Scriptures II


The Tathagata tells the story of a Buddha long ago describing his heavenly Buddha Realm.

In this analogous extract, the principles of wholehearted dedication, purification and offering of oneself to the Dharma are praised.

The 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.

The 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.

We 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.

The bodhisattva Gadgadasvara conceives a wish to visit our world. His Tathagata warns him not to be shocked by what he finds here.

Bodhisattva 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.

The bodhisattva Gadgadasvara appears in our Saha world amidst great signs and miracles.

The Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara makes an offering to Shakyamuni, and enquires into the Tathagata's wellbeing and the deportment of beings in the Saha world.

Buddha Shakyamuni welcomes Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara to this Saha realm and tells the history of his acquisition of virtues.

So 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

The Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara returns to his own realm and recounts what he has witnessed in the Saha world, in the final section from this chapter.

In this chapter the Buddha initiates a conversation that reveals the power of compassion personified as Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.

The 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.

In 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.

A long, long time ago under an ancient Buddha two princes embarked upon the Bodhisattva path developing the Six Paramitas and the wisdom of emptiness.

The two princes are refused permission to hear the Buddha preach the Dharma of the Lotus, but the Queen devises a cunning plan.

The two princes convert their father with a display of miraculous powers due to the power of the Dharma of the Lotus Law.

The 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.

The King, converted to the Dharma, visits the Buddha who gives him and his retinue a rousing sermon.

Buddha 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.

Following the conversion of the King who makes an offering, the Buddha forecasts the King's ascension to Full and Complete Enlightenment.

The Bodhisattva Samantabhadra visits the Buddha, with is retinue, to listen to the preaching of the Lotus Law.
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You will find previous extracts from the Scriptures here.