Observations placeholder

The Lotus sutra – translated by Burton Watson

At that time the World-Honored One, wishing to state his meaning once more, spoke in verse form, saying:

If one upholds the Lotus Sutra
his body will be very pure,
like pure lapis lazuli-
living beings will all delight to see it.

And it will be like a pure bright mirror
in which forms and shapes are all reflected.

The bodhisattva in his pure body
will see all that is in the world;
he alone will see brightly
what is not visible to others.

Within the three thousand worlds,
all the mass of burgeoning creatures,
heavenly and human beings, asuras,
hell dwellers, spirits, beasts-
their forms and shapes in this way
will all be reflected in his body.

The palaces of the various heavens
upward to the Summit of Being,
the Iron Encircling Mountains,
the mountains Meru and Mahameru,
the great seas and other waters-
all will be reflected in his body.

The Buddhas and voice-hearers,
Buddha sons and bodhisattvas,
whether alone or in the assembly
preaching the Law-all will be reflected.

Though this person has not yet acquired
the wonderful body of Dharma nature, free of outflows,
because of the purity of his ordinary body
all things will be reflected in it.