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Buddhas of the Past, Present and Future

I’ve been working in NotebookLM and my collection of various translations of the Lotus Sutra. See this explanation. Today I was exploring the Buddhas who appear in the Lotus Sutra. Those Buddhas include contemporaries of Śākyamuni, past Buddhas and future Buddhas. Here’s the lists NotebookLM created for me.

Here is the list of “Present Buddhas” (or Buddhas of the Ten Directions) found in the Lotus Sutra who are contemporaries of Śākyamuni Buddha.

The 15 Brother Buddhas of the Ten Directions
In Chapter 7, the Lotus Sutra reveals that Śākyamuni had fifteen brothers in a past life when they were all the sixteen sons of the past Buddha Great-Universal-Wisdom-Excellence (Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū). They all attained supreme enlightenment and are currently presiding as Buddhas in realms across the ten directions. Alongside Śākyamuni (who presides in the Sahā world), these contemporary Buddhas are:

  • Akṣobhya (Akṣobha) and Sumeru-Peak (Merukūṭa): Residing in the East. Akṣobhya dwells in the World of Joy (Abhirati).
  • Lion-Voice (Siṃhaghoṣa) and Lion-Form (Siṃhadhvaja): Residing in the Southeast.
  • Sky-Dwelling (Ākāśapratiṣṭhita) and Eternal-Extinction (Nityaparinirvṛta): Residing in the South.
  • Emperor-Form (Indradhvaja) and Brahma-Form (Brahmadhvaja): Residing in the Southwest.
  • Amitayus / Amitābha (Amida) and Saving-All-Worlds-From-Suffering (Sarvalokadhātūpadravodvegapratyuttīrṇa): Residing in the West. Amitayus dwells in the World of Happiness (Sukhāvatī).
  • Tamalapattracandana-Fragrance-Supernatural-Power (Tamālapatracandanagandhābhijña) and Sumeru-Form (Merukalpa): Residing in the Northwest.
  • Cloud-Freedom (Meghasvaradīpa) and Cloud-Freedom-King (Meghasvararāja): Residing in the North.
  • Eliminating-Fear-Of-All-Worlds (Sarvalokabhayacchambhitatvavidhvaṃsanakara): Residing in the Northeast.

Other Contemporary Buddhas in the Lotus Sutra

  • Pure-Flower-Star-King-Wisdom (Kamaladalavimalanakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña): A present Buddha who resides far in the eastern direction in the realm of All-Pure-Light-Adornment (Vairocanaraśmipratimaṇḍitā). He is the Buddha under whom the Bodhisattva Wonderful-Voice (Gadgadasvara) practices before traveling to the Sahā world to visit Śākyamuni.
  • Treasure-Power-Virtue-Superior-King (Ratnatejobhyudgatarāja): A present Buddha residing in a distant eastern realm. He is the Buddha under whom Bodhisattva Universal-Sage (Samantabhadra) resides before traveling to the Sahā world to vow protection for followers of the sutra in its closing chapter.

(Note: While the Buddha Many-Treasures (Prabhūtaratna) physically appears in the present during the sutra’s events to witness the teachings, he is explicitly categorized as a “Past Buddha” who entered extinction countless eons ago but manifests inside his stupa due to a profound vow.)

Here is the list of the past Buddhas from the Lotus Sutra, including the specific chapters in which they are first mentioned, along with their available details:

Sun-Moon-Light (Candrasūryapradīpa)

  • First Mentioned: Chapter 1.
  • World: Not specifically named, but he was followed by twenty thousand Buddhas bearing the exact same name.
  • Teachings: He taught the Lotus Sutra for 60 intermediate/small kalpas without ever rising from his seat, and his listeners were so enraptured it felt like only the space of a single meal. Before passing into Nirvana at midnight, he gave the prophecy of future Buddhahood to Bodhisattva Virtue-Store (Śrīgarbha).

Burning-Light (Dīpaṃkara)

  • First Mentioned: Chapter 1.
  • Note: The last of the eight sons of Sun-Moon-Light to achieve Buddhahood.

