“I remember in ages past

The Lotus Sutra
Chapter One - The Introduction
Text, Part Four

Then Manjusri, wanting to reiterate the meaning of this to the assembly, spoke in verse, saying:

“I remember in ages past
Immeasurable countless eons ago
There was a Buddha, honored among men
Named Bright Lamp of the Sun and Moon.
This World Honored One taught of the Dharma
Liberating countless living beings
Incalculable millions of Bodhisattvas
Making them enter into the Buddha’s wisdom.”

“Before this Buddha left home
Eight princes were born to him.
Seeing their great noble father leave home
They followed him, cultivating the Brahma practice.”

“Then the Buddha taught the Great Vehicle
A Sutra called Limitless Meanings.
Amongst the great multitude
He elaborated on it in great detail.
After the Buddha taught the Sutra
Seated cross-legged on throne of the Dharma
He entered into a Samadhi
Called The Sphere of Limitless Meanings.
Mandarava blossoms rained from heaven
Divine drums spontaneously sounded
Gods, dragons, demons and spirits
All offered service to this most honored among men.
In all the lands of the Buddha
The ground greatly trembled and shook
A ray of light emanated from the Buddha’s brow
Revealing a host of rare marvels.”

“This ray of light lit up the east
Eighteen thousand lands of the Buddha
It revealed the host of living beings
The sphere of life & death, karma & retribution.
The many lands of the Buddha were seen
Adorned with a host of treasures
Colored with lapis lazuli and crystals.
From the shining of the Buddha’s ray of light
I also saw gods and men
Hosts of dragons, spirits and yaksas
Gandharvas and kinnaras
Each offering service to the Buddha.”

“I also saw The Ones That Have Come
Naturally attaining the path of enlightenment
Their bodies like mountains of gold
Most wonderful and majestic.
Just as in pure lapis lazuli
A pure golden image is best revealed
The World Honored One in His audience
Unfurls the deepest meaning of the Dharma.”

“In each one of the lands of the Buddhas
There were countless hosts of disciples.
Because of the shining light of the Buddha
Their great assembly was completely visible.
Some of them were Bhiksus
In the mountains and forests
Diligently embracing the precepts of purity
As if they were protecting bright jewels.”

“I also saw Bodhisattvas
Practicing generosity, endurance and the like
They were as countless as the sands of the Ganges
Because of the shining light of the Buddha.
I also saw Bodhisattvas
Deeply entering into meditations
With body and mind serene and unstirring
Because they sought the supreme path.
I also saw Bodhisattvas
Understanding the Dharma & the aspect of serenity and extinction.
Each of them were in their own country and land
Teaching of the Dharma & seeking the path of enlightenment.”

“Then the fourfold assembly
Saw the Buddha Bright Lamp of the Sun and Moon
Manifesting great power of spiritual penetration
Their hearts all rejoiced
Each of them asking
What is the reason for these things?”

“He who was most honored among gods and men
Soon arose from his Samadhi
Praising the Bodhisattva Wonderful Light
‘You are the eyes of the world
To whom all turn in faith
Able to embrace the treasury of the Dharma &
The Dharma as I have taught it to you.
Alone you have been able to realize it.’
When the World Honored One offered this praise
The Bodhisattva Wonderful Light rejoiced.
The Buddha then taught the Lotus Sutra.”

"For a full sixty kalpas
Never rising from his seat.
He taught the most Wonderful Dharma
The Master of the Dharma, Wonderful Light
Was able to completely accept and embrace it."

"The Buddha taught this Lotus Sutra
Causing all the assembly to rejoice
Then upon this very same day
He addressed the hosts of gods and men
“The meaning of the true spiritual aspect of reality in all things
Has already been taught to you.
Now, at midnight
I must enter into Nirvana.
With diligence and a single mind
You must be free of idleness
The Buddhas are very difficult to meet
In a million kalpas only one is encountered.”"

"The children of the World Honored One
Heard that the Buddha was entering into Nirvana
Feeling much grief and distress.
The Buddha’s extinction is so sudden!
The Noble Lord, the King of the Dharma
Comforted the countless assembly.
“When I am extinguished
You mustn’t grieve or be alarmed
This Bodhisattva Treasury of Virtue
Faultless in understanding of the true aspect of reality
Already penetrating and reaching it completely
Will be the next to attain enlightenment
He will be known as Pure Life.
He will also liberate countless living beings.”"

“That night the Buddha attained extinction
Just as firewood is extinguished when the fire die out
His relics were divided up and given out
Countless towers were erected
Bhiksus and Bhiksunis
Their numbers like the sands of the Ganges
Doubled up and multiplied their diligence
In seeking the path of enlightenment.”

“This Teacher of the Dharma, Wonderful Light
Having preserved the Buddha’s treasury of the Dharma
For eighty small kalpas
Widely proclaimed this Lotus Sutra.
All eight of the princes
Influenced and transformed by Wonderful Light
Were strong and firm on the supreme path.
Seeing countless Buddhas
They offered service to them.
Following them in practicing the path
In succession they became Buddhas
Each receiving their prophecy of enlightenment.
The last one, a god among gods
Was named Steadily Burning Lamp
Guide and teacher of the sages
Liberator of countless living beings
This teacher of the Dharma, Wonderful Light
Then had a single disciple
With a mind ever lazy and negligent
Greedily attached to fame and profit
Tirelessly seeking fame and profit
Too comfortable in enjoying the pleasures of the home life
Abandoning all that was learned and recited
Forgetful and not keen in apprehension.
Because of these things
He was called Fame Seeker.
Upon practicing a host of good karmic deeds
He saw the countless Buddhas.
Upon offering service to them
He followed and practiced the great path
Possessing the six Paramitas.
And now, upon seeng the lion Sakyamuni.
He will become a Buddha
He will be known as Maitreya.
He will broadly liberate living beings
Their numbers will be immeasurable
After the extinction of the Buddha.”

The one that was lazy and negligent was you
The Teacher of the Dharma, Wonderful Light
Turned out to be me who is here now.”

“I saw the Buddha Bright Lamp of the Sun and Moon
The original sign of light being the same as it is now
Because of this I know that this Buddha here
Desires to teach The Lotus Sutra.”

“The signs now are the same as the original omens
These are the way and means of the Buddhas
Now the Buddha has issued forth a bright ray of light
Helping to inspire the meaning of the true aspect of reality.
Everyone should now recognize this
Join their palms and wait with a single mind.
The Buddha will pour down the rain of the Dharma
Fulfilling those that seek the path of enlightenment.”

“If any that seek the Three Vehicles
Still have any doubts or regrets
The Buddha will now resolve them
Making them disappear without a trace.”

End of Chapter One

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