There are still many merits; let us continue to see. If a good man or woman upholds this Lotus Sutra—whether they study it, chant it, explain it, or copy it—then this person will obtain eight hundred merits of the eye, twelve hundred merits of the ear, eight hundred merits ofthe nose, twelve hundred merits ofthe tongue, eight hundred merits of the body, and twelve hundred merits of the mind, making their six sense organs pure and untainted. Thus, we obtain these pure six senses. When these merits are perfected, these good men and women, with the pure physical eyes born of their parents, will be able to see all the mountains, forests, rivers, and seas inside and outside the three thousand great thousand worlds. Downwards, they can see the lowest Avici Hell, and upwards, they can see the Highest Heaven of the Three Realms. They can also see all the sentient beings therein and observe the causes and conditions of their karma, as well as the places where they will be reborn. They can see and know all this, obtaining this pure merit of the eye. We continue our practice; when we obtain this sutra, our six senses will be purified, and our mind will also become pure. We already possess such merit, so if we continue to practice, even if the Divine Eye does not open, we can see the sentient beings ofthe six realms with our physical eyes.
With the twelve hundred merits of the ear and a purified auditory faculty, one can hear all the languages and sounds within the trichiliocosm, from the Avici Hell below to the Peak of Existence above. These include the sounds of elephants, horses, oxen, and carts; sounds of weeping, conch shells, drums, bells, and chimes; sounds of laughter and speech; the voices of men, women, boys, and girls; sounds of the Dharma and sounds not of the Dharma; sounds of suffering and joy; the voices of ordinary people and sages; pleasant and unpleasant sounds; the voices of devas, nagas, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, and mahoragas; the sounds of fire, water, and wind; the cries of those in the hells, animals, and hungry ghosts; and the voices of bhikshus, bhikshunis, shravakas, pratyekabuddhas, bodhisattvas, and Buddhas. In short, one can clearly hear and distinguish all internal and external sounds within the trichiliocosm. Although such a person has not yet attained the Divine Ear, they can perceive and differentiate all these sounds using only the pure ear faculty born of their parents, without the ear faculty being damaged. Even if we possessed the Divine Ear, we might not have such perfect merit. Did you know that when we open the Divine Ear, we often hear a lot of noise because our merit is not yet perfect? Even those with the Divine Ear may find sounds like the voices of ordinary people, bells, weeping, or cries of distress very annoying because these sounds disturb them. Their merit is incomplete, so their minds still make distinctions.
If merit is incomplete, even if we had the nose of a celestial being and could smell things from afar, we would still distinguish between fragrance and stench because of a lack of internal merit. If you can smell fragrance, you will certainly smell foul odors as well. It is just like the ear: when we hear so many sounds, what do we do about the noise? But if we have this kind of merit, even if we hear all these sounds, they are all pure sounds—they are all the flow of the Dharma! These sounds will not disturb your ears; you simply hear them, and your mind feels at ease. All the sounds of the universe exist at every moment; we hear them, but they do not disturb us. In fact, our minds are capable of hearing these sounds right now, but because of our ego-attachment, the “self” acts as an obstacle, making you believe you cannot hear them.
You are mistaken! That is not you. What you identify as yourself is not you; you have identified the wrong thing. So, we must go back and continue to search: Where am I? Who am I? What does the Tathagata look like? This physical body is not you! This consciousness is not you! It is merely a machine that you inhabit, so whether it is beautiful or not has nothing to do with you.
This is a type of merit. When we possess these twelve hundred merits of the ear, this machine of ours becomes extremely advanced. The human ear has a limited range for hearing sounds, but when our merit is perfected, the obstacles of our mind are opened, and when the mind is pure, the obstacles of the ears are also removed. That is to say, our six sense organs inherently possess infinite functions. This machine given to you by your parents possesses boundless capabilities; perhaps it is like the internet—limitless and vast—and its spiritual powers are immense. It is just that you do not use them, or you only use a tiny fraction. Having merit means we have opened the self; this is the merit we gain from hearing and upholding the Lotus Sutra.
Finally, the Buddha gives predictions of enlightenment for everyone. The Buddha-land of the Tathagata King of Dharma Brilliance will consist of as many trichiliocosms as there are sands in the Ganges. In that Buddha-land, the earth will be made of the seven treasures, with no mountains, streams, or ravines. Towers and pavilions made of the seven treasures will fill the land, and the palaces of the devas will be situated in the sky not far from the ground. Devas and humans will share the same space, interacting and seeing one another. In the Buddha-land of the Tathagata King of Dharma Brilliance, there will be no three evil realms of hells, hungry ghosts, or animals, nor will there be women. All sentient beings will be born through transformation, so there will be no carnal desire. Everyone will possess great spiritual powers, their bodies will radiate light, and they will be able to fly freely in the air. Perhaps our future Sahā world will be like this: no women, birth by transformation, endowed with spiritual powers and light, and flying freely in the sky. The sentient beings in that land will be firmly committed to seeking the Buddha way, with steadfast faith and diligent practice of the Buddha Dharma. Therefore, their bodies will all be filled with golden light and endowed with the thirty-two extraordinary physical marks.
