妙法蓮華經 1.26

1.26

“After the Buddha Candrasūryapradīpa preached this sūtra for sixty minor kalpas, he proclaimed to the assembly of Brahmās, Māras, śramaṇas, and brāhmaṇas, as well as gods, humans, and asuras: ‘At midnight today the Tathāgata will enter nirvāṇa without remainder.’ There was then a bodhisattva named Guṇagambhiragarbha, to whom the Buddha Candrasūryapradīpa conferred vyākaraṇa, announcing to the bhikṣus: ‘This Bodhisattva Guṇagambhiragarbha will next become a Buddha, named Vimalagātra Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha.’ Having conferred the vyākaraṇa, the Buddha entered nirvāṇa without remainder at midnight. After the Buddha’s parinirvāṇa, Bodhisattva Varasaprabha upheld the Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra, expounding it to people for a full eighty minor kalpas. The eight sons of the Buddha Candrasūryapradīpa all took Varaprabha as their teacher, and Varaprabha instructed them and caused them to become firmly established in anuttarā samyaksambodhi. After making offerings to immeasurable hundreds, thousands, myriads, and kotis of Buddhas, these princes all attained the Buddha path; the last among them to attain Buddhahood was named Dīpaṃkara. Among the eight hundred disciples was one named Yaśaskāma, who was greedily attached to gain and offerings; though he repeatedly recited various scriptures, he did not penetrate them and forgot most of them, and so was named Yaśaskāma. Because this person had also planted various kuśalamūlas, he was able to meet immeasurable hundreds, thousands, myriads, and kotis of Buddhas, making offerings, paying reverence, honouring, and praising them. Maitreya, you should know that Bodhisattva Varaprabha at that time was none other than myself, and Bodhisattva Yaśaskāma was yourself. Now seeing this omen, it is no different from the former one; therefore I consider: ‘Today the Tathāgata will preach the Mahāyāna sūtra called the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka, a teaching for bodhisattvas, guarded and kept in mind by the Buddhas.’”