The layout of the book is attractive, and the typeface is extremely readable. Other complete english translations of the lotus sutra. Reeves companion book, stories from the lotus sutra, is also very good. This book is a distillation of his decades of reflection about the lotus sutra in the most accessible way. The lotus sutra is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential sutras, or sacred scriptures, of buddhism. The lotus sutra is one of the most influential buddhist texts, but it can be a daunting. Link distinguished university professor of buddhist and tibetan studies at the university of michigan. The lotus sutra is one of the most important sutras in mahayana buddhism and.
The lotus sutra and other mahayana sutras claim to be the word of the buddha. This sutra is the basis of nichiren buddhism and daisaku ikedas philosophy. Its a seminal work in the development of buddhism throughout east asia and, by extension, in the development of mahayana buddhism throughout the world. Lotus sutra, sanskrit saddharmapuarikasutra, lotus of the good law or true doctrine sutra, one of the earlier mahayana buddhist texts venerated as the quintessence of truth by the japanese tendai chinese tientai and nichiren sects.
In the sixth century, the scholarship of the chinese buddhist teacher zhiyi the great teacher tiantai, or tientai did much to affirm the supremacy of the lotus sutra amongst the teachings of shakyamuni. Written in northwestern india probably before the beginning of the 2nd century ce, the sukhavativyuha exists in two original versions, a longer one that emphasizes good works and a shorter version that emphasizes faith and devotion alone. Of course, i would always recommend buying the book so you get the latest edition. Its teachings thoroughly permeate most schools of buddhism in china, korea, and japan. Whitehead and charles hartshorne with the buddhism of the lotus sutra. Gender and hierarchy in the lotus sutra, by jan nattier 4. The sutras name in sanskrit is maha saddharmapundarika sutra, or great sutra of the lotus of the wonderful law. Apr 30, 20 the sutra s name in sanskrit is saddharmapundarika sutra, or sutra of the lotus of the wonderful law. The mahayana authors of this influential sutra believed that the buddha taught using expedient means in the form of similes, parables and other expressions to present his teachings to different people at different times. Of the countless scriptures of mahayana buddhism, few are more widely read or revered than the lotus sutra. Gene reeves is a buddhist scholar and teacher, process philosopher, and theologian who has lived in tokyo for over 23 years studying, teaching, and practicing the buddhism of the lotus sutra. The lotus sutra has been regarded for centuries as one of the most important teachings in mahayana buddhism. The sutra of the lotus flower of the wonderful law dharma. He is a founder of the international buddhist congregation with headquarters in tokyo, a part of the much larger rissho koseikai lay buddhist organization.
Readings of the lotus sutra columbia university press. The lotus sutra is regarded by many others as a religious classic of great beauty. The heart of the lotus sutra lectures on the expedient means and life span chapters ebook. Ancient teachers used the threads of the sutras to weave together tapestries of great lessons and ideas. The lotus sutra is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential sutras, or scriptures, of buddhism. Thich nhat hanh is at his best when hes telling stories from his own life his time in vietnam during the war, or stories about the buddhist community he started.
Dec 02, 2008 the lotus sutra is regarded as one of the worlds great religious scriptures and most influential texts. Essays on the lotus sutra, which he edited, was published in 2002. Buddhism and the lotus sutra daisaku ikeda website. The earlier teaching has to be incorporated into the new vision of the dharma. The lotus sutra is a revolutionary teaching of buddhism, which practice makes it possible for any person to attain buddhahood in this lifetime in ones current form and circumstances. This contribution to book is brought to you for free and open access by the faculty scholarship at. Reeves is currently working on a buddhist natural theology which attempts to relate the process philosophy of a. The lotus sutra is one of the most popular and influential mahayana sutras, and the basis on. Now when the buddha emits this beam of brightness he is helping to reveal the meaning of the true entity of phenomena. This does not stop priests or anyone engaging with others, in so far as such engaement does not affect and change the core principles of the school. Among these, one of the most widely influential has been the lotus sutra. The lotus sutra by anonymous meet your next favorite book. Most of the mahayana sutras, which number over two thousand, were written between 200 bce and 200 ce, the period in which mahayana buddhism developed.
Saddharmapuarikasutra scripture of the white lotus of the marvelous law into chinese in 406 c. Aug 09, 2019 as it happens i gave a series of four onehour talks at the riverview dharma centre on the lotus sutra, which i plan to publish soon as the treasure house of secrets. Sutras can be found in buddhism, hinduism, and jainism. A guide to the threefold lotus sutra rissho koseikai. It is a matter of faith in some schools of buddhism that the sutra contains the words of the historical buddha. Nov 14, 2016 an interpretation of selected verses spoken by the buddha in chapter 2 of the lotus sutra. You can see all this book s content by visiting the pages in. The lotus sutra is regarded as one of the worlds great religious scriptures and most influential texts. Just as earlier sutras do, the mahayana sutras then say where the buddha was, naming a traditional. A summary and key points for each chapter by founder nikkyo niwano, published originally in japanese, is serialized beginning with the july 2018 issue of our monthly newsletter, living the lotus, available in chinese, english, hindi, italian, japanese, mongolian, nepali, persian, and sinhalese. His books include the princeton dictionary of buddhism with robert e. That more authentic text turned out to be the lotus sutra.
Apr 28, 2019 the sutra s name in sanskrit is maha saddharmapundarika sutra, or great sutra of the lotus of the wonderful law. The lotus sutra more than any other work is responsible for the distinctiveness of east asian buddhism. The signs now are like those of the earlier auspicious portent, this is an expedient means used by the buddhas. See more ideas about lotus sutra, buddhism and buddhist practices.
