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  • The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin I/II
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Lotus Sutra: 17 Distinctions in Benefits

( pp.274 - 285 )

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The Immeasurable Meanings Sutra

  • 1. Virtuous Practices
  • 2. Preaching the Law
  • 3. Ten Benefits

The Lotus Sutra

  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Expedient Means
  • 3. Simile and Parable
  • 4. Belief and Understanding
  • 5. The Parable of the Medicinal Herbs
  • 6. Bestowal of Prophecy
  • 7. The Parable of the Phantom City
  • 8. Prophecy of Enlightenment for Five Hundred Disciples
  • 9. Prophecies Conferred on Learners and Adepts
  • 10. The Teacher of the Law
  • 11. The Emergence of the Treasure Tower
  • 12. Devadatta
  • 13. Encouraging Devotion
  • 14. Peaceful Practices
  • 15. Emerging from the Earth
  • 16. The Life Span of the Thus Come One
  • 17. Distinctions in Benefits
  • 18. The Benefits of Responding with Joy
  • 19. Benefits of the Teacher of the Law
  • 20. The Bodhisattva Never Disparaging
  • 21. Supernatural Powers of the Thus Come One
  • 22. Entrustment
  • 23. Former Affairs of the Bodhisattva Medicine King
  • 24. The Bodhisattva Wonderful Sound
  • 25. The Universal Gateway of the Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World’s Sounds
  • 26. Dharani
  • 27. Former Affairs of King Wonderful Adornment
  • 28. Encouragements of the Bodhisattva Universal Worthy

Sutra on How to Practice Meditation on Bodhisattva Universal Worthy

  • 1. Sutra on How to Practice Meditation on Bodhisattva Universal Worthy

274CHAPTER 17


Distinctions in Benefits


At that time, when the great assembly heard the Buddha describe how his life span lasted such a very long number of kalpas, immeasurable, boundless asamkhyas of living beings gained a great many rich benefits.

At that time the world-honored one said to the bodhisattva mahasattva Maitreya: “Ajita, when I described how the life span of the thus come one lasts for such an exceedingly long time, living beings numerous as the sands of six hundred and eighty ten thousands, millions, nayutas of Ganges Rivers attained the truth of birthlessness. And bodhisattvas mahasattva a thousand times more in number gained the dharani teaching that allows them to retain all that they hear. And bodhisattvas mahasattva numerous as the dust particles of an entire world gained the eloquence that allows them to speak pleasingly and without hindrance. And bodhisattvas mahasattva numerous as the dust particles of an entire world gained dharanis that allow them to retain hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, millions, immeasurable repetitions of the teachings. And bodhisattvas mahasattva numerous as the dust particles of a major world system were able to turn the unregressing wheel of the Law. And bodhisattvas mahasattva numerous as the dust particles of an intermediate world system were able to turn the pure wheel of the Law. And bodhisattvas mahasattva numerous as the dust particles of a minor world system gained assurance that they would attain 275supreme perfect enlightenment after eight rebirths. And bodhisattvas mahasattva numerous as the dust particles of four four-continent worlds gained assurance that they would attain supreme perfect enlightenment after four rebirths. And bodhisattvas mahasattva numerous as the dust particles of three four-continent worlds gained assurance that they would attain supreme perfect enlightenment after three rebirths. And bodhisattvas mahasattva numerous as the dust particles of two four-continent worlds gained assurance that they would attain supreme perfect enlightenment after two rebirths. And bodhisattvas mahasattva numerous as the dust particles of one four-continent world gained assurance that they would attain supreme perfect enlightenment after one rebirth. And living beings numerous as the dust particles of eight worlds were all moved to set their minds upon supreme perfect enlightenment.

When the Buddha announced that these bodhisattvas mahasattva had gained the great benefits of the Law, from the midst of the air mandarava flowers and great mandarava flowers rained down, scattering over the immeasurable hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, millions of buddhas who were seated on lion seats under jeweled trees, and also scattering over Shakyamuni Buddha, and over Many Treasures Thus Come One, who long ago entered extinction, both of whom were seated on lion seats in the tower of seven treasures. They also scattered over all the great bodhisattvas and the four kinds of believers. In addition, finely powdered sandalwood and aloes rained down, and in the midst of the air heavenly drums sounded of their own accord, wonderful notes deep and far-reaching. And a thousand varieties of heavenly robes rained down, draped with various necklaces, pearl necklaces, mani jewel necklaces, necklaces of wish-granting jewels, spreading everywhere in nine directions. In jewel-encrusted censers priceless incenses burned, their fragrance of its own accord permeating everywhere as an offering to the great assembly. Above each one of the buddhas there appeared bodhisattvas holding banners and canopies, in rows reaching up to the Brahma heaven. These bodhisattvas employed their wonderful voices in singing immeasurable hymns of praise to the buddhas.

