Chapter 28
Encouragement of Universal-Sage Bodhisattva

SUMMARY

Universal-Sage Bodhisattva had been watching and listening to the Buddha Sakyamuni preaching the Lotus Sutra at Mount Sacred Eagle. He wanted to talk to the Buddha directly, so he came from his remote world in the east with his hundreds and thousands of bodhisattvas and asked the Buddha how to obtain the teachings of the Lotus Sutra after his death. The Buddha told him that people need to do four things in order to obtain the sutra in the latter eras. This chapter is like a review and conclusion of the Lotus Sutra.

EXPLANATIONS

"Thereupon Universal-Sage Bodhisattva, who was famous for his virtues and supernatural powers without hindrance, came from a world in the distance of many worlds to the east of this Saha World. He was accompanied by innumerable, uncountable great Bodhisattvas." (P. 336, L.4.):

Universal-Sage Bodhisattva came to this Saha World to hear and receive the Lotus Sutra. He has never appeared in the previous chapters; however, this bodhisattva and Manjusri Bodhisattva are two bystanders Sakyamuni Buddha. Manjusri has been at Sacred Eagle Mountain from the very beginning to listen to the Buddha reveal the Lotus Sutra. Universal-Sage is good at theory while Manjusri is good at wisdom. Universal-Sage sits on Buddha’s right hand side and Manjusri on his left side. Facing the Mandala Gohonzon, the name of Universal-Sage appears on the left side of the “Ho” of “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,” and Manjusri on the right.

Why did Universal-Sage Bodhisattva come from a remote, distant world to listen to the Lotus Sutra? It signifies that the sutra is not only for the people on earth but also for all living beings in all universes.

"Tell me how the good men or women who live after your extinction will be able to obtain this Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma!” (P.336, L.23.):

Universal-Sage Bodhisattva asked the Buddha, “How can the people after Buddha’s death hear and understand the spirit of the Lotus Sutra?”

"If they do the following four things: 1. Secure the protection of the Buddhas, 2. Plant the roots of virtue, 3. Reach the stage of steadiness and 4. Resolve to save all living beings. The good men or women will be able to obtain this sutra after my extinction if they do these four things." (P.336, L.28.):

Buddha Sakyamuni’s answer to Universal-Sage Bodhisattva is that there are four things to do, as follows:

1.  We must believe that the Buddhas and deities are always protecting us. This is because of Buddhas’ compassion.

2. We must practice virtuous behavior and do good deeds by stealth. This means we must to do good deeds even though nobody watches or recognizes us. Buddhas are always watching us.

3. We must have strong faith. If we have strong faith, we will not waver in our minds even if someone threatens our lives like Nichiren Daishonin was threatened.

4. We must try to save all living beings in righteousness including all animals, plants and environments.

If we keep up these four practices, we will be able to attain Buddhahood after the death of Sakyamuni Buddha. When we can trust ourselves that “we can be Buddhas,” we will be able to obtain the Lotus Sutra. The Eternal Buddha always protects us wherever we are, so we can do good even though nobody is watching. Because we believe that, we will have steady faith and try to help others and save all living beings.

“If anyone keeps this sutra in the defiled world in the later Five Hundred years after your extinction, I will protect him so that he may be free from any trouble, that he may be peaceful, and that no one may take advantage of his weak points." (P.337, L.6.):

Universal-Sage Bodhisattva promised the Buddha that he would protect people who practiced the Lotus Sutra especially in the Mappo Era. There are three different eras after the death of Sakyamuni Buddha. They are Shobo, Zobo and Mappo Eras. The Shobo era is divided into two: the first Five Hundred years and the second Five Hundred years after the Buddha’s death. It is the period of the righteous law when Buddhist doctrines, practices, and enlightenment all exist. Zobo is also divided into two: the third Five Hundred years and the fourth Five Hundred years after the Buddha’s death. Zobo is the period of the imitative law when both doctrine and practices still exist, but there is no longer any enlightenment. That is why it is called imitation law. Mappo is always regarded as lasting ten thousand years after the first two periods have ended. It is the period when doctrine alone is alive, but there is neither practice nor enlightenment. Therefore “the later Five Hundred years after your extinction” means in the era of Mappo, which we live in now.

Until recently when archaeologists excavated many Buddhist monuments, Buddhists thought that the Mappo era started in 1052; therefore, in the years just before and those after 1052, people wished to be born in the Amitabha Buddha’s Pure Land in the west because it was said that there was no salvation on the earth, so that the Nembutsu Sects flourished rapidly.

On the contrary, the books of the Lotus Sutra and images of Sakyamuni Buddha were destroyed throughout Japan. When St. Nichiren was exiled to Izu Peninsula, he received a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha from Lord Izu in appreciation to Nichiren who cured his illness. The statue was given to the lord from a fisherman who caught it in his fish net together with fish from the ocean.

Because of this kind of era, Universal-Sage Bodhisattva promised to protect those who keep the Lotus Sutra.

“Thereupon he uttered spells before the Buddha: “Atandai, tandahatai, tandahatei, tandakusahrei, tandashudarei . . ." (P.338, L.9.):

The Bodhisattva gave 20 spells for the sake of those who practice the teachings of the Lotus Sutra: “Atandai, tanda-hatai, tanda-kusharei, tanda-shudarei, shudarei, shudara-hachi, botsuda-hasennei, . . .

"Anyone who keeps, reads and recites this Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma, memorizes it correctly, studies it, practices it, and copies it, should be considered to see me, and hear this sutra from my mouth. He should be considered to be making offerings to me. He should be considered to be praised by me with the word “Excellent!" (P.339, Last paragraph.):

These are Sakyamuni Buddha’s direct words to us. He praised us, “Excellent, Excellent!”

"Anyone who keeps, reads and recites this sutra, and understands the meanings of it, will be given helping hands by one thousand Buddhas immediately after his present life. He will be fearless. He will not fall into any evil region. He will be reborn in the Tusita Heaven.” (P.339, L.6.):

It is our belief that we who chant the Odaimoku, will die peacefully and a thousand Buddhas will come to us, hold our hands and lead us to the Tusita Heaven where Maitreya Bodhisattva is waiting to be the next Buddha on this earth. We will be born again together with that Buddha.

Nichiren Daishonin also promised that there is nothing to be afraid of in dying. He gave a reply letter to Lord Matsuno as follows:

“So continue your chanting of ‘Namu Myoho Renge Kyo’ until your death. It is interesting to climb the mountain of the Wonderful Enlightenment and look around. There, the sky and earth is the Land of Tranquil Light. The earth is layered with rubies, and streets are marked with golden ropes. Four kinds of flowers, such as Mandara and Manjushage, fall from heaven, beautiful music is heard in the air, and the wind of the Four Virtue Paramitas- Eternity, Bliss, Self-reliance, and Purity – are blowing gently. There, all the Buddhas and bodhisattvas are living joyful lives. We will soon join their company and enjoy heavenly lives. It is impossible to go to such a great place with weak faith.”

~ Namu Myohorengekyo ~