When the truth of the one vehicle is fully actualized, this world will achieve a great harmony, and people will overcome all national, racial, and religious differences to accept one another in cooperation toward the betterment of our world. The lotus sutra not only makes us keenly aware of these facts but also serves as an always dependable guide to the new way of living necessary for us now and in the future. In the lotus sutra, he declares that the earlier teachings have been set forth as expedient means to prepare people for the teaching of the sutra, which is the supreme vehicle of buddhahood, the goal of the buddhist practice. Buddhist practice and the lotus sutra in china, by daniel b. Published on may 12, 2017 excerpts selected for presentation to highlight the teaching of the one buddha vehicle as preached in chapter 2 of the lotus sutra, from the threefold lotus sutra.
Lotus sutra most inflential sutra of mahayana buddhism. Apr 28, 2019 the lotus sutra begins, thus i have heard. This lotus sutra is known for its extensive instruction on the concept and usage of skillful means sanskrit. Another concept introduced by the lotus sutra is the idea that the buddha is an. Pdf the lotus sutra download full pdf book download. Rissho koseikai believes that the integral essence of the lotus sutra, the one vehicle, is so universal. The lotus sutra also claims to be superior to other sutras and states that full buddhahood is only arrived at by exposure to its teachings and skillful means. In this fun, engaging, and plainenglish book, gene reevesthe translator of wisdoms critically acclaimed and bestselling edition of the lotus sutrapresents the most memorable and remarkable of the lotus sutras many stories and parables, along with a distillation of his decades of reflection on them in an accessible, inspiring, and naturally. Some of his papers were translated into english and are included in pruning the bodhi tree. The lotus sutra is the ultimate buddhas teachings for it encapsulates the secret treasure of tathagata. In buddhism, the five vehicle are established to facilitate the human beings to understand the reality of buddhahood. Articles on the lotus sutra, tendai, and nichiren buddhism. The lotus sutra also claims to be superior to other sutras and states that full buddhahood is only arrived at. Now indeed is the time when the one vehicle of the lotus sutra will prove how perfectly it fits the capacities of all people.
The lotus sutraone of the most popular buddhist classicsis here accessibly introduced by one of its most eminent scholars. I have posted here several of my published articles for the convenience of students, colleagues, and other interested readers without access to academic libraries. Gender and hierarchy in the lotus sutra, by jan nattier 4. That said, there is more on doctrinal and sectarian historythere is a great deal of nichiren in the book than on cultural history. This article is based on the book kyogaku no kiso essentials of study published by the soka gakkai study department. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system. Here, lopez provides what he calls the plot summary of the lotus sutra.
The lotus sutra translated by burton watson including rev. Very simply, the triyana describes people who realize enlightenment by hearing the buddhas sermons, people who realize enlightenment for themselves through their own effort, and the path of the bodhisattva. Known as the king of sutras, the lotus sutra is one of the most influential texts. The doctrine of the one vehicle is set forth in certain mahayana sutras such as the lotus sutra. These sutras assert that the three vehicles of the sravakayana, pretyakabuddhayana and bodhisattvayana are actually. On the one vehicle thought of the lotus sutra a lecture by prof. The lotus sutra sees all other teachings are subservient to, propagated by and in the service of the ultimate truth of the one vehicle leading to buddhahood. The lotus sutra audiobook by hendrik kern, nicolas soames.
Aug, 2017 the lotus sutra is the ultimate buddhas teachings for it encapsulates the secret treasure of tathagata. The lotus sutra available for download and read online in other formats. Its also nonscholar friendly, making it a good choice for more casual studiers of buddhism. The lotus sutras claims that all teachings are encompassed in one vehicle. Recently i read the xiu xing dao di sutra translated by dharmaraksa, who is known as dun huang bodhisattva. Because of the sutra s capacity to integrate the paths of all the buddhist vehicles, it has been given the highest place in the mahayana canon. Shakyamuni taught the dharma to different people in different ways, a style of. Doctrinally, as well, the scripture made radical departures. Wang argues that the explosion of art inspired by the lotus sutra, starting from the 7th and 8th centuries in china, was a confluence of text and the topography of the chinese medieval mind in which the latter dominated. Because the lotus sutra is such an important and timely scripture, i have long cherished the hope that all people. However, most historians believe the sutra was written in the 1st or 2nd century ce, probably by more than one writer.