Great-Universal-Wisdom-Excellence (Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū)

  • First Mentioned: Chapter 7.
  • World: Sambhava (Well-Composed / Goodly City).
  • Kalpa: Mahārūpa (Great-Form / Great Appearance).
  • Lifespan: 5,400,000 myriads of kotis of eons (540 trillion myriads of eons)
  • Teachings: He sat on the terrace of enlightenment for ten small eons before the Dharma appeared to him 11. He then taught the Lotus Sutra continuously for 8,000 eons. Afterward, he entered meditation for 84,000 kotis of eons, during which time his 16 sons (who would all eventually become Buddhas, including Śākyamuni) took over the task of preaching the sutra.

Void-King (Dharmagaganābhyudgatarāja)

  • First Mentioned: Chapter 9.
  • Note: The past Buddha under whom both Śākyamuni and Ānanda first conceived the idea of supreme enlightenment.

Many-Treasures (Prabhūtaratna)

  • First Mentioned: Chapter 11.
  • World: Ratnaviśuddha (Treasure-Purity).
  • Note: He made a profound vow that even after his extinction, his stupa would emerge from the earth anywhere in the ten directions where the Lotus Sutra is preached so that he could bear witness and praise it.

Powerful-Voice-King (Bhīṣmagarjitasvararāja)

  • First Mentioned: Chapter 20.
  • World: Mahāsambhava (Great-Achievement).
  • Kalpa: Vinirbhoga (Free-From-Decay / Free from Decline).
  • Lifespan: 400,000 myriads of kotis of eons, or kalpas equal to the sands of 40 trillion myriads of Ganges rivers.
  • Right Teachings (True Dharma): Endured for as many kalpas as there are dust-atoms in the continent of Jambudvīpa.
  • Counterfeit Teachings: Endured for as many kalpas as there are dust-atoms in the four continents.
  • Note: After his True and Counterfeit Dharmas ended, 20,000 million Buddhas appeared one after another in succession bearing the exact same name.

Cloud-Freedom-Light-King (Meghasvararāja)

  • First Mentioned: Chapter 20.
  • Note: A past Buddha met by Bodhisattva Never-Despising, under whose Dharma he taught the sutra and purified his six sense organs.

Sun-Moon-Pure-Bright-Virtue (Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī)

  • First Mentioned: Chapter 23.
  • World: Though not specifically named, his realm is described as being level as the palm of a hand, made of lapis lazuli, and entirely free of women, hell dwellers, hungry spirits, beasts, asuras, and any kind of calamity.
  • Lifespan: 42,000 kalpas.

Cloud-Thunder-Sound-King (Meghadundubhisvararāja)

  • First Mentioned: Chapter 24.
  • World: Sarvarūpasaṃdarśana (Appearance-Of-All-Worlds / Displaying All Worlds).
  • Kalpa: Priyadarśana (Gladly-Seen / Seen with Joy).

Cloud-Thunderpeal-Star-King-Flower-Wisdom (Jaladharagarjitaghoṣasusvaranakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña)

  • First Mentioned: Chapter 27.
  • World: Vairocanaraśmipratimaṇḍitā (All-Pure-Light-Adornment / Light-Adornment / Lustrous Adornment) 1.
  • Kalpa: Priyadarśana (Gladly-Seen / Joy to Behold).
  • Note: This is the Buddha under whom King Wonderful-Adornment and his family practiced.

Here are the specific details for each of the future Buddhas prophesied in the Lotus Sutra, including their kalpas, world names, world descriptions, lifespans, and the durations of their True and Counterfeit Dharmas:

Flower-Light / Padmaprabha (prophesied for Śāriputra)

  • Kalpa: Adorned with Great Treasures (Mahāratnapratimaṇḍita).
  • World: Free of Defilements / Free of Dirt (Viraja).
  • World Description: It will be level and pure, with a lapis lazuli ground, an eight-compartment checkerboard of intersecting roads marked by golden cords, and rows of jeweled trees that constantly bear flowers and fruit.
  • Lifespan: 12 intermediate/small kalpas, excluding the time he spends as a prince before his awakening.
  • Right Teachings: 32 intermediate/small kalpas.
  • Counterfeit Teachings: 32 intermediate/small kalpas.