276At that time the bodhisattva Maitreya rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder and, pressing his palms together and facing the Buddha, spoke in verse form, saying:


The Buddha preaches a rarely encountered Law,

one never heard from times past.

The world-honored one possesses great powers

and his life span cannot be measured.

The countless sons of the Buddha,

hearing the world-honored one make distinctions

and describe the benefits of the Law they will gain,

find their whole bodies filled with joy.

Some abide in the stage of no regression,

some have acquired dharanis,

some can speak pleasingly and without hindrance

or retain ten thousand, a million repetitions of the teachings.

Some bodhisattvas numerous as the dust particles

of a major world system

are all able to turn

the unregressing wheel of the Law.

Some bodhisattvas numerous as the dust particles

of an intermediate world system

are all able to turn

the pure wheel of the Law.

And some bodhisattvas numerous as the dust particles

of a minor world system

are assured that after eight more rebirths

they will be able to complete the buddha way.

Some bodhisattvas numerous as the dust particles

of four, three, two times

the four continents,

after a corresponding number of rebirths will become buddhas;

some bodhisattvas numerous as the dust particles

of one set of the four continents

after one more rebirth

277will attain comprehensive wisdom.

Thus when living beings

hear of the great length of the Buddha’s life,

they gain pure fruits and rewards

that are immeasurable and free of outflows.

Again living beings numerous as the dust particles

of eight worlds,

hearing the Buddha describe his life span,

all set their minds on the unsurpassed way.

The world-honored one preaches a Law

that is immeasurable and cannot be fathomed,

and those who benefit from it are many,

as boundless as the open air.

Heavenly mandarava flowers

and great mandarava flowers rain down;

Shakras and Brahmas like Ganges sands

arrive from countless buddha lands.

Sandalwood and aloes

in a jumble of fine powder rain down;

like birds flying down from the sky

they scatter as an offering over the buddhas.

In the midst of the air heavenly drums

of their own accord emit wonderful sounds;

heavenly robes by the thousand, ten thousand, million

come whirling and fluttering down;

wonderful jewel-encrusted censers

burn priceless incense

that of its own accord permeates everywhere,

an offering to all the world-honored ones.

The multitude of great bodhisattvas

hold banners and canopies adorned with the seven treasures,

ten thousand, a million in kind, lofty, wonderful,

in rows reaching up to the Brahma heaven.

Before each one of the buddhas

hang jeweled streamers and superlative banners,

while in thousands, ten thousands of verses

278the praises of the thus come ones are sung.

All these many things

have never been known in the past.

Hearing that the Buddha’s life is immeasurable,

all beings are filled with joy.

The Buddha’s name is heard in the ten directions,

widely benefiting living beings,

and all are endowed with good roots

to help them set their minds on the unsurpassed way.


At that time the Buddha said to the bodhisattva mahasattva Maitreya: “Ajita, if there are living beings who, on hearing that the life span of the Buddha is of such long duration, are able to believe and understand it even for a moment, the benefits they gain thereby will be without limit or measure. Suppose there are good men or good women who, for the sake of supreme perfect enlightenment, over a period of eight hundred thousand million nayutas of kalpas practice the five paramitas—the paramitas of almsgiving, keeping of the precepts, forbearance, assiduousness, and meditation, the paramita of obtaining wisdom being omitted—the benefits they obtain will not measure up to even a hundredth part, a thousandth part, a hundred, thousand, ten thousand, millionth part of the benefits mentioned previously. Indeed, it is beyond the power of calculation, simile, or parable to convey the comparison. For good men who have gained such benefits as those to fall back without reaching the goal of supreme perfect enlightenment is utterly unimaginable.”

At that time the world-honored one, wishing to state his meaning once more, spoke in verse form, saying:


If someone seeking the buddha wisdom

for a period of eight hundred thousand million

nayutas of kalpas

should practice the five paramitas,

during all those kalpas

distributing alms to the buddhas

279and to the cause-awakened ones and disciples

and the multitude of bodhisattvas,

rare delicacies of food and drink,

fine garments and articles of bedding,

or building religious retreats of sandalwood

adorned with gardens and groves;

if he should distribute alms

of many varieties, all refined and wonderful,

and do this for the entire number of kalpas

to express his devotion to the buddha way;

and if moreover he should keep the precepts,

in purity and without omission or outflow,

seeking the unsurpassed way,

praised by the buddhas;

and if he should practice forbearance,

remaining in a posture of submission and gentleness,

even when various evils are visited on him,

not allowing his mind to be roused or swayed;