Does the one vehicle practice take us further than the three vehicle practice. In it, shakyamuni expounds the ultimate truth of life to which he was enlightened. Here are the 10 quotes about the one buddhavehicle in the lotus. 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. The lotus sutra second revised edition the lotus sutra is one of the most important of all the mahayana sutras. The sutra s name in sanskrit is maha saddharmapundarika sutra, or great sutra of the lotus of the wonderful law.
Hence, the buddha declares that the lotus sutra is the foremost of his entire lifetime teachings and the lotus sutra is the king of all sutras. The lotus sutra, which is recognized by tiantai and tendai as the locus of the most exalted buddhist teaching, emphasizes the notion of the one way or vehicle or career for attaining salvation buddhahood. The attitude of reconciliation and harmony reflected in the lotus sutra was very important in the maturation of mahayana buddhism. The lotus sutra sees all other teachings are subservient to, propagated by and in the service of the ultimate truth of the one vehicle leading to. In particular the concept of one vehicle, which permeates. Readings of the lotus sutra columbia readings of buddhist. According to lotus sutra, buddha is considered as an eternal being who attained nirvana yet he chose the cycle of samsara so that he could be. Saddharma pundarika download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. When the buddha had finished preaching this sutra, he sat with his legs crossed in lotus position and entered into the samadhi of the place of immeasurable meanings, his body. It claims to be the definitive and complete teaching of the buddha.
Saddharma and the one buddha vehicle in the lotus setra. Lotus sutra project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. By tricycle the lotus sutra is one of the most important buddhist texts, but for the uninitiated reader, it can make little to no sense. 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. Soon after entering university in december of 1943, i was sent to the front as a student soldier. In other words, the one that is indicated in the lotus sutra is not just one in the sense of being fewer than two or three.
These sutras assert that the three vehicles of the sravakayana, pretyakabuddhayana and bodhisattvayana are actually different aspects of one single vehicle of mahayana. It appears that researchers have not come to any conclusions. It is also one of the first sutras to use the term mahayana, or great vehicle, buddhism. But the lotus sutra says that the three vehicles are one vehicle, the buddha vehicle, through which all beings become buddhas. In particular the concept of one vehicle, which permeates the work, has had great influence on multiple schools. Apr 30, 2007 the lotus sutra, as it is generally known in the west, is one of the most important of all the mahayana sutras, and especially in japan, where it is popularly known as the hokekyou, it has been held in high regard ever since prince shoutoku included a commentary on it in his set of commentaries on three mahayana sutras sangyougisho. Feb 20, 2018 since you mentioned, ive read some chapter titles from wikipedia. The lotus sutra taught for the first time that if these things are viewed in contrast to the one vehicle, they are all, each and every one, included within this one vehicle. Aug 09, 2019 as it happens i gave a series of four one hour talks at the riverview dharma centre on the lotus sutra, which i plan to publish soon as the treasure house of secrets. Sep 01, 2009 the lotus sutra, a revolutionary text of early indian mahayana, upended the conventional view of the buddha and his tradition.
