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. Portable shrine depicting buddha sakyamuni preaching the lotus sutra. Kerns translation of the lotus sutra is interesting, hence the 4star rating. The sutra of the lotus flower of the wonderful law. 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. Full translation from rissho kosei kai, found here a full pdf of the lotus sutra.
Outline and structure of the lotus sutra i n analyzing the contents of the lotus sutra, tientai divided its twentyeight chap. Lotus sutra, 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. According to paul williams, for many east asian buddhists since early times the lotus sutra contains the. Translations of the lotus sutra dharma wheel, 1st 12. Before the bdk also translated the introductory sutra and the closing sutra of the threefold lotus sutra in the compilation tiantai lotus texts 20, the katorissho koseikai version was really valuable as the only translation of. The lotus sutra translated from the chinese of kumarajiva 2007. These are found in the lotus sutra chapter 25 chinese. Translations of the lotus sutra mon aug 18, 2014 3. Prophecy of enlightenment for five hundred disciples. Since its appearance in china in the third century, the lotus sutra has been regarded as one of the most illustrious scriptures in the mahayana buddhist canon. Here, lopez provides what he calls the plot summary of the lotus sutra. In particular the concept of one vehicle, which permeates the work, has had great influence on multiple schools.
Full translation by tsugunari kubo, akira yuyama, two japanese scholars, found here in full. Opening the way for the enlightenment of all people t. All quotations from the lotus sutra are taken from the translation done by tsugunari kubo and akira yuyama. The impact of lotus sutra ideas and imagery on the development of east asian buddhist thought and practice is widely acknowledged. King sagara appears extensively throughout the buddhist canon. Mar 04, 2020 the lotus sutra translated from the chinese of kumarajiva 2007. Myoho renge kyo was first derived in chinese, as the title of the enlighten lotus sutra the ultimate teaching preached in india 2,500 years ago by siddharta gautama buddha, also known as shakyamuni, in the 5th century. The story of the dragon kings daughter, who attained enlightenment in the 12th devadatta chapter of the lotus sutra, appears in the complete tale of avalokitesvara and the southern seas and the precious scroll of.
Table of contents a complete buddhist sutra collection. His name often appears in enumerations of dragon kings that appear among sakyamuni buddhas audience. On other occasions, he is a central figure who participates in conversation with the buddha and bodhisattvas and elucidates matters in the realm of the nagas lotus sutra. Translators introduction tsugunari kubo and akira yuyama xiii the lotus sutra chapter i.
The lotus sutra is generally accepted to be the earliest literature teaching about the doctrines of avalokitesvara. The sutra of meditation on the bodhisattva universal virtue pdf. 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 is regarded by many others as a religious classic of great beauty and power and one of the most important and most. Iti me iti me iti me iti me iti me, nime nime nime nime nime, ruhe ruhe ruhe ruhe ruhe, stuhe stuhe stuhe stuhe stuhe svaha. 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. Kansai university of foreign studies publication, 1980, and an earlier work by akira yuyama, a bibliography of the sanskrit. A modern interpretation of the threefold lotus sutra. Chapter 12 of the lotus sutra contains the wellknown episode of sagaras daughter, known simply as nagakanya naga maiden, whose transformation allows her to procure the male body of a bodhisattva, followed by becoming a fully enlightened buddha.
Whether youre experienced with the lotus or have never endeavored to read it, youll have a deeper understanding. This chapter is devoted to avalokitesvara, describing him as a compassionate bodhisattva who hears the cries of sentient beings, and who works. But reading this and other sutras in translation, we are confronted with many. The lotus sutra translated by burton watson including rev. The fortune to study the lotus sutra today 500 yojanas. The lotus sutra second revised edition the lotus sutra is one of the most important of all the mahayana sutras. The object of intense veneration among generations of buddhists in china, korea, japan, and other parts of the world, it has had a profound impact on the great works of japanese and.
The lotus sutra translations from the asian classics. Partial translation, from another rissho kosei kais chanting book, found here. Fortunately their translation of the lotus sutra kubo yuyama turned out to be a really good one as well. 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 regarded as one of the worlds great religious scriptures and most influential texts. The best books on buddhism five books expert recommendations. Its a seminal work in the development of buddhism throughout east asia and, by extension, in the development of mahayana buddhism throughout the world. The chapter concludes concludes that one who does not accept their dhara. The first volume of the lotus sutra states, throughout incalculable, innumerable kalpas it is rare that one may hear this law. It is generally accepted opinion that of the many buddhist sutras, the sutra of the lotus flower of the wonderful law saddharma. Other languages do not have the poetic brevity of chinese to express so much, in so few words. 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. New york 1993 columbia university press translations from the asian classics.
The daimoku of the lotus sutra wnd i nichiren buddhism. The lotus sutra, revised second edition bdk america. The lotus sutra taisho volume 9, number 262 translated from the chinese of kumarajiva by tsugunari kubo and akira yuyama. The lotus sutra translations from the asian classics burton watson since its appearance in china in the third century, the lotus sutra has been regarded as one of the most illustrious scriptures in the mahayana buddhist canon.
This sutra is entirely in accord with both the mahayana and theravada traditions. The lotus sutra has inspired a branch of folklore based on figures in the sutra or subsequent people who have embraced it. Verses without a stand and prose commentary the sixth patriarch dharma jewel platform sutra temporarily unavailable the sutra in 42 sections spoken by the buddha. With very few exceptions the readings in these two editions are almost. Translations of the lotus sutra dharma wheel, 1st 12 posts. Full translation by the buddhist text translation society, found here online in full. The lotus sutra is regarded by many others as a religious classic of great beauty and p. Outline and structure of the lotus sutra i n analyzing the contents of the. Lotus sutra project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. It is very easy to read thus far, and the verse sections are done quite nicely.
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. But the lotus sutra is so much more understandable and emphatic in the contemporary translations by the numata center kubo and yuyama, watson and reeves from the chinese text. Those who wish to conduct further research into the lotus sutra are advised to consult an indispensable bibliographical work by professor hajime nakamura, indian buddhism. 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. Berkeley, calif numata center for buddhist translation and research. Lotus sutra, on the other hand, makes clear that all people without exception possess a buddha nature and indicates that they can attain enlightenment in this life, as they are, in their present form. Sep 30, 2019 all quotations from the lotus sutra are taken from the translation done by tsugunari kubo and akira yuyama.
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