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An
Excerpt from The Lotus
Sutra
Since
I attained Buddhahood
the number of kalpas { Kalpa is a time unit. a word referring to a great length of
time (an Aeon) in
Buddhist and Hindu
cosmology}
that have passed is an
immeasurable hundreds,
thousands, ten
thousands, millions,
trillions, asamkhyas.
Constantly I have
preached the Law,
teaching, converting
countless millions of
living beings, causing
them to enter the Buddha
way, all this for
immeasurable kalpas. In
order to save living
beings, as an expedient
means I appear to enter
nirvana but in truth I
do not pass into
extinction.
I am always here
preaching the Law.
I am always here, but
through my
transcendental powers I
make it so that living
beings in their
befuddlement do not see
me even when close by.
When the
multitude see that I
have passed into
extinction, far and wide
they offer alms to my
relics. All harbor
thoughts of yearning and
in their minds thirst to
gaze at me. When living beings have become truly faithful, honest and
upright, gentle in
intent, single-mindedly
desiring to see the
Buddha not hesitating
even if it costs them
their lives, then I and
the assembly of monks
appear together on Holy
Eagle Peak.
At that time I tell the
living beings that I am
always here, never
entering extinction, but
that because of the
power of an expedient
means at times I appear
to be extinct, at other
times not, and that if
there are living beings
in other lands who are
reverent and sincere in
their wish to believe,
then among them too I
will preach the
unsurpassed Law.
But you have not heard
of this, so you suppose
that I enter extinction.
When I look at
living beings I see them
drowned in a sea of
suffering; therefore I
do not show myself,
causing them to thirst
for me.
Then when their
minds are filled with
yearning, at last I
appear and preach the
Law for them.
Such are my
transcendental powers.
For asamkhya kalpas
constantly I have
dwelled on Holy Eagle
Peak
and in various other
places.
When living
beings witness the end
of a kalpa and all is
consumed in a great
fire, this, my land,
remains safe and
tranquil, constantly
filled with heavenly and
human beings.
The halls and
pavilions in its gardens
and groves are adorned
with various kinds of
gems.
Jewelled trees
abound in flowers and
fruit where living
beings enjoy themselves
at ease.
The gods strike
heavenly drums,
constantly making many
kinds of music.
Mandarava
blossoms rain down,
scattering over the
Buddha and the great
assembly.
My pure land is
not destroyed, yet the
multitude see it as
consumed in fire, with
anxiety, fear and other
sufferings filling it
everywhere.
These living
beings with their
various offenses,
through causes arising
from their evil actions,
spend asamkhya kalpas
without hearing the name
of the Three Treasures.
But those who practice
meritorious ways, who
are gentle, peaceful,
honest and upright, all
of them will see me here
in person, preaching the
Law.
At times for this
multitude I describe the
Buddha’s life span as
immeasurable, and to
those who see the Buddha
only after a long time I
explain how difficult it
is to meet the Buddha.
Such is the power
of my wisdom that its
sagacious beams shine
without measure.
This life span of
countless kalpas I
gained as the result of
lengthy practice. You
who are possessed of
wisdom, entertain no
doubts on this point!
Cast them off,
end them forever, for
the Buddha’s words are
true, not false.
He is like a
skilled physician who
uses an expedient means
to cure his deranged
sons.
Though in fact
alive, he gives out word
he is dead, yet no one
can say he speaks
falsely.
I am the father of this
world, saving those who
suffer and are
afflicted.
Because of the
befuddlement of ordinary
people, though I live, I
give out word I have
entered extinction.
For if they see
me constantly, arrogance
and selfishness arise in
their minds.
Abandoning restraint,
they give themselves up
to the five desires
and fall into the evil
paths of existence.
Always I am aware
of which living beings
practice the way, and
which do not, and in
response to their needs
for salvation I preach
various doctrines for
them.
At all times I think to
myself:
How can I cause
living beings to gain
entry into the
unsurpassed way and
quickly acquire the body
of a Buddha?
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