siṃhavikrīḍite.

1.11      “O Lord of the World! If any bodhisattvas were to hear the dharani, they should know that it is due to the divine powers of Universal Worthy. When the Lotus Sutra is spread throughout Jambudvipa, those who are able to accept and embrace the sutra should think in this way: ‘This is all due to the divine powers of Universal Worthy.’

1.12      “If there are people who accept, embrace, read, and recite the Lotus Sutra, meditate, and memorize it correctly, understand its intricate meaning, and practice the sutra as it is taught, you should know that these people are practicing the actions of Universal Worthy himself. Having planted deep virtuous roots under the guidance of immeasurably boundless Buddhas, they are patted on the heads by the hands of Tathagatas.

1.13      “If they only copy the Lotus Sutra, they will be reborn in Trayastrimsha heaven after their lives come to an end. Eighty-four thousand heavenly maidens will welcome them and various kinds of music will be played for them. They will don the seven-jeweled crowns and enjoy themselves in the company of female servants. How much more so if they could accept, embrace, read, and recite the Lotus Sutra, meditate and memorize it correctly, as well as understand its intricate meaning and practice the sutra as it is taught!

1.14      “If there are people accept, embrace, read, recite, and understand its intricate meaning, they will enjoy the following merits and benefits after their lives come to an end: they will be received into the hands of a thousand Buddhas who will liberate them from all fear and protect them from falling into the abyss of evil realms of existence. Immediately they will proceed to the Tushita heaven—a place in which Bodhisattva Maitreya lives. Bodhisattva Maitreya possesses the thirty-two features and is surrounded by a multitude of great bodhisattvas as well as hundreds of thousands of millions of billions of female attendants. Hence, people of wisdom should single-mindedly copy the Lotus Sutra or lead others to copy, accept, embrace, read, and recite the Lotus Sutra, meditate and memorize it correctly, as well as practice the sutra as it is taught.

1.15      “O Lord of the World! Now I shall use my divine powers to guard and shield the Lotus Sutra. After the parinirvana of Tathagata, I will ensure that the Lotus Sutra is being widely propagated throughout Jambudvipa for eternity.”

Section 2:      Paragraphs 1─10

2.1        Thereafter, Shakyamuni Buddha extolled him, saying: “Excellent, excellent! O Universal Worthy! Because you are able to shield and support the Lotus Sutra for the peace, joy, and benefit of all living beings, you have already accomplished extraordinary merits and displayed profound compassion. Since the remote past, you have already awakened a desire to attain Supreme Perfect Enlightenment and have taken a vow to use your divine powers to guard and protect the Lotus Sutra. I will use my divine powers to guard and shield those who are able to accept and embrace the name of Bodhisattva Universal Worthy.

2.2        “O Universal Worthy! If there are people who accept, embrace, read, and recite the Lotus Sutra, meditate and memorize it correctly, as well as practice the sutra as it is taught, you should know that these people have already seen Shakyamuni Buddha. It is as though they have heard the Lotus Sutra directly from the mouth of Shakyamuni Buddha. You should know that these people have given offerings to Shakyamuni Buddha. You should know that these people have been praised ‘Excellent!’ by Shakyamuni Buddha. You should know that these people have been patted on the head by Shakyamuni Buddha. You should know that these people have been covered in the robes of Shakyamuni Buddha.

2.3        “These people will no longer be bound by greediness and attachment to the worldly pleasures. They will have no preference for non-Buddhist scriptures, nor will they have any pleasures in associating with people working in unsavory vocations such as butchers, raisers of boars, sheep, chickens, or dogs, hunters, or prostitutes. Honest and upright, they will have robust memory, right mindfulness, and they will also gain the power of good fortune and virtue. Unperturbed by the Three Poisons, they will not be troubled by envy, selfish ego, evil conceit, or arrogance. They will have few desires, easily contented, and know how to practice the actions of Universal Worthy.

2.4        “O Universal Worthy! During the last five hundred years after the parinirvana of Tathagata, anyone who sees those who accept, embrace, read, and recite the Lotus Sutra should think as such: ‘Before long, these people will arrive at the sanctuaries of enlightenment, vanquish the armies of devils, and attain Supreme Perfect Enlightenment. They will turn the Dharma Wheel  , beat the drum of the Dharma, blow the couch of the Dharma, shower the rain of the Dharma, and sit on the lion thrones of the Dharma amidst the great assembly of heavenly gods and humans.’

2.5        “O Universal Worthy! In future ages, those who accept, embrace, read, and recite the Lotus Sutra will not be greedy for clothing, bedding, food and drink, or any other daily necessities. As such, all their wishes and prayers will be fulfilled and they will receive the rewards of great blessings and good fortune in their present lifetimes.

2.6        “If anyone were to slander or disparage them by saying: ‘You are a foolish idiot! It is useless to practice all these actions! You will gain nothing in the end!’ As a punishment for the offense of these people, they will be born eyeless lifetime after lifetime. On the contrary, if anyone were to give offerings and words of praise to them, they will receive tangible rewards in their present lifetimes.

2.7        “If anyone were to reveal the faults of those who accept and embrace the Lotus Sutra—whether true or false—they will be afflicted with white leprosy in their present lifetimes. If anyone were to scorn or look down on those who embrace the Lotus Sutra, they will have sparse or missing teeth, hideous lips, a flat nose, deformed hands and feet, and squinty eyes, lifetime after lifetime. Their bodies will emit a foul odor and they will suffer from scabs and bloody pus, shortness of breath, and other severe and malicious illnesses. O Universal Worthy!

2.8        “Therefore, if there are people who accept and embrace the Lotus Sutra, you should rise and greet them from afar, showing them the same reverence as accorded to a Buddha.”

2.9        When the chapter―Encouragement of Bodhisattva Universal Worthy―was expounded, bodhisattvas as numerous as immeasurably boundless Ganges’s sands gained the Dharani of Hundreds of Thousands of Millions of Billions of Repetitions. Bodhisattvas as numerous as the dust particles of trichiliocosm attained the ways of Universal Worthy.

2.10      When the Buddha finished expounding the Lotus Sutra, all multitudes in the assembly—Universal Worthy together with his bodhisattvas, Shariputra together with the shravakas, and heavenly gods, dragons, humans, and non-human beings—were overjoyed. Having accepted and embraced the Buddha-words, they bowed to the Buddha before returning to their homes.