when others, convinced they have gained the Law,

harbor thoughts of overbearing arrogance

and he is treated with contempt and vexed by them,

if he can still endure it with patience;

and if he is diligent and assiduous,

ever firm in intent and thought,

for immeasurable millions of kalpas

single-minded, never lax or neglectful,

for countless kalpas

dwelling in a deserted and quiet place;

and if he practices sitting and walking exercises,

banishing drowsiness, constantly regulating his mind,

and as a result of such actions

is able to produce states of meditation,

for eighty million ten thousand kalpas

remaining calm, his mind never deranged;

and if he holds to the blessing of this single-mindedness

and with it seeks the unsurpassed way,

280saying, “I will gain comprehensive wisdom

and exhaust all the states of meditation!”

If this person for a hundred, a thousand,

ten thousand, a million kalpas

should carry out these meritorious practices

as I have described above,

still those good men and women

who hear me describe my life span

and believe it for even a moment

win blessings that surpass those of such a person.

If a person is completely free

of all doubt and regret,

if in the depths of his mind he believes for one instant,

his blessings will be such as this.

These bodhisattvas

who have practiced the way for immeasurable kalpas

when they hear me describe my life span

are able to believe and accept what I say.

These people will

gratefully accept this sutra, saying,

“Our wish is that in future ages

we may use our long lives to save living beings.

Just as today the world-honored one,

king of the Shakyas,

roars like a lion in the place of enlightenment,

preaching the Law without fear,

so may we too in ages to come,

honored and revered by all,

when we sit in the place of enlightenment

describe our life spans in the same manner.”

If there are those profound in mind,

pure, honest, and upright,

who, hearing much, can retain it all,

who follow principle in understanding the Buddha’s words,

then people such as this

will have no doubts.


281“Furthermore, Ajita, if there is someone who, hearing of the long duration of the Buddha’s life span, can understand the import of such words, the benefits that such a person acquires will be without limit or measure, able to awaken in him the unsurpassed wisdom of the thus come one. How much more so, then, if far and wide a person listens to this sutra or causes others to listen to it, embraces it himself or causes others to embrace it, copies it himself or causes others to copy it, or presents flowers, incense, necklaces, streamers, banners, silken canopies, fragrant oil, or lamps of butter oil as offerings to the sutra rolls. The benefits of such a person will be immeasurable, boundless, able to inspire in him the wisdom that embraces all species.

“Ajita, if good men and good women, hearing me describe the great length of my life span, in the depths of their minds believe and understand, then they will see the Buddha constantly abiding on Mount Gridhrakuta, with the great bodhisattvas and multitude of voice-hearers surrounding him, preaching the Law. They will also see this saha world, its ground of lapis lazuli level and well ordered, the Jambunada gold bordering its eight highways, the rows of jeweled trees, the terraces, towers, and observatories all made of jewels, and all the multitude of bodhisattvas who live in their midst. If there are those who are able to see such things, you should know that it is a mark of their deep faith and understanding.

“Again, if after the thus come one has entered extinction there are those who hear this sutra and do not slander or speak ill of it but feel joy in their hearts, you should know that this is a sign that they have already shown deep faith and understanding. How much more in the case of persons who read, recite, and embrace this sutra! Such persons are in effect receiving the thus come one on the crown of their heads.

“Ajita, these good men and good women need not for my sake erect towers and temples or build monks’ quarters or make the four kinds of offerings to the community of monks. Why? Because these good men and good women, in receiving, embracing, reading, and reciting this sutra, have already erected towers, constructed monks’ quarters, and given alms to the community 282of monks. It should be considered that they have erected towers adorned with the seven treasures for the relics of the Buddha, broad at the base and tapering at the top, reaching to the Brahma heaven, hung with banners, canopies, and a multitude of jeweled bells, with flowers, incense, necklaces, powdered incense, paste incense, incense for burning, many kinds of drums, musical instruments, pipes, harps, and various types of dances and diversions, and with wonderful voices that sing and intone hymns of praise. It is as though they have already offered alms for immeasurable thousands, ten thousands, millions of kalpas.

“Ajita, if after I have entered extinction there are those who hear this sutra and can accept and uphold it, copy it themselves, or cause others to copy it, then it may be considered that they have already erected monks’ quarters, or used red sandalwood to construct thirty-two halls, as tall as eight tala trees, lofty, spacious, and beautifully adorned to accommodate hundreds and thousands of monks. Gardens, groves, pools, lakes, exercise grounds, caves for meditation, clothing, food, drink, beds, matting, medicines, and all kinds of utensils for comfort fill them, and these monks’ quarters and halls number in the hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, millions, and indeed are immeasurable in number. All these are presented before me as alms for me and the community of monks.

