"When I have passed away and can no longer address you and edify
your minds with religious discourse, select from among you men of
good family and education to preach the truth in my stead. And
let those men be invested with the robes of the Tathāgata, let
them enter into the abode of the Tathāgata, and occupy the pulpit
of the Tathāgata. 2
"The robe of the Tathāgata is sublime forbearance and patience.
The abode of the Tathāgata is charity and love of all beings. The
pulpit of the Tathāgata is the comprehension of the good law in
its abstract meaning as well as in its particular application. 3
"The preacher must propound the truth with unshrinking mind. He
must have the power of persuasion rooted in virtue and in strict
fidelity to his vows. 4
"The preacher must keep in his proper sphere and be steady in his
course. He must not flatter his vanity by seeking the company of
the great, nor must he keep company with persons who are
frivolous and immoral. When in temptation, he should constantly
think of the Buddha and he will conquer. 5
"All who come to hear the doctrine, the preacher must receive
with benevolence, and his sermon must be without invidiousness. 6
"The preacher must not be prone to carp at others, or to blame
other preachers; nor speak scandal, nor propagate bitter words.
He must not mention by name other disciples to vituperate them
and reproach their demeanor. 7
"Clad in a clean robe, dyed with good color, with appropriate
undergarments, he must ascend the pulpit with a mind free from
blame and at peace with the whole world. 8
"He must not take delight in quarrelous disputations or engage in
controversies so as to show the superiority of his talents, but
be calm and composed. 9
"No hostile feelings shall reside in his heart, and he must never
abandon the disposition of charity toward all beings. His sole
aim must be that all beings become Buddhas. 10
"Let the preacher apply himself with zeal to his work, and the
Tathāgata will show to him the body of the holy law in its
transcendent glory. He shall be honored as one whom the Tathāgata
has blessed. The Tathāgata blesses the preacher and also those
who reverently listen to him and joyfully accept the doctrine. 11
"All those who receive the truth will find perfect enlightenment.
And, verily, such is the power of the doctrine that even by the
reading of a single stanza, or by reciting, copying, and keeping
in mind a single sentence of the good law, persons may be
converted to the truth and enter the path of righteousness which
leads to deliverance from evil. 12
"Creatures that are swayed by impure passions, when they listen
to the voice, will be purified. The ignorant who are infatuated
with the follies of the world will, when pondering on the
profundity of the doctrine, acquire wisdom. Those who act under
the impulse of hatred will, when taking refuge in the Buddha, be
filled with good-will and love. 13
"A preacher must be full of energy and cheerful hope, never
tiring and never despairing of final success. 14
"A preacher must be like a man in quest of water who digs a well
in an arid tract of land. So long as he sees that the sand is dry
and white, he knows that the water is still far off. But let him
not be troubled or give up the task as hopeless. The work of
removing the dry sand must be done so that he can dig down deeper
into the ground. And often the deeper he has to dig, the cooler
and purer and more refreshing will the water be. 15
"When after some time of digging he sees that the sand becomes
moist, he accepts it as a token that the water is near. 16
"So long as the people do not listen to the words of truth, the
preacher knows that he has to dig deeper into their hearts; but
when they begin to heed his words he apprehends that they will
soon attain enlightenment. 17
"Into your hands, O ye men of good family and education who take
the vow of preaching the words of the Tathāgata, the Blessed One
transfers, intrusts, and commends the good law of truth. 18
"Receive the good law of truth, keep it, read and reread it,
fathom it, promulgate it, and preach it to all beings in all the
quarters of the universe. 19
"The Tathāgata is not avaricious, nor narrow-minded, and he is
willing to impart the perfect Buddha-knowledge unto all who are
ready and willing to receive it. Be ye like unto him. Imitate him
and follow his example in bounteously giving, showing, and
bestowing the truth. 20
"Gather round you hearers who love to listen to the benign and
comforting words of the law; rouse the unbelievers to accept the
truth and fill them with delight and joy. Quicken them, edify
them, and lift them higher and higher until they see the truth
face to face in all its splendor and infinite glory." 21