The sentient beings of that Buddha-land will have two kinds of food—let’s see what they eat so we know what we will eat in the future: first is the food of Dharma joy; second is the food of meditative delight. This means the joy of the Dharma; hearing the Dharma will make one full, so there is no need to eat. There is also meditative delight! One becomes full through meditation and does not need to eat. In the land, there will be countless great bodhisattvas with great spiritual powers and the four types of unimpeded wisdom, skillful at teaching all sentient beings. The number of shravaka disciples will also be beyond counting, all possessing the six spiritual powers, the three clarities, and the eight liberations. The land of the Buddha King of Dharma Brilliance will possess such boundless merit and the resulting majestic appearance. The kalpa in which the Buddha King of Dharma Brilliance dwells is called “Radiance of Jewels,” and the land is called “Good and Pure.” The lifespan of the Buddha will be immeasurable asankhyeya kalpas. The time that the Buddha Dharma remains in the world will be extremely long. After the Buddha’s parinirvana, stupas made of various treasures containing his relics will fill the Buddha-land. This is the prediction for Purna.
Next are the senior disciple Bhikshu Kaundinya and the five hundred Arhats. In a future age, Bhikshu Kaundinya will make offerings to sixty-two billion Buddhas and then attain the fruit of Buddhahood, with the name Universal Brilliance Tathagata, endowed with the ten titles of a Buddha. Additionally, a prediction is given for the five hundred Arhats; all will ultimately attain Unsurpassed Complete Enlightenment. When they become Buddhas, they will all have the same name: Universal Brilliance. This is a gradual prediction.
Now let us look at the prediction for the senior disciple Ananda. Ananda was the Buddha’s attendant. In a future age, Ananda will achieve the fruit of Buddhahood with the name Tathagata King of the Wisdom of Mountains and Seas, Sovereign and Penetrating, endowed with the ten great titles of a Buddha. Ananda will make offerings to sixty-two billion Buddhas, protect the Dharma treasuries of all those Buddhas, and then attain Unsurpassed Complete Enlightenment. After Ananda becomes a Buddha, he will teach twenty thousand billion Ganges-sands of bodhisattvas, leading them to attain Unsurpassed Complete Enlightenment. His land will be named “Ever-Erect Victorious Banner,” and it will be pure, with lapis lazuli for its ground. The kalpa will be named “Sound of Music Filling Everywhere.” The lifespan of the Tathagata King of the Wisdom of Mountains and Seas, Sovereign and Penetrating will last for immeasurable thousands of millions of billions of asankhyeya kalpas. After his parinirvana, the period of the True Dharma will remain in the world for twice the length of the Buddha’s lifespan, and the period of the Semblance Dharma will last for twice the length of the True Dharma. This Buddha will be praised by countless Ganges-sands of Buddhas in the ten directions, who will extol his merits.
When giving the prediction to Ananda, the Buddha shared a small episode: he said that he and Ananda had both made the vow to seek Unsurpassed Complete Enlightenment at the same time under the Buddha King of Emptiness. However, Ananda enjoyed hearing the Dharma extensively, while the Buddha was always diligent and focused on practicing the Dharma. One listened broadly without practicing, while the other constantly and diligently practiced to realize the truth. Therefore, the Buddha has already achieved the fruit of Unsurpassed Complete Enlightenment, while Ananda protects his Dharma treasury and serves as his attendant. He will also protect the Dharma treasuries of future Buddhas, allowing all bodhisattvas to receive teaching and achieve success. Because of his original vow, he now receives the prediction of Buddhahood.
Many of our sutras were recited by Venerable Ananda because he was foremost in hearing and had an excellent memory. He could remember everything the Buddha said and recite it. The sutras we read today are also the result of his vows throughout many lifetimes —he heard the Dharma extensively but did not practice it, so he remained an attendant until Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment, and then he memorized those teachings. Therefore, we should practice the Bodhisattva Path. Each of us has a Buddha-land, and the people you love, your relatives across many lifetimes, can go to your Buddha-land to receive your deliverance and benefit. The more perfect your merit, the more beautiful your Buddha-land will be. Wanting your father and mother to go there is better than buying them a villa. In that Buddha-land, there are no three evil realms. The better you build your merit, the better the villa you prepare for your parents, building a Buddha-land like the Land of Ultimate Bliss for all your relatives throughout all lifetimes.
In the end, the Buddha gives a prediction to every person who hears the Lotus Sutra. Each of us is like them and can have a Buddha-land. Therefore, there are many, many Buddha-lands in this universe.
