Scriptures II
CHAPTER 22 EX. 1The Tathagata tells the story of a Buddha long ago describing his heavenly Buddha Realm.
CHAPTER 22 EX. 2In this analogous extract, the principles of wholehearted dedication, purification and offering of oneself to the Dharma are praised.
CHAPTER 22 EX. 3The Buddhas of 80 worlds declare the perfection of giving by the Bodhisattva-Mahasattva who gave his whole body, the symbol of his self, as an offering to Buddha.
CHAPTER 22 EX. 4The Bodhisattva-Mahasattva is reborn in a new spiritual realm and makes a request to his parents to return to the Buddha to worship him again.
CHAPTER 23 EX. 1We start a new chapter this week, the Buddha uses his super-normal powers to make visible a distant Buddha-field. He introduces us to a new character whose story will be told.
CHAPTER 23 EX. 2The bodhisattva Gadgadasvara conceives a wish to visit our world. His Tathagata warns him not to be shocked by what he finds here.
CHAPTER 23 EX. 3Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara, travels to the Saha world to see Shakyamuni. He appears to the assembly with his retinue in the form of lotus flowers with golden stalks.
CHAPTER 23 EX. 4The bodhisattva Gadgadasvara appears in our Saha world amidst great signs and miracles.
CHAPTER 23 EX. 5The Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara makes an offering to Shakyamuni, and enquires into the Tathagata's wellbeing and the deportment of beings in the Saha world.
CHAPTER 23 EX. 6Buddha Shakyamuni welcomes Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara to this Saha realm and tells the history of his acquisition of virtues.
CHAPTER 23 EX. 7So that the Dharma of the Lotus is available for all, the bodhisattvas assume many shapes to preach. The Buddha explains his skilful means to Padmasrî
CHAPTER 23 EX. 8The Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara returns to his own realm and recounts what he has witnessed in the Saha world, in the final section from this chapter.
CHAPTER 24 EX. 1In this chapter the Buddha initiates a conversation that reveals the power of compassion personified as Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.
CHAPTER 24 EX. 2The all-hearing power of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara means he beholds the suffering of all beings. He can be called upon and the Buddha extols his virtues. Ashayamati sings a hymn of praise in response.
CHAPTER 24 EX. 3In this concluding segment of this chapter, the audience is reminded of the good roots already laid down for those who are fortunate enough to hear this teaching.
CHAPTER 35 EX. 1A long, long time ago under an ancient Buddha two princes embarked upon the Bodhisattva path developing the Six Paramitas and the wisdom of emptiness.
CHAPTER 25 EX. 2The two princes are refused permission to hear the Buddha preach the Dharma of the Lotus, but the Queen devises a cunning plan.
CHAPTER 25 EX. 3The two princes convert their father with a display of miraculous powers due to the power of the Dharma of the Lotus Law.
CHAPTER 25 EX. 4The young princes remind the King and Queen just how rare a human birth is and how precious the opportunity to come into contact with the Dharma and to practice it.
CHAPTER 25 EX. 5The King, converted to the Dharma, visits the Buddha who gives him and his retinue a rousing sermon.
CHAPTER 25. EX. 6Buddha Galadhara explains to the king that those with 'good roots' will attract to them those who can be prepared to realise the doctrine of the True Law.
CHAPTER 25. EX. 7Following the conversion of the King who makes an offering, the Buddha forecasts the King's ascension to Full and Complete Enlightenment.
CHAPTER 26. EX. 1The Bodhisattva Samantabhadra visits the Buddha, with is retinue, to listen to the preaching of the Lotus Law.
CHAPTER 26. EX. 2The Bodhisattva Samantabadhra vows to help and protect all women and men preaching this Dharma of the True Law.
CHAPTER 26. EX. 3In this final extract from this chapter Samantabhadra is given responsibility for this sutra and the merit accrued from study and meditation upon it is recounted.
CHAPTER 27. EX. 1We reach the final chapter of the Lotus Sutra and the Buddha exhorts the bodhisattvas to go out and teach to all beings the wonderful Law of the Lotus!
CHAPTER 27. EX. 2In this final extract, with illumination, the Buddha restores everything to its place and the ecstatic assembly applaud the words of the Buddha.
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You will find previous extracts from the Scriptures here.