Great concentration and insight and the lotus sutra lay open before my eyes, and nammyohorengekyo flowed from my lips. The history of buddhism 15 seen by many as the product of a movement. The lotus sutra described the buddha not as a human teacher but as a cosmic being, and as something close to a lord of hosts. In this video, i am sharing the creative ways in which i worshipfully related to the threefold lotus sutra translated by bunno kato, yoshiro tamura, and kojiro miyasaka when i first became. Inclusive and exclusive perspectives on the one vehicle 199. One reason for the sutra s popularity is that its principal character, vimalakirti, is not a buddha or a bodhisattva or even a monk but a layman with a family living in india, leading apparently a secular life. Readings of the lotus sutra columbia university press. But the lotus sutra says that the three vehicles are one vehicle, the. The lotus sutra s insistence on faith in the sutra as a revealed text of extraordinary power, combined with its promise of universal buddhahood for all beings, lends it an air of sacred authority that is unusual if not unique to buddhist scriptures. His discussion of how indian yogacara thinkers consigned the lotus sutras one vehicle doctrine to provisional status is probably the clearest explanation of the subject that i have ever read. Although the lotus sutra often refers to its program as the one vehicle or great vehicle which supersedes expedient means the earlier teachings which the buddha adjusted to the needs and level of understanding of his listeners, one vehicle claims to be the best but not the only means of attaining buddhahood, which all living beings have the potential to achieve viii. A guide to the threefold lotus sutra rissho koseikai. Lotus sutra excerpts the one buddha vehicle youtube.
The benefits conferred by the lotus sutra surpass those of the various other sutras even during the thousand years of the former day. Whats being evaluated here is the translation and presentation of the work. As with so many of the mahayana sutras, the original text of the lotus. Discussion of the threevehicles and onevehicle practice. At one time the buddha was in rajagriha, staying on mount gridhrakuta. Shisoron essays on the thought of the lotus sutra, 2010. As revealed in the lotus sutra, the teaching of one buddha vehicle is inconceivable and beyond words.
A contemporary translation of a buddhist classic book online at best prices in india on. The lotus sutra, as it is generally known in the west, is one of the most important of all the mahayana sutras, and especially in japan, where it is popularly known as the hokekyou, it has been held in high regard ever since prince shoutoku included a commentary on it in his set of commentaries on three mahayana sutras sangyougisho. The lotus sutra is a devotional textthat is, one in. Whether youre experienced with the lotus or have never endeavored to read it, youll have a deeper understanding. With very few exceptions the readings in these two editions are almost. The lotus sutra, a revolutionary text of early indian mahayana, upended the conventional view of the buddha and his tradition. When i read dhamma, id prefer to read pure dhamma which reduces defilements and increase insights. It is a work of great literary the lotus sutra, as it is generally known in the west, is one of the most important of all the mahayana sutras, and especially in japan, where it is popularly known as the hokekyou, it has been held in high regard ever since prince shoutoku included a commentary on it in his set of commentaries on three mahayana sutras sangyougisho. In the lotus sutra, the one vehicle encompasses so many different teachings because the buddhas compassion and wish to save all beings led. In the next chapter, the buddha explains that the world believes that he was born as a prince, left the palace in search of enlightenment, practiced austerities for six years, and achieved buddhahood near. The lotus sutra has been regarded for centuries as one of the most important teachings in mahayana buddhism. The acceptance and impact of the lotus sutra in japan. The lotus sutra is one of the most important mahayana.
In particular the concept of one vehicle, which permeates the work, has had great influence on multiple schools of japanese buddhism. The vimalakirti sutra is one of the most popular mahayana sutras. As it happens i gave a series of four one hour talks at the riverview dharma centre on the lotus sutra, which i plan to publish soon as the treasure house of secrets. May 12, 2017 excerpts selected for presentation to highlight the teaching of the one buddha vehicle as preached in chapter 2 of the lotus sutra, from the threefold lotus sutra published by weatherhillkosei. Above all, the ultimate, perfect and complete truth of buddha is one buddha vehicle. So, the lotus sutra begins by making a connection to a real place associated with the historical buddha.
