[Essential sentence] 3
"Manjusri,Son of the Buddha! Remove our doubts! The four kinds of devotees are looking up with joy at you and me, wishing to know why this ray of light is emitted by the World-Honored One. Son of the Buddha, answer me! Remove our doubts and cause us to rejoice! For what purpose is the Buddha emitting this ray of light?
This good omen we see now is not different from what I saw at that time. Therefore, I think that the Tathagata of today also will expoud the sutra of the Great Vehicle called the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma, the Dharma for Bodhisattvas, the Dharma Upheld by the Buddhas."
[The gist]
Maitreya Bodhisattva represented people that were surprised at this extraordinary spectacle, and he asked Manjusri Bodhisattva who had served infinite various Buddhas in the past. Manjusri answered Maitreya that this good omen was the same spectacle as when he had served a Buddha called Sun-Moon-Light. And he said that it was for preaching the sutra of the Great Vehicle called the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma, the Dharma for Bodhisattvas, the Dharma Upheld by the Buddhas. Maitreya played the role of asking the meaning of this spectacle without knowing anything. Manjusri revealed that he was a bodhisattva called Wonderful-Light who continued to preach the Lotus sutra after Sun-Moon-Light Buddha's nirvana and that Maitreya was his lazy disciple who was called Fame-seeking. This situation suggests to the audience gathered to hear the Lotus Sutra that they could not remember the relation between teacher and disciple in the far past.
The Dharma for Bodhisattvas, the Dharma Upheld by the Buddhas, means the highest teachings protected by the Buddhas. The Dharma which teaches Bodhisattvas is not to get personal benefits and rights but to get ability that benefits other people by encouraging their great spirits. Whether it is material or mental, personal satisfaction and benefits are denied as egoistic Hinayana by Mahayana. Bodhisattvas have to pursue the wisdom of the Buddha upward and then to enlighten people downward. Bodhisattvas have to cherish lofty ideals and be actively altruistic. Because the Lotus sutra includes these important teachings, it is also called the Dharma for Bodhisattvas, the Dharma Upheld by the Buddhas is an honorific title.