Across the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha tosses aside the finitude often attributed to his figure. Instead of a single lifetime bookending his journey, the text reveals an existence as boundless as space itself. In Chapter 16—“The Life Span of the Tathagata”—the Buddha admits to having attained enlightenment countless eons ago. What looks like a historic appearance under the Bodhi tree is actually the tip of an eternal iceberg.

This revelation shatters any notion of a departed teacher. When the Buddha “enters nirvana,” it isn’t a final curtain call but a skillful retreat into samadhi, allowing myriad “transformation bodies” to emerge and continue guiding beings in every age. Imagine a lighthouse whose beam never dims, though its keeper slips away behind the scenes—each reflection still points the way to safe harbor.

Beyond dramatic timing, the Sutra uses poetic imagery—sunrise after sunrise dawning onto a world that never truly loses light. That timeless radiance hints at a universal Buddhahood available to everyone, regardless of past karma or present obstacles. Remember how global communities rallied around climate strikes or pandemic relief this year? Much like those movements, the Lotus Sutra emphasizes collective awakening fueled by an ever-present source of compassion.

Rather than a distant deity, the eternal Buddha acts as an intimate companion on life’s winding road. Each recitation, each chapter studied, serves as a refresh button—inviting practitioners to tap into that infinite wellspring of wisdom. Far from a relic of antiquity, this portrayal feels remarkably modern: an unwavering reminder that true awakening transcends birth and death, beckoning anyone, everywhere, toward boundless potential.