Flower-Foot-Easy-Walking / Padmavṛṣabhavikrāmin (prophesied for Bodhisattva Resolution-Fulfillment)

  • Every aspect of this Buddha’s kalpa, world, world description, lifespan, and Dharma durations will be exactly the same as those of the Buddha Flower-Light.

Light / Raśmiprabhāsa (prophesied for Mahā-Kāśyapa)

  • Kalpa: Magnificently Accoutered / Great Division (Mahāvyūha).
  • World: Radiant Virtue / Lustre (Avabhāsaprāptā).
  • World Description: Level and smooth without hills or valleys, completely pure, and free of stones, thorns, or dirt. The ground will be lapis lazuli with jeweled trees in rows, golden cords bordering the roads, and scattered precious flowers.
  • Lifespan: 12 intermediate/small kalpas.
  • Right Teachings: 20 intermediate/small kalpas.
  • Counterfeit Teachings: 20 intermediate/small kalpas.

Beautiful-Form / Famous Features / Yaśasketu (prophesied for Subhūti)

  • Kalpa: Possessing Jewels (Ratnaprabhāsa).
  • World: Birthplace of Jewels (Ratnasambhava).
  • World Description: Level and smooth, with a crystal ground adorned with jeweled trees, and free from pits, thorns, or excrement 18-20. It will be covered with precious flowers, and the people will live in rare towers on jeweled terraces.
  • Lifespan: 12 intermediate/small kalpas.
  • Right Teachings: 20 intermediate/small kalpas.
  • Counterfeit Teachings: 20 intermediate/small kalpas.

Jambunada-Gold-Light / Jāmbūnadaprabhāsa (prophesied for Mahā-Kātyāyana)

  • Kalpa & World: Not explicitly named in the sources.
  • World Description: Level and smooth with a crystal ground adorned with jeweled trees, bordered with golden cords, and covered with wonderful flowers. It will be completely free from the four evil paths (hell, hungry spirits, animals, and asuras).
  • Lifespan: 12 intermediate/small kalpas.
  • Right Teachings: 20 intermediate/small kalpas.
  • Counterfeit Teachings: 20 intermediate/small kalpas.

Tamalapattracandana-Fragrance / Tamālapatracandanagandha (prophesied for Mahā-Maudgalyāyana)

  • Kalpa: Joy Replete / Full of Joy (Ratipratipūrṇa).
  • World: Mind Pleasing / Mind Delight (Manobhirāma).
  • World Description: Level and smooth with a crystal ground adorned with jeweled trees, scattered with pearl flowers, and entirely pure and clean.
  • Lifespan: 24 intermediate/small kalpas.
  • Right Teachings: 40 intermediate/small kalpas.
  • Counterfeit Teachings: 40 intermediate/small kalpas.

Dharma-Brightness / Dharmaprabhāsa (prophesied for Pūrṇa)

  • Kalpa: Treasure-Brightness / Radiant with Gems (Ratnāvabhāsa).
  • World: Well Purified / Good and Pure (Suviśuddhā).
  • World Description: Formed by thousands of spheres, level as the palm of a hand, and made entirely of the seven precious substances without any hills or ravines. It will be filled with towers of seven precious substances, and heavenly palaces will be close by. There will be no evil ways or womankind; beings will be born by apparitional transformation, feeding solely on the joy of the Dharma and the delight of meditation.
  • Lifespan: Immense, incalculable/countless eons.
  • Right Teachings: Will last “a very long time” (no exact number of eons is provided).
  • Counterfeit Teachings: Not specified in the sources.

Universal-Brightness / Samantaprabhāsa (prophesied for Ājñāta-Kauṇḍinya and 500 Arhats)

  • Kalpa & World: Not explicitly named in the sources (the prophecy just notes it will be after an endless period).
  • World Description: Thoroughly pure and clean, where Bodhisattvas will travel by mounting lofty aereal cars/towers.
  • Lifespan: 60,000 eons/kalpas.
  • Right Teachings: Twice his lifetime (i.e., 120,000 kalpas).
  • Counterfeit Teachings: Depending on the translation, three times as long as his lifespan (180,000 kalpas) or twice as long as the True Dharma (240,000 kalpas).