“So I say, if after the thus come one enters extinction there are those who accept, uphold, read, and recite this sutra or preach it to others, who copy it themselves or cause others to copy it, or who offer alms to the sutra rolls, then they need not erect towers or temples or build monks’ quarters or offer alms to the community of monks. And how much more is this true of those who are able to embrace this sutra and at the same time dispense alms, keep the precepts, practice forbearance, and display diligence, single-mindedness, and wisdom! Their virtue will be uppermost, immeasurable and boundless as the open sky, east, west, north, and south, in the four intermediate directions, and up and down, is immeasurable and boundless. The blessings of such persons will be as immeasurable and boundless as this, and 283such persons will quickly attain the wisdom that embraces all species.

“If a person reads, recites, accepts, and upholds this sutra or preaches it to others; if he copies it himself or causes others to copy it; and if he can erect towers, build monks’ quarters, offer alms and praise to the community of voice-hearers; if he can employ hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, millions of modes of praise to praise the merits of the bodhisattvas; and if for the sake of others he employs various causes and conditions and accords with principle in explaining and preaching this Lotus Sutra; and if he can observe the precepts with purity, keep company with those who are gentle and peaceful, be forbearing and without anger, firm in intent and thought, constantly prizing the practice of sitting in meditation, attaining various states of profound meditation, diligent and courageous, mastering all the good doctrines, keen in faculties and wisdom, good at answering difficult questions—Ajita, if after I have entered extinction there are good men and good women who accept, uphold, read, and recite this sutra and have good merits such as these, you should know that they have already proceeded to the place of enlightenment and are drawing near to supreme perfect enlightenment as they sit beneath the tree of the way. Ajita, wherever these good men and good women sit or stand or circle about in exercise, there one should erect a tower, and all heavenly and human beings should offer alms to it as they would to the tower of the Buddha.”

At that time the world-honored one, wishing to state his meaning once more, spoke in verse form, saying:


If after I have entered extinction

a person can honor and uphold this sutra,

his blessings will be immeasurable,

as I have described above.

It is as though he had supplied

all manner of alms,

erecting a tower for the Buddha’s relics

284adorned with the seven treasures

and with a central pole very tall and wide

that tapers gradually as it reaches the Brahma heaven.

Jeweled bells by the thousand, ten thousand, million,

move in the wind, emitting a wonderful sound.

And for immeasurable kalpas

he offers alms to this tower,

flowers, incense, various kinds of necklaces,

heavenly robes, and assorted musical instruments,

and burns fragrant oil and lamps of butter oil

that constantly light up the area around.

In the evil age of the Latter Day of the Law

if there is someone who can uphold this sutra,

it will be as though he supplied all the alms

described above.

If someone can uphold this sutra,

it will be as though in the presence of the Buddha

he should use ox-head sandalwood

to build monks’ quarters as an offering,

or thirty-two halls

as high as eight tala trees,

or supply all kinds

of superior foods and wonderful clothes and bedding,

residences for assemblies of hundreds, thousands,

gardens, groves, pools, and lakes,

exercise grounds and caves for meditation,

all with various kinds of fine adornments.

If someone with a believing and understanding mind

accepts, upholds, reads, recites, and copies this sutra

or causes others to copy it

or offers alms to the sutra rolls,

scattering flowers, incense, and powdered incense

or constantly burning fragrant oil

extracted from sumana, champaka,

or atimuktaka flowers,

if he offers alms such as these

he will gain immeasurable merits,

285boundless as the open air,

and his blessings will also be like this.

How much more so if one upholds this sutra

and at the same time dispenses alms, keeps the precepts,

is forbearing, delights in meditation,

and never gives way to anger or evil speaking.

If one displays reverence toward memorial towers,

humbles himself before monks,

gives a wide berth to an arrogant mind,

constantly ponders upon wisdom

and is never angry when asked difficult questions

but responds compliantly with an explanation—

if one can carry out such practices,

one’s merits will be beyond measure.

If you see a teacher of the Law

who has cultivated virtues such as these,

you should scatter heavenly flowers over him,

clothe his body in heavenly robes,

bow your head before his feet in salutation,

and in your mind imagine you see the Buddha.

You should also think to yourself:

Before long he will proceed to the place of enlightenment

and attain a state of no outflows and no action,

bringing wide benefit to heavenly and human beings!

In the place where such a person resides,

where he walks, sits, or lies down,

or recites even one verse of scripture,

there you should erect a tower

adorned in a fitting and wonderful manner

and offer alms of various kinds to it.

When a son of the Buddha dwells in such places

the Buddha will accept and utilize them,

and constantly in their midst

will walk, sit, or lie down.

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