Sutras are a genre of ancient and medieval indian texts found in hinduism, buddhism and jainism in hinduism, sutras are a distinct type of literary composition, a. You can see all this book s content by visiting the pages in the below index. The kempon hokke sangha has a great starting point of no doctrine outside the scrolls of the lotus sutra as the sunlight of the other sutras. The record of the orally transmitted teachings the interpretation of key passages of each chapter of the lotus sutra in nichiren buddhism. The interpretation of key passages of each chapter of the lotus sutra in nichiren buddhism. The wisdom of the lotus sutra ivi yield intrareligious insights of buddhists who regard the lotus sutra as a core teaching of mahayana buddhism. The sutras name in sanskrit is saddharmapundarika sutra, or sutra of the lotus of the wonderful law. The stories of the lotus sutra is a delightful introductory book of the lotus sutra explained through the many stories and parables found in the lotus sutra.
The entire work is called the threefold lotus sutra. Nichiren buddhism focuses on the lotus sutra doctrine that all people have an innate. Here, lopez provides what he calls the plot summary of the lotus sutra. Because while this sutra goes on at length about the benefits and power of the lotus sutra, it never quite gets around to actually saying what the sublime and powerful teachings are that the vast multitude of humans, demons, bodhisattva and various sundry buddhas that. Berkeley, calif numata center for buddhist translation and research. The sutra s key message is that buddhahood, the supreme state of life characterized by boundless compassion, wisdom and courage, is inherent within every person without distinction of gender, ethnicity, social standing or intellectual ability. Mar 17, 2015 most of the mahayana sutras, which number over two thousand, were written between 200 bce and 200 ce, the period in which mahayana buddhism developed. The buddha now speaks, praising the wisdom of the buddhas, which he. Taking place in a vast and fantastical cosmic setting, the lotus sutra places emphasis on. This text is one of the most famous scriptures of mahayana buddhism. However, most historians believe the sutra was written in the 1st or 2nd century ce, probably by more than one writer. Containing profound truths for all people from every culture, it reveals. In translating the chinese text into english we used the kasuga edition of kumarajivas version of the lotus sutra as the basic text, rather than the taisho edition. The lotus sutra and its opening and closing sutras.
The lotus sutra is a teaching that encourages an active engagement with mundane life and all its challenges. Ahhh, the lotus sutra, as a former professor of mine once stated the greatest sutra never preached. Establishing the definitive guide to this profound text, specialists in buddhist philosophy, art, and history of religion address the major ideas and controversies surrounding the lotus sutra and its manifestations in ritual. Reads is a retelling of the parable taught by the buddha in chapter 3 of the lotus sutra as translated by burton watson. The main text of the pure land schools is the sukhavativyuhasutra pure land sutra. His most recently published book is the stories of the lotus sutra. The buddhas key teachings in the lotus sutra youtube. The lotus sutra bucknell digital commons bucknell university. Understanding of the lotus sutra 1549 words bartleby. A summary and key points for each cahpter the threefold lotus sutra.
Nichiren, a thcentury japanese buddhist monk, founded an entire school of buddhism based on his belief that the lotus sutra is the buddha. This book goes beyond theory to show how to bring these teachings into practice in daily life. Sep 06, 2018 in sanskrit, the word sutra literally means thread. Whether youre experienced with the lotus or have never endeavored to read it, youll have a deeper understanding. Different divisions of mahayana buddhism emphasize different sutras, but some texts, like the lotus sutra and heart sutra, are important to most branches of mahayana. It came to be understood by its adherents as the buddhas final teaching, and. The sutra of the lotus flower of the wonderful law translated by h. I found the glossary in the back helpful to understand some of the buddhist jargon both english and sanskrit used in the translation. Within the buddhist canon, the lotus sutra is one text that should be read. The lotus sutra claims that just before buddha died, he gave the second turning of the dharma wheel, in which he affirmed the nonsubstantiality of all dharmas impermanence and.
Today, well be looking at five major buddhist sutras. Lopez is the author of a dozen books on buddhist history and philosophy and. In sanskrit, the word sutra literally means thread. Gene reeves is a buddhist scholar and teacher of the lotus sutra. Buddhist practice and the lotus sutra in china, by daniel b. The content is largely derived from an integration of the kato, kern, and hurvitz translations. The lotus sutra proclaims that a unitary intent underlies the diversity of buddhist teachings and promises that all people without exception can achieve supreme awakening.
It can be seen as a document of human right to enlightenment, a. Saddharma puarika sutra, literally sutra on the white lotus of the sublime dharma is one of the most popular and influential mahayana sutras, and the basis on which the tiantai, tendai, cheontae, and nichiren schools of buddhism were established. Kern 1884 the lotus sutra is one of the most important texts in buddhism and is considered by many as its finest gem. A universal lotus sutra w e can view the lotus sutra, regarded as a most important mahayana sutra, as a scripture that profoundly conveys shakyamunis original awakening, intent and his behavior as a buddhareviving buddhism in accord with the demands of the times. This is a teaching from the heart of the mahayana, and ive always felt its special gift. That is, it is only the beginning of buddhas teachings. See more ideas about lotus sutra, lotus and buddhism. In it, shakyamuni expounds the ultimate truth of life to which he was enlightened. The lotus sutra is regarded by many others as a religious classic of great beauty and power and one of the most important and most. The lotus sutra saddharmapundarika is an important mahayana buddhist scripture classified as one of the nine dharmas. The lotus sutra book by gautama buddha thriftbooks. Shakyamunis teachings have been preserved in numerous collections called sutras. Buddhist law and teachingsare indicative of some of the. Aug 05, 2017 source of this english sutra kumarajiva, kubo, t.
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