Mountain-Sea-Wisdom-Supernatural-Power-King / Sāgaravaradharabuddhivikrīditābhijña (prophesied for Ānanda)

  • Kalpa: World-Filling Wonderful Sound / Subtle Sound All-Pervading (Manojñaśabdābhigarjita).
  • World: Always-Raising-Banner-Of-Victory / Never Lowered Victory Banner (Anavanāmitavaijayanta).
  • World Description: Pure and clean, with a ground of lapis lazuli.
  • Lifespan: Incalculable tens of millions of billions of countless eons.
  • Right Teachings: Twice his lifetime.
  • Counterfeit Teachings: Twice as long as his Right Teachings (True Dharma).

Stepping-on-Flower-of-Seven-Treasures / Saptaratnapadmavikrāntagāmin (prophesied for Rāhula)

  • Every aspect of this Buddha’s kalpa, world, world description, lifespan, and Dharma durations will be exactly the same as those of Ānanda’s future Buddha form.

Treasure-Form / Ratnaketurāja (prophesied simultaneously for 2,000 Śrāvakas)

  • Kalpa & World: Not explicitly named, but each will have their own land in the ten directions.
  • World Description: The splendor and purity of their lands will all be completely equal.
  • Lifespan: 1 complete eon (kalpa).
  • Right Teachings: Will last an “equal time” across all 2,000 Buddhas.
  • Counterfeit Teachings: Will last an “equal time” across all 2,000 Buddhas.

Heavenly-King / Devarāja (prophesied for Devadatta)

  • Kalpa: Not specified in the sources.
  • World: Heavenly-Way / Heaven’s Way (Devasopāna).
  • World Description: Not detailed in the sources.
  • Lifespan: 20 intermediate/medium kalpas.
  • Right Teachings: 20 intermediate/medium kalpas.
  • Counterfeit Teachings: The exact duration is not specified, but the text notes a massive stupa of seven precious substances will be built to house his relics after his True Dharma ends.

Emitting-Ten-Million-Rays-of-Light / Raśmiśatasahasraparipūrṇadhvaja (prophesied for Yaśodharā)

  • Kalpa: Not specified in the sources.
  • World: Goodly (Bhadrā).
  • World Description: Described simply as a “good land”.
  • Lifespan: Immeasurable, incalculable kalpas.
  • Right & Counterfeit Teachings: Not specified in the sources.

Sala-Tree-King / Śālendrarāja (prophesied for King Wonderful-Adornment)

  • Kalpa: Great High King / Great-Height-King (Abhyudgatarāja).
  • World: Great Light (Vistīrṇavatī).
  • World Description: Level and smooth as the palm of the hand, consisting of lapis lazuli.
  • Lifespan, Right & Counterfeit Teachings: Not specified in the sources.

Pure-Body / Vimalāṅganetra (prophesied for Bodhisattva Virtue-Store) & Gladly-Seen-By-All-Beings / Sarvasattvapriyadarśana (prophesied for Mahā-Prajāpatī)

  • For both of these prophesied future Buddhas, the sources provide their names but do not contain specific details regarding their kalpas, world names, world descriptions, lifespans, or Dharma durations.

When NotebookLM finished creating these lists for me I asked it to generate a report. Specifically I asked:

Create a report that combines details found in The Contemporary Buddhas of the Lotus Sutra, The Ancient Buddhas of the Lotus Sutra and the Future Buddhas and their predictions. Include all of the details found in the reference documents.

While I instructed that NotebookLM concentrate on the three lists of Buddhas, it instead delved into all of the sources and came up with a report that declares:

The Lotus Sutra functions as a strategic tri-temporal text, constructing a narrative and ontological bridge that unifies the past, present, and future through the doctrine of the One Vehicle ( Ekayāna ).

Tomorrow: The Chronology of Enlightenment: Contemporary, Ancient, and Future Buddhas of the Lotus Sutra