Near the beginning of the sutra, shakyamuni declares to his disciples that the principle, or law, to which he has. One of the most important ideas clarified by the lotus sutra is the principle of the fundamental equality of all peopleincluding women, evil people and others often discriminated against in other teachings. The lotus sutra book by gautama buddha thriftbooks. As for the lotus sutra itself it is a text that every buddhist and every nonbuddhist who has any interest whatsoever in east asian religion or culture should read. A modern translation for contemporary readers by michio shinozaki, brook a. The sutra of the lotus blossom of the marvelous dharma reflects the broad. Buddhism and the lotus sutra daisaku ikeda website. The lotus sutra is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential sutras, or sacred scriptures, of buddhism.
Superior or inferior, who keep or break the precepts. There are two myo, or mystic, principles expounded in the lotus sutra, one in the first fourteen chapters, which constitute the theoretical teaching, and one in the latter fourteen chapters, which constitute the essential teaching. Readings of the lotus sutra columbia readings of buddhist. 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. The lotus sutra is one of the unique sutras that contained the teachings of buddha since it states that there is a possibility for all people regardless of their differences, to attain enlightenment. The defining doctrine of mahayana buddhism is the belief that all people can reach an enlightened state. According to british professor paul williams, for many east asian buddhists since early times, the lotus sutra contains. The daimoku of the lotus sutra wnd i nichiren buddhism. With the meaning and principle being profound and allembracing, there is. Essays on the lotus sutra, which he edited, was published in 2002. Known as the king of sutras, the lotus sutra is one of the most influential.
According to british professor paul williams, for many east asian buddhists since early times, the lotus sutra contains the final teaching of the buddha, complete and sufficient for salvation. Readings of the lotus sutra columbia university press. The lotus sutra, or scripture of the lotus blossom of the fine dharma j. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system. Lotus sutra most inflential sutra of mahayana buddhism. Within the buddhist canon, the lotus sutra is one text that should be read as a whole. The sutra of the lotus flower of the wonderful law dharma. Five precepts eight precepts bodhisattva vow pratimok. To make the understanding of the lotus sutra, there are books available to enable you to grasp the essence of the lotus.
The lotuss core tenets, such as the notion that enlightenment is available to all. Shakyamunis teachings have been preserved in numerous collections called sutras. Doctrinal essentials of the lotus sutra beophwa jongyo. To many buddhists, the lotus sutra is one of the most important, if not the most important, sutras in the buddhist canon.
Click download or read online button to get the wisdom of the lotus sutra book now. His most recently published book is the stories of the lotus sutra. The wisdom of the lotus sutra download ebook pdf, epub. He retired in 2012 as distinguished professor at renmin university of china in beijing and continues to do field research on contemporary chinese buddhism in china and serve as an. The buddhas teaching being unsurpassed and unaltered, he has. Depicting events in a cosmic world that transcends ordinary concepts of time and space, the lotus sutra presents abstract religious concepts in concrete terms and affirms that there is a single path to enlightenmentthat of the bodhisattvaand that the buddha is not to be limited by time and space. One of the most important ideas clarified by the lotus sutra is the principle of the. Kindle ebooks can be read on any device with the free kindle app. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. This idea is in sharp contrast with the theravada belief that enlightenment is reserved for a select few scholars and monks.