The lotus sutra, revised second edition bdk america. The acceptance and impact of the lotus sutra in japan koichi miyata i n discussing the acceptance and impact of the lotus sutra in japan, i will focus my discussion on four topics, 1, faith in the lotus sutra as one of the sutras for protection of the state in the asuka and nara periods, 2, the foundation of the tendai lotus sect by saicho in. Introduction to the lotus sutra toshiro tamura, gene reeves. A reference to shakyamunis statement in the lotus sutra that the three vehicles are not ends in themselvesthough other, provisional, sutras teach that they. A concept revealed in the theoretical teaching of the lotus sutra, where shakyamuni states that the three vehicles are not ends in themselves, as he had taught in the provisional sutras, but expedient means by which he leads people to the one vehicle of buddhahood. This book goes beyond theory to show how to bring these teachings into practice in daily life. The buddha reiterates the keyword one buddhavehicle in the lotus sutra. The many skillful or expedient means and the three vehicles are revealed to all be part of the one vehicle, which is also the. A guide to the lotus sutra with jacqueline stone and. Overall, burton watsons translation is a good, nonoffensive goto edition pretty easily found in print. Motifs from the lotus sutra figure prominently in the dunhuang caves built in the sui era. The five vehicles and one buddhavehicle lotus happiness. Therefore i suppose that now the thus come one is about to preach the great vehicle sutra called the lotus of the wonderful law, a law to instruct the bodhisattvas, one that is guarded and kept in mind by the buddhas. The most important points here are that the buddhas have fully realized the dharmas that are limitless, boundless, never attained before shown at the end of the citation and that only buddhas can understand.
I found that there is an ancient interpretation of the onevehicle and the three ehicle practice. Oct 22, 2019 the lotus sutra is one of the most important buddhist texts, but for the uninitiated reader, it can make little to no sense. My evenings passed in discourse to the moon and stars on the fallacies of the various schools and the profound meaning of the lotus sutra. The lotus sutra of buddhism is considered as the first sutras to use the term mahayana in its text which means great vehicle. The lotus sutra is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential sutras, or sacred scriptures, of buddhism.
Gender and hierarchy in the lotus sutra jan nattierthis essay looks at mahayana views on women around the. The work has both literary and philosophical merit, combining verse and parables with clarity of insight, earning it a permanent spot in the history of buddhism. This concept is expressed as the replacement of the three vehicles with the one vehicle. Saddharmapuarikasutra scripture of the white lotus of the marvelous law into chinese in 406 c. The lotus sutra is one of the most popular and influential mahayana sutras, and the basis on. One reason for the sutras popularity is that its principal character, vimalakirti, is not a buddha or a bodhisattva or even a monk but a layman with a family living in india, leading apparently a secular life. In the lotus sutra the buddha says to a bodhisattva. It is a matter of faith in some schools of buddhism that the sutra contains the words of the historical buddha. The lotus sutra audiobook by hendrik kern, nicolas. Within the buddhist canon, the lotus sutra is one text that should be read as a whole. A buddhist kaleidoscope includes biographical information on featured authors and an extensive bibliography of books relating to the lotus sutra making it one of the best resources on the market today for students of buddhism.
This author has also translated the lotus sutra saddharma pundarika sutra. Retired emperor of oki 11801239 the retired emperor gotoba. A beautiful translation with deep love from a lay buddhist practitioner learn more the lotus sutra. It is the law of white lotus, the law of anuttara samyak sambodhi, the law of supreme perfect enlightenment, the law of buddhahood. A guide to the lotus sutra with jacqueline stone and donald lopez. The actions of the votary of the lotus sutra wnd i.
The result is an indepth exploration of the meaning of the sutra with broad implications for the modern world. Kindle ebooks can be read on any device with the free kindle app. I wondered if i were allowed to bring but a single book on the trip, possibly to my death, which would i want to bring. Expedient devices, the one vehicle, and the life span of the buddha, by carl bielefeldt 3. Rajagriha was a city on the site of presentday rajgir, in northeastern india, and gridhrakuta, or vultures peak, is nearby.