Overall Teaching

After paying homage to and understanding this Sūtra, a person will see signs of the Buddha and bodhisattvas, and the divinities will protect that person and the world will become prosperous as a result of the earth goddess’ protection.

Summary

1.     The Buddha addresses Śrī and explains that whoever wishes to do vast homage, and is desirous of knowing the buddhas and their sphere, should pay homage to this Sūtra.

a.     Approach where this Sūtra is taught, which frees beings from woes. Nothing compares to it.

b.     Then, entering into the sphere of the Dharma, where there is a stūpa of the nature of the Dharma, one sees Śākyamuni Buddha expounding this Sūtra. Thereby they will know that they have acquired great merit.

c.     Such a person would endure great pain to hear this Sūtra.

d.     After making a seat resembling a lotus, they should read this Sūtra and understand it.

e.     Going to another place, they will see miracles, the Buddha, bodhisattvas, Samantabhadra, Mañjuśrī, or Maitreya will be seen on that seat. Sometimes a glow or the appearance of gods. The Sangha is everywhere, endowed with good qualities.

f.      It is a sign of the Buddha defeating enemies and evils, bringing victory in battle.

g.     The devas, nāgas, etc., will continually honour the stūpa of the Dharma. They will say that those who hear this Dharma have merits from honouring past Buddhas.

h.     The gods will then protect those people, along with the yakṣas who will protect them from terrors and fears: a great variety of divinities are named.

i.      The earth goddess in particular will be satisfied by the savour of this Dharma and will make the earth extremely fertile and various flowers and fruits and grasses will grow on the earth. The land will become extremely pure and lotuses will be planted by nāga girls in lotus pools. Dust will be removed and the quarters will shine brilliantly. The sun will rise and shine everywhere at this sūtra and cause the lotuses to rise and ripen all the crops, fruits, and plants, and satisfy the earth. The moon and sun will shine well. The asterisms, wind and rain come at the right time, and there will be plenty wherever this sūtra may be.[1]

[1] This chapter is very reminiscent of the discussion in the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa Sūtra of how this world is really a pure land. The Sūtra embodies the Dharma Body. In essence, the Dharma Body allows every place to be pure.