Hello, everyone. Welcome to this episode of the podcast provided by the Buddhas’ Practice Incorporated of Australia.
Today, I would like to share with you the final chapter of the Lotus Sutra, Chapter 28: “The Encouragement of Bodhisattva Universal Worthy.” This precious chapter is a powerful summary of the entire sutra, where Bodhisattva Universal Worthy makes a great vow to encourage and protect us as we practice the Lotus Sutra.
Universal Worthy’s Vow and Promise
The chapter begins with Bodhisattva Universal Worthy arriving from a distant eastern Buddha-land with inconceivable transcendent powers and dignity. He bows to the Buddha and asks him: “After your parinirvāṇa, how can sons and daughters of a virtuous family truly attain the Lotus Sutra?”
The Buddha replies that to truly attain the principles and realm of this sutra after his passing, one must accomplish four things:
- Be protected by all the Buddhas.
- Plant deep roots of good merit.
- Enter the “Right Assembly of Certainty” .
- Awaken the aspiration to save all sentient beings.
Following this, Universal Worthy makes a vast vow before the Buddha. He promises that in the evil world of the last 500 years after the Tathāgata’s passing, he will personally protect anyone who holds to this sutra. He will eliminate their suffering, grant them peace, and ensure that evil conditions from Māra, non-humans, and ghosts cannot trouble them. He further vows to appear before any practitioner who holds, recites, or copies this sutra, riding a six-tusked white elephant king with other great bodhisattvas, to make offerings, protect, and console their hearts. If a practitioner forgets any part of the text, Universal Worthy will personally teach and remind them, helping them become proficient. Upon seeing his form, practitioners will experience great joy, redouble their efforts, and attain hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of dhāraṇīs, such as the “Revolving Dhāraṇī,” and achieve great concentration.
For those who wish to practice the Lotus Sutra, if they can dedicate themselves single-mindedly for twenty-one days, Universal Worthy promises to appear before them in a form pleasing to all beings. He will teach the Dharma and give them a dhāraṇī-spell, so they will not be harmed by non-humans or misled by women, and will be constantly protected by him.
If the Lotus Sutra circulates in the world and is held by people, it is all thanks to the majestic power of Bodhisattva Universal Worthy. He further explains the immeasurable merits of holding to the Lotus Sutra:
Practicing Universal Worthy’s Path: If someone can hold, recite, understand, and practice according to the teaching, this is practicing Universal Worthy’s path.
Worshiped by Devas and Humans: Even if a person only copies the sutra, upon their death, they will be reborn in the Thirty-Three Heaven. Eighty-four thousand heavenly maidens will welcome them with music, they will be adorned with a coronet of seven jewels, and they will enjoy themselves among the celestial maidens.
Guided by a Thousand Buddhas: If a person can hold, recite, understand the meaning, and practice according to the teaching, when they die, a thousand buddhas will extend their hands to guide them, so they will feel no fear and will not fall into evil states of being. They will be reborn in the Tuṣita Heaven with Bodhisattva Maitreya, surrounded by great bodhisattvas and hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of heavenly maidens, where they will hear the Dharma and practice.
Swiftly Attain Buddhahood: Such a person will soon arrive at the terrace of enlightenment, defeat all demonic forces, attain Anuttarā Samyaksaṃbodhi, turn the great Dharma wheel, beat the Dharma drum, blow the Dharma conch, and expound the great Dharma while sitting on a lion seat in the midst of the assembly of devas and humans.
Rewards in This Life: Such a person will no longer be attached to worldly desires and will receive great blessings in their current life.
Universal Worthy specifically points out that the true practice of Universal Worthy’s vows is not just the Ten Great Vows of the Flower Adornment Sutra, but is to study and practice the Lotus Sutra. This is because the Lotus Sutra represents the path that all Buddhas practice.
Those who practice the Lotus Sutra have a pure heart, right mindfulness, and the power of merit. They are not troubled by the three poisons, nor are they afflicted by jealousy, arrogance, false pride, or overweening pride. They have little desire, are content, and truly practice the path of Universal Worthy.
The Sin of Slander and the Virtue of Reverence
At the end of the chapter, the Buddha instructs the assembly to treat those who practice the Lotus Sutra with respect. However, he also warns of the serious consequences of contempt and slander:
If someone scoffs at a Dharma-teacher, saying, “You are crazy; what good is what you are doing?”, they will be blind for lifetime after lifetime.
If someone speaks maliciously about the faults of a practitioner, whether true or not, they will contract leprosy in their current life.
If someone mocks a Dharma-teacher, they will have crooked teeth, ugly lips, a flat nose, and crooked limbs for lifetime after lifetime. Their eyes will be askew, their body will smell and be filthy, and they will suffer from malignant sores, pus, and various severe and chronic illnesses.
For this reason, Universal Worthy admonishes us that whenever we see someone who holds this sutra, we should rise from afar to welcome them, just as we would show respect to the Buddha.
Conclusion
Friends, “The Encouragement of Bodhisattva Universal Worthy” brings the entire Lotus Sutra to a perfect close.
Universal Worthy’s great vow not only gives us protection but also encourages us. As long as we arouse the noble intention to hold, recite, and practice this sutra, we are walking the path of Universal Worthy and the common path of all Buddhas.
Thank you all.
