Thereupon the four kinds of devotees [in the congregation], having seen the great stupa of treasures hanging in the sky, and having heard the voice from within the stupa, had delight in the Dharma, but wondered why these unprecedented things had happened. They rose from their seats, joined their hands together [towards the stupa] respectfully, retired, and stood to one side.

The fourfold assembly, seeing the stūpa issuing forth, did not know the reason. Then they “rose [from their seats],” and stood off [“to one side”]. They turned looking earnestly, wishing to hear about its meaning. This happening was beyond their comprehension, making them dare not to speak. [A bodhisattva-mahāsattva] named Great Joy in Preaching (Mahāpratibhāna) sharing doubts with the multitude, addressed the Buddha, asking him to reveal the motive behind the event he had conjured up.

When [the Buddha called Many-Treasures {Jewels}] was yet practicing the Way of Bodhisattvas, he made a great vow:

The fact that [a Buddha called] Many Jewels formerly had taken a vow and could fulfill it secretly drew the attention of the congregation at that time, and as a consequence all invariably wished to see this Buddha’s body. By making them see [the Buddha] appear, [the Buddha] unequivocally showed them the evidence.

The Buddha said to Great-Eloquence Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas: “Many-Treasures Buddha made another great vow: ‘If a Buddha wishes to show me to the four kinds of devotees when my stūpa of treasures appears before him in order that l may be able to hear the Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma [directly from him], he must call back all the Buddhas of his replicas who will be expounding the Dharma in the worlds of the ten quarters at that time.

No doubt [the Buddha] does not do this as an act of self-glorification. He wants to distinguish between the true and the false; therefore he finds it necessary to summon the Buddhas to gather. It was said earlier that in the ten directions there would be this teaching [of the sūtra]. It means that the present Buddha Śākyamuni is real. What the real Buddha has preached must be clear and proper. Through this many gain faith and are enlightened, fully and deeply. Therefore [the Buddha] uses the vow of Many Jewels as a pretext for gathering them in one place.