Hello, everyone. Welcome to this episode of the podcast provided by the Buddhas’ Practice Incorporated of Australia.
Today, we continue our discussion on Chapters 23 and 24 of the Lotus Sutra.
The Original Acts of Bodhisattva Medicine King (Chapter 23)
In this chapter, Bodhisattva Medicine King makes an offering by burning his own body, an act praised by all the Buddhas. They exclaim that this is the true diligence and the true Dharma offering to the Tathagata. It is a gift far greater than giving up kingdoms, wives, children, or valuable treasures. This offering is considered the most noble and supreme of all, because it is an offering of the Dharma to the Tathagatas. Why? Because our bodies are the things we hold most dear and cling to the most. To abandon it as an offering to the Dharma is to relinquish the most fundamental attachment in life.
This passage teaches us that the most significant dedication of our lives should be for the Dharma and for wise teachers. Just as the Dragon King’s daughter offered her precious, life-giving pearl to the Buddha, this is the most genuine and sincere form of offering. For lay practitioners, it means protecting the true Dharma; for monastics, it means upholding the true Dharma. If we cling to money, family, and children and dedicate ourselves to these impermanent worldly things, we will ultimately find that our efforts are in vain and only lead to more suffering.
Dear practitioners, this is the essence of “The Original Acts of Bodhisattva Medicine King.” It reveals the greatness of Bodhisattva Medicine King lies in his supreme offering to the Dharma. This also inspires us that the greatest merit in life is not measured by what we possess, but by our ability to sacrifice for the Dharma.
The Bodhisattva Wonderful Voice (Chapter 24)
Bodhisattva Virtue-Flower sees the inconceivable power of Bodhisattva Wonderful Voice and asks the Buddha, “What roots of good merit has this Bodhisattva Wonderful Voice planted?” The Buddha tells him that in a past life, during the time of the Buddha Cloud-Thunder-Music-King, Bodhisattva Wonderful Voice made an offering of 100,000 kinds of music for 12,000 years and presented 84,000 jeweled bowls. It is because of this karmic connection that he has achieved such a magnificent reward in this life.
The Buddha continues, saying that the merits of Bodhisattva Wonderful Voice are far beyond this. He can appear not only in his original majestic form but can also manifest in various forms to save living beings. He can appear as a Brahma King, Sakra, a Wheel-Turning Sage King, a householder, and even as a monk, a nun, a layman, or a laywoman. He can even transform into a female form to teach the Dharma in the palaces of kings. According to the different dispositions and inclinations of living beings, he can manifest as a Sravaka, a Pratyekabuddha, a Bodhisattva, or even a Buddha, teaching the Dharma and even demonstrating his parinirvana.
The Buddha concludes, “Virtue-Flower, this is the power of the great supernatural abilities and wisdom that Bodhisattva Wonderful Voice has perfected.” Bodhisattva Virtue-Flower then asks, “Bhagavat, in what kind of samadhi does this Bodhisattva reside, that he can so freely transform his body and liberate sentient beings?”
The Buddha replies, “Good son, this samadhi is called the Samadhi in Which All Physical Forms Can Be Manifested. It is by dwelling in this samadhi that Bodhisattva Wonderful Voice can widely benefit immeasurable sentient beings.”
Thank you for listening.
