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. The recommended text for the class is the lotus sutra translated from the chinese of kumarajiva by burton watson, columbia university. 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. The lotus sutra is one of those text which laid out the purpose of buddhism. Readings of the lotus sutra columbia readings of buddhist. 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. To do obeisance is to act in accordance with the law. The lotus sutra translated by burton watson chapter two. It is the law of white lotus, the law of anuttara samyak sambodhi, the law of supreme perfect enlightenment, the law of buddhahood. The profound meaning of the lotus sutra, volume one, the character tai, body or substance, can be glossed as rai, a bow. Here, lopez provides what he calls the plot summary of the lotus sutra. On the one vehicle thought of the lotus sutra a lecture by prof.
According to paul williams, for many east asian buddhists since early times the lotus sutra contains the. This is one of the early forms of buddhism in japan, it focuses on the lotus sutra and is considered a form of aristocratic buddhism. In the lotus sutra, the one vehicle encompasses so many different teachings because the buddhas compassion and wish to save all beings led him to adapt the teaching to suit many different kinds of people. The lotus sutra of the correct law says that, if one hears this sutra and proclaims and embraces its title, one will enjoy merit beyond measure. Manjushri said, while in the sea, i have proclaimed and taught only the wonderful dharma lotus flower sutra. At that time the worldhonored one calmly arose from his samadhi and addressed shariputra, saying. The scripture on the explication of underlying meaning samdhinirmocana sutra is a foundational text in the development of yogacara thinking in india. Categorization of the previous buddhist teachings in terms of the three vehicles disciples sravaka privately enlightened buddhas pratyekabuddha bodhisattvas ascribing of provisional status to the three vehicles assertion of the ultimate truth and validity of the one buddha vehicle the unique teaching the lotus sturawhich reconciles and supersedes the three. The acceptance and impact of the lotus sutra in japan. Rajagriha was a city on the site of presentday rajgir, in northeastern india, and gridhrakuta, or vultures peak, is nearby. The wisdom of the buddhas is infinitely profound and immeasurable. Pdf understanding the one vehicle for today report. 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.
Its a seminal work in the development of buddhism throughout east asia and, by extension. In the lotus sutra, the one vehicle encompasses so many different teachings. Most popular and most widely practiced branch of buddhism. The passage below, which describes the buddha talking with one of his followers, sariputra, addresses the question of the.
With very few exceptions the readings in these two editions are almost. They do not have any other vehicle, a second one or a third one. Four virtues of the buddha the buddha embodies the four virtues, namely true self, eternity, purity and happiness, as expounded in mahaparinirvana sutra. Does the one vehicle practice take us further than the three vehicle practice. At one time the buddha was in rajagriha, staying on mount gridhrakuta. 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. Inclusive and exclusive perspectives on the one vehicle 199. Because the lotus sutra is such an important and timely scripture, i have long cherished the hope that all people. The history of buddhism 15 seen by many as the product of a movement to revive shakyamuni buddhas original spirit and approach.
In particular the concept of one vehicle, which permeates the work, has had great influence on multiple schools. 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. Some of his papers were translated into english and are included in pruning the bodhi tree. Shariputra, the law preached by all the buddhas of the ten directions is the same as this. The daimoku of the lotus sutra wnd i nichiren buddhism.
All buddhas of past, present and future become enlightened to this eternal universal law or truth, the wonderful, or mystic, law of the lotus sutra. Buddha, shakyamuni meaning sage of the shakyas, the. At that time the buddha sun moon bright preached the great vehicle sutra entitled. Gender and hierarchy in the lotus sutra jan nattierthis essay looks at mahayana views on women around the. The lotus sutras 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. The chief of the world appears in the world to reveal the buddhaknowledge. Lotus claims to be a record of the words of the historical. On the one vehicle thought of the lotus sutra universitat. Lotus sutra is unlike pli scriptures being accepted by theravada buddhism. Shakyamuni taught the dharma to different people in different ways, a style of.
The lotus sutra and its opening and closing sutras, p. Expedient devices, the one vehicle, and the life span of the buddha carl bielefeldtthis invaluable essay presents an easy and to the point explanation of the various sections of the lotus sutra, emphasizing skillful means upaya. Prior to citing this and other passages from the lotus sutra describing the persecutions that will. So, the lotus sutra begins by making a connection to a real place associated with the historical buddha. 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.
The sutra s name in sanskrit is maha saddharmapundarika sutra, or great sutra of the lotus of the wonderful law. This may sound as though i think i am wise, but there are specific reasons for what i say. The many skillful or expedient means and the three vehicles are revealed to all be part of the one vehicle, which is also the. The lotus sutra, revised second edition bdk america. Its importance in the history and culture of east asia is evident based on. Like almost all the sutras, this one begins with the words this is. The lotus sutra also claims to be superior to other sutras and states that full buddhahood is only arrived at. Wisdom accumulation asked manjushri, this sutra is extremely profound and subtle. For example, the lotus sutra is the only scripture accepted by the nichiren, but it plays no part in tibetan buddhism.
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. The lotus sutra is a film of colossal proportions and multiple dimensions. 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. Other complete english translations of the lotus sutra. Id like to start by confirming something very basic. It appears that researchers have not come to any conclusions. A virtual dharma sanctuary of the one buddha vehicle through dharma music, mindfulness meditation, and peace movement for universal enlightenment of humanity. In the lotus sutra, the one vehicle encompasses so many different teachings because the buddhas compassion and wish to save all beings led him to adapt the teaching to suit many different kinds of.
