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The Lotus Sutra
Chapter 1, Introduction, Page 15
Maitreya's Question - The Verse Portion, Conclusion
The final part of Maitreya's question...
On offering service to the relics of the Buddha in Nirvana
"Manjusri,
There will also be Bodhisattvas
After the extinction of the Buddha
Offering service to His relics.
And I see the Buddha’s children
Creating towers and temples,
Countless as the sands of the Ganges,
Adorning the country and land.
Treasure towers, wonderfully high,
Five thousand yojanas tall,
Their breadth proportionately broad,
Two thousand yojanas wide.
Towers and temples with thousands of streaming banners,
Curtains laced with jewels
Precious bells chiming in harmony.
The gods, dragons and spirits,
Both human and not human
Ever offering service
With fragrance, blossoms and music.
Manjusri,
The Buddha’s children adorn these towers and temples
Offering service to the relics.
The country and land naturally become
Most wonderful and fine
Like the king of heavenly trees
With blossoms in full bloom."
Closing and requesting an answer:
"The Buddha issued forth
a single ray of light
The assembled host and I
Saw these wonderful lands
With all their special wonders.
With the rare spiritual power
And the wisdom of the Buddhas,
He issues forth a single pure ray of light
Illuminating limitless countries.
We who have seen this
Experience that never before known.
Manjusri, son of the Buddhas,
Please resolve our doubts."
Stating and restating the request for an answer:
"The four groups look up in reverence and hope
To you as well as to me.
Why does the world honored one emit such a light?
When the son of the Buddha answers,
Resolve our doubts and make us rejoice.
For what abundance of benefits
Does He issue forth such a light?
The Buddha sits at the Bodhimandala
Realizing the Wonderful Dharma.
Does he desire to teach of this?
Will he make a prophecy?
He has shown us the land of enlightenment,
Pure and adorned with a host of treasures
We see that the Buddhas are there.
This cannot be unimportant.
Manjusri, you must know,
The four groups, the dragons and the spirits,
All look up to you.
Please explain what this means."
Next, Manjusri's reponse...
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Since July 9, 2001