The Lotus Sūtra 2.9

2.9

「舍利弗！華光佛壽十二小劫，除為王子未作佛時。其國人民，壽八小劫。華光如來過十二小劫，授堅滿菩薩阿耨多羅三藐三菩提記。告諸比丘：『是堅滿菩薩次當作佛，號曰華足安行多陀阿伽度、阿羅訶、三藐三佛陀，其佛國土亦復如是。』

bodhisattvas will not be those who are just setting out. Over a long time they

will have planted roots of good merit and practiced the pure path of disci-

pline and integrity in the presence of immeasurable hundreds of thousands

of myriads of koṭis of buddhas. They will always be praised by the buddhas

and continually practice the buddha wisdom. They will be endowed with

transcendent powers and know well all the teachings of the Dharma. They

will be honest, without falsity, and firm in recollection. That world will be

filled with bodhisattvas like these.

“O Śāriputra! The lifespan of this buddha Padmaprabha will be twelve

intermediate kalpas, not including the period after he becomes a prince and

before he becomes a buddha; and the lifespan of the people in that world

will be eight intermediate kalpas.

“After these twelve intermediate kalpas have passed, the Tathāgata

Padmaprabha will predict Bodhisattva Dhṛtiparipūrṇa’s attainment of high-

est, complete enlightenment and will address the monks, saying:

This Bodhisattva Dhṛtiparipūrṇa will become the next buddha after

me. His name will be Padmavṛṣabhavikrama, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Com-

pletely Enlightened. His buddha world will also be like this one.

“O Śāriputra! After the parinirvāṇa of the Buddha Padmaprabha the

True Dharma will remain in the world for thirty-two intermediate kalpas and

the Semblance Dharma will also remain in the world for thirty-two inter-

mediate kalpas.”

Then the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate on the meaning of this again,

spoke these verses:

O Śāriputra! In the future

You will become a buddha of universal wisdom

Named Padmaprabha,

Who will save innumerable sentient beings.

Having paid homage to innumerable buddhas, Perfected the bodhisattva practice, And the qualities, including the ten powers, You will attain the highest path. After immeasurable kalpas have passed, The kalpa will be called Prabhūtaratna, And the world will be called Viraja, Pure and without dirt. The earth will be made of lapis lazuli And the roads, bordered with golden cords, Will be lined with variegated trees of the seven treasures Which are always full of flowers and fruits. The bodhisattvas in that world Will be always firm in recollection. All of them will be completely endowed With transcendent powers and the perfections And will have properly practiced the bodhisattva path In the presence of innumerable buddhas. Such mahasattvas as these Will be led and inspired by the Buddha Padmaprabha. When this buddha becomes a prince He will abdicate his kingship And give up his worldly fame. Bearing his last body, He will renounce household life And attain the path of the Buddha. This Buddha Padmaprabha will live in the world For twelve intermediate kalpas. And the lifespan of the people in this world Will be eight intermediate kalpas. After the parinirvāṇa of this buddha, The True Dharma will last in the world