The Lotus Sūtra 4.24

4.24

爾時世尊知諸菩薩心之所念，而告之曰：「諸善男子！我與阿難等，於空王佛所，同時發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心。阿難常樂多聞，我常勤精進，是故我已得成阿耨多羅三藐三菩提，而阿難護持我法，亦護將來諸佛法藏，教化成就諸菩薩眾，其本願如是，故獲斯記。」

this: “Since we have never heard the great bodhisattvas receive predictions like this, why should the śrāvakas now obtain it?”

Then the Bhagavat, knowing what the bodhisattvas were thinking, spoke to them, saying: “O sons of a virtuous family! The thought of highest, complete enlightenment once awoke simultaneously in Ānanda and myself in the presence of the Buddha Dharmagaganābhyudgatarāja. Ānanda always wanted to hear a great deal about the Dharma, and I always made diligent efforts. For this reason I was shortly able to attain highest, complete enlightenment, whereas Ānanda preserves my teaching and in the future will uphold the treasure house of the Dharma of all the buddhas. He will lead, inspire, and perfect the bodhisattvas. Since this was his original vow, he has obtained this prediction!”

Ānanda, while facing the Buddha in the audience, heard his own prediction and about the adornments of his land. His vow fulfilled, he rejoiced greatly at attaining such an unprecedented experience. With his unobstructed penetration he immediately remembered the treasure house of the Dharma of the past immeasurable thousands of myriads of koṭis of buddhas as if he had just heard of it today; and he also became aware of his original vow.

Thereupon Ānanda spoke these verses:

The Bhagavat is truly extraordinary.

He has enabled me to recollect the Dharma

Of incalculable numbers of buddhas of the past,

Just as if I had first heard of the matter today.

I now have no further doubts.

I am established in the buddha path.

I have become an attendant of the Tathāgata

And, as an attendant, I will preserve

The Dharma of all the buddhas, using skillful means.

Then the Buddha addressed Rāhula, saying: “In the future you will become a buddha called Saptaratnapadmavikrama, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Completely Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Departed, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed, Tamer of Humans, Teacher of Devas

and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavat. You will pay homage to the Buddha Tathā-

gatas, whose number is equal to that of the grains of dust in the ten worlds;

and you will always become the eldest son of all the buddhas just as you are

my eldest son now.

“The adornments of the land, the number of disciples led and inspired,

the duration of the True and Semblance Dharma of this buddha Saptaratna-

padmavikrama will be just like those of the Buddha Sāgaradharabuddhi-

vikrīḍitarājābhijña, without the slightest difference. You will also become

the eldest son of this buddha and after that attain highest, complete enlight-

enment.”

At that time the Bhagavat, wanting to elaborate on the meaning of this

When I was a prince,

Rāhula was my eldest son.

And now that I have perfected the buddha path,

He accepts my teaching as the heir of the Dharma.

In the future he will meet

Immeasurable koṭis of buddhas.

Becoming the eldest son of all these buddhas,

He will wholeheartedly seek

The buddha path.

Only I am able to discern

Rāhula’s unseen practice.