At that time, the Buddha, wishing to state his meaning once more, spoke in verse form, saying: "This holy lord, the World-Honored One, though he passed into extinction long ago, still seats himself in the treasure tower, coming here for the sake of the Law. You people, why then do you not also strive for the sake of the Law? This Buddha passed into extinction an endless number of kalpas ago, but in many places he comes to listen to the Law because such opportunities are hard to encounter. This Buddha originally made a vow, saying: 'After I have passed into extinction, wherever I may go, in whatever place, my constant aim will be to hear the Law!' In addition, these emanations of my body, Buddhas in immeasurable numbers like Ganges sand, have come, desiring to hear the Law, and so they may see Many Treasures Thus Come One who has passed into extinction. Each has abandoned his wonderful land, as well as his host of disciples, the heavenly and human beings, dragons and spirits, and all the offerings they give him, and has come to this place on purpose to make certain the Law will long endure. In order to seat these Buddhas I have employed transcendental powers, moving immeasurable multitudes, causing lands to be clean and pure, leading each of these Buddhas to the foot of a jeweled tree, adorned as lotus blossoms adorn a clear cool pond. Beneath these jeweled trees are lion seats, and the Buddhas seat themselves on them, adorning them with their brilliance like a huge torch burning in the darkness of the night. A wonderful incense exudes from their bodies, pervading the lands in the ten directions. Living beings are wrapped in the aroma, unable to restrain their joy, as though a great wind were tossing the branches of small trees. Through this expedient means, they make certain that the Law will long endure. So I say to the great assembly: After I have passed into extinction, who can guard and uphold, read and recite this sutra? Now in the presence of the Buddha let him come forward and speak this vow! This Many Treasures Buddha though he passed into extinction long ago, because of his great vow roars the lion's roar. Many Treasures Thus Come One, I myself, and these emanation Buddhas who have gathered here, surely know this is our aim. You sons of the Buddha, who can guard the Law? Let him make a great vow to ensure that it will long endure! He who is capable of guarding the Law of this sutra will thereby have offered alms to me and to Many Treasures. This Many Treasures Buddha dwelling in his treasure tower, journeys constantly throughout the ten directions for the sake of this sutra. One who guards this sutra will also have offered alms to the emanation Buddhas who have come here adorning and making brilliant all the various worlds. If one preaches this sutra, he will be able to see me and Many Treasures Thus Come One and these emanation Buddhas. All you good men, each of you must consider carefully! This is a difficult matter, it is proper you should make a great vow. The other sutras number as many as Ganges sands, but though you expound those sutras, that is not worth regarding as difficult. If you were to seize Mount Sumeru and fling it far off to the measureless Buddha lands, that too would not be difficult. If you used the toe of your foot to move the thousand-millionfold world, booting it away to other lands, that too would not be difficult. If you stood in the Summit of Being heaven and for the sake of the assembly, preached countless other sutras, that too would not be difficult. But if after the Buddha has entered extinction, in the time of evil, you can preach this sutra, that will be difficult indeed! If there were a person who took the empty sky in his hand and walked all around with it, that would not be difficult. But if after I have passed into extinction one can write out and embrace this sutra and cause others to write it out, that will be difficult indeed! If one took the great earth, placed it on his toenail, and ascended with it to the Brahma heaven, that would not be difficult. But if after the Buddha has passed into extinction, in the time of evil, one can even for a little while read this sutra, that will be difficult indeed! If, when the fires come at the end of the kalpa, one can load dry grass on his back and enter the fire without being burned, that would not be difficult. But after I have passed into extinction if one can embrace this sutra and expound it to even one person, that will be difficult indeed! If one were to embrace this storehouse of eighty-four thousand doctrines, the twelve divisions of the sutras, and expound it to others, causing listeners to acquire the six transcendental powers; though one could do that, that would not be difficult. But after I have entered extinction, if one can listen to and accept this sutra and ask about its meaning, that will be difficult indeed! If a person ex- pounds the Law, allowing thousands, ten thousands, millions, immeasurable numbers of living beings equal to the Ganges sands to become arhats endowed with the six transcendental powers, though one might confer such benefits, that would not be difficult. But after I have entered extinction, if one can honor and embrace a sutra such as this one, that will be difficult indeed! For the sake of the Buddha way in immeasurable numbers of lands from the beginning to now I have widely preached many sutras, and among them this sutra is foremost. If one can up- hold this, he will be upholding the Buddha's body. All you good men, after I have entered extinction, who can accept and uphold, read and recite this sutra? Now in the presence of the Buddha let him come forward and speak his vow! This sutra is hard to uphold; if one can uphold it even for a short while, I will surely rejoice and so will the other Buddhas. A person who can do this, wins the admiration of the Buddhas. This is what is meant by valor, this is what is meant by diligence. This is what is called observing the precepts and practicing dhuta (a discipline or ascetic practice carried out in order to purify the body and mind and free one from the desire for food, clothing and shelter). This way one will quickly attain the unsurpassed Buddha way. And if in future existences one can read and uphold this sutra, he will be a true son of the Buddha, dwelling in a land spotless and good. If after the Buddha has passed into extinction, one can understand the meaning of this sutra, he will be the eyes of the world for heavenly and human beings. If, in that fearful age, one can preach this sutra for even a moment, he will deserve to receive alms from all heavenly and human beings." (From The Lotus Sutra)