Let us now look at the prediction for Venerable Rahula. Rahula was the Buddha’s son when he was a householder. He is predicted to achieve the fruit of Buddhahood in a future age, with the name Tathagata Who Steps on Seven-Jewel Flowers, endowed with the ten great titles of a Buddha. He will make offerings to as many Buddhas as there are dust motes in ten worlds and will be the eldest son of those Tathagatas in every lifetime, just as he is the Buddha’s eldest son now. His land will be extremely majestic, and his lifespan, the length of the kalpa, the disciples he teaches, and the duration of the True and Semblance Dharma will be no different from those of the Tathagata King of the Wisdom of Mountains and Seas, Sovereign and Penetrating. He will also be the eldest son of that Buddha. The “Tathagata King of the Wisdom of Mountains and Seas, Sovereign and Penetrating” mentioned earlier refers to Ananda. Rahula will also be his eldest son, and after that, he will attain Unsurpassed Complete Enlightenment. This is Rahula.
Then, the Buddha gives predictions for two thousand shravaka disciples, including those still in training (the first three fruits) and those beyond training (Arhats). You people will make offerings to as many Buddhas as there are dust motes in fifty worlds, extremely respectfully honoring and protecting the Dharma treasuries of all those Buddhas. Afterward, you will simultaneously become Buddhas in lands in the ten directions, all having the same name: Jewel Sign Tathagata, endowed with the ten great titles of a Buddha. After becoming Buddhas, your lifespan will be one kalpa, and each of your Buddha-lands will be equally majestic. The shravakas and bodhisattvas in those lands, as well as the periods of the True and Semblance Dharma after the Buddhas’ parinirvana, will all be the same length.
Then comes the prediction for Devadatta. After immeasurable kalpas, Devadatta will attain the fruit of Buddhahood with the name King of Heaven Tathagata, endowed with the ten titles of a Buddha. The world where he becomes a Buddha will be named “Heavenly Way.” At that time, the Buddha King of Heaven will dwell in the world for twenty intermediate kalpas. During this time, the Buddha King of Heaven will extensively preach the Unsurpassed Sublime Dharma for all sentient beings, leading countless beings to attain the fruit of Arhatship, countless beings to resolve to seek the fruit of Pratyekabuddhahood, and as many beings as the sands of the Ganges to give rise to the aspiration for Unsurpassed Complete Enlightenment and attain the Patience of the Non-Arising of Dharmas, reaching the stage of non-retrogression. When the Buddha King of Heaven enters Nirvana, the True Dharma will continue to dwell in the world for twenty intermediate kalpas. The Buddha’s whole-body relics will be placed in a stupa made of the seven treasures, sixty yojanas high and forty yojanas in length and width. All devas and humans will honor this seven-jewel stupa with various flowers, exquisite incense, clothing, necklaces, banners, canopies, music, songs, and prostrations. Countless beings will attain the fruit of Arhatship, countless beings will attain the fruit of Pratyekabuddhahood, and an inconceivable number of beings will give rise to the Bodhi mind and ultimately reach the stage of non-retrogression.
Now predictions begin for the bhikshunis. To the Bhikshuni Gautami, the Buddha says: In a future age, you will be a great Dharma master among the teachings of sixty-eight billion Buddhas. These bhikshunis, as well as these six thousand bhikshunis who are still in training or beyond training, will all become Dharma masters along with you. After you gradually fulfill the Bodhisattva Path, you will ultimately achieve the fruit of Buddhahood. The Bhikshuni Gautami mentioned here was the Buddha’s aunt when he was a householder, the one who raised him. Since the Buddha’s mother passed away shortly after his birth, his aunt raised him. After she followed him into the monastic life, he gave her this prediction: “After you gradually fulfill the Bodhisattva Path, you will ultimately achieve the fruit of Buddhahood, with the name Tathagata Whom All Beings Delight to See, endowed with the ten great titles of a Buddha.” This Tathagata Whom All Beings Delight to See and the six thousand bodhisattvas will receive predictions in succession and shall attain Unsurpassed Complete Enlightenment.
The Buddha then gives a prediction to his wife from his householder days, Yashodhara: In a future age, you will practice the Bodhisattva path within the teachings of hundreds of thousands of millions of billions of Buddhas, serving as a great Dharma master. Gradually fulfilling the way to Buddhahood, you will ultimately attain Buddhahood in a “Good Land” with the name Tathagata Possessed of Tens of Millions of Radiant Forms, endowed with the ten great titles of a Buddha. The lifespan of the Tathagata Possessed of Tens of Millions of Radiant Forms will be immeasurable asankhyeya kalpas.
Now the prediction begins for us, the sentient beings who hear the Lotus Sutra: In the assembly, there are countless devas, nagas, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans and non-humans, as well as bhikshus, bhikshunis, upasakas, and upasikas. There are shravakas seeking the fruit of Arhatship, pratyekabuddhas seeking their own fruit, and bodhisattvas seeking the Buddha way. For all these different kinds of beings, if today they hear even a single verse or a single sentence of the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Sutra before the Buddha, or even for a single moment rejoice in, praise, and faithfully accept this sutra, I give them all the prediction: they shall all attain Unsurpassed Complete Enlightenment. If anyone after the Buddha’s parinirvana hears even a single verse or sentence of the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Sutra, or for a single moment rejoices in and praises it, I give them all the prediction: they shall attain Unsurpassed Complete Enlightenment. This final prediction is for us—that we shall all attain Unsurpassed Complete Enlightenment!