As such, its major message is that there is only one way to reach enlightenment, and that is through the way of the bodhisattva as described in the lotus sutra. However, most historians believe the sutra was written in the 1st or 2nd century ce, probably by more than one writer. Recently i read the xiu xing dao di sutra translated by dharmaraksa, who is known as dun huang bodhisattva. The sutras key message is that buddhahood, the supreme state of life characterized by boundless compassion, wisdom and courage, is. The lotus sutra translated by burton watson including rev. Lotus sutra is very important to some mahayana schools but ignored by others. Purification of the buddhafield reverence to all buddhas, bodhisattvas, aryasravakas, and pratyekabuddhas, in the past, the present, and the future. We are pleased to say that this text was published in facsimile under the. The great teacher tientai states in the profound meaning of the lotus sutra, volume one, the character tai, body or substance, can be glossed as rai, a bow or obeisance. This one vehicle is the one vehicle endowed with all vehicles or doctrines.
The lotus sutra read by taradasa the lotus sutra is one of the most important mahayana texts and the most widely read, chanted and revered, particularly in asian buddhist countries, notably china and japan. 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. Whether youre experienced with the lotus or have never endeavored to read it, youll have a deeper understanding. The five vehicles and one buddhavehicle lotus happiness. Sutra of the former day, the lotus sutra of the middle day and the lotus sutra of the latter day of the law. The lotus sutra is a devotional textthat is, one in. Shisoron essays on the thought of the lotus sutra, 2010. Shiro matsumoto komazawa university, tokyo it is generally assumed that the central message of the lotus sutra, expressed by the term ekayana one vehicle, is that all sentient beings can attain buddhahood.
The lotus sutra is a text of the mahayana school of buddhism. These noble qualities are the true nature of buddhas life. This author has also translated the lotus sutra saddharma pundarika sutra. Celebrate the joy of the law of one buddha vehicle through music and mantra. This is also one of the first sutras to use the term mahayana, or great vehicle. The lotus sutra is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential sutras, or sacred scriptures, of buddhism. The doctrine of the one vehicle is set forth in certain mahayana sutras such as the lotus sutra. Saddharma and the one buddha vehicle in the lotus sutra hiroshi. 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. In particular the concept of one vehicle, which permeates. 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 and its opening and closing sutras. The lotus sutra bucknell digital commons bucknell university. Understanding the one vehicle for today report international lotus sutra seminar 2017.
One sinale stanza learnt or kept in memory suffices, no doubt of it, to lead all of them to enlightenment. The lotus sutra is regarded by many others as a religious classic of great beauty and p. In the expedient means chapter of the lotus sutra, how is the one vehicle expounded. The lotus sutra is regarded as one of the worlds great religious scriptures and most influential texts. 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. Shariputra, the buddhas of the past used countless numbers of expedient. It is the root text, sotospeak, of the pure land schools, which often regard it as the principal buddhist sutra, the.
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. It was apparently composed in the second century c. Lotus of the wonderful law, a law to instruct the bodhisattvas, one that is. However, the message can be found only in the prose portion of the upayakausalya chapter, while in the prose portion of the following chapter. Buy the lotus sutra pdf ebook buy the lotus sutra paperback buy. The concept of equality in the lotus sutra 41 the expedient means chapter of the lotus sutra says, there is only the law of the one vehicle, there are not two, there are not three, except when the buddha preaches so as an expedient means. In other words, the one that is indicated in the lotus sutra is not just one in the sense of being fewer. As revealed in the lotus sutra, the teaching of one buddha vehicle is inconceivable and beyond words. Apr 28, 2019 the lotus sutra begins, thus i have heard.
And the supplemented lotus sutra of the wonderful law says that one who accepts and upholds the name of the lotus sutra will enjoy immeasurable good fortune. Lotus sutra project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. The one buddha vehicle exposing, signifying, awakening. These sutras assert that the three vehicles of the sravakayana, pretyakabuddhayana and bodhisattvayana are actually. The most reliable edition, printed in 1263, is now kept at the toshodaiji in nara. Above all, the ultimate, perfect and complete truth of buddha is one buddha vehicle. It points out that ultimately there is only one vehicle, not three distinct vehicles, the savakas, pratyekabuddhas, bodhisattvas are ultimately on the same path the noble eightfold path. One should give food, hard and soft, nourishment and drink, lodging in a convent, kotis of robes to honour the son of gina, when he has propounded, be it but once, this sutra. 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. A guide to the threefold lotus sutra rissho koseikai. Saddharmapuarikasutra scripture of the white lotus of the marvelous law into chinese in 406 c.
Consequently, in early bodhisattva sutras, the three vehicles were formulated as. The scripture of the explication of underlying meaning. In buddhism, the five vehicle are established to facilitate the human beings to understand the reality of buddhahood. Discussion of the threevehicles and onevehicle practice. Within the buddhist canon, the lotus sutra is one text that should be read as a whole. In it, shakyamuni expounds the ultimate truth of life to which he was enlightened.
Aug, 2017 the lotus sutra is the ultimate buddhas teachings for it encapsulates the secret treasure of tathagata. What is the basis of lotus sutta with respect to original. Saddharma and the one buddha vehicle in the lotus setra. A commentary on the relationship between the four terms in the title of this video and the one vehicle teaching in the second chapter of the lotus sutra, with an emphasis on upaya i. Opening the dharma of one vehicle, you are a guide for all living beings leading them quickly to bodhis realization. The lotus sutra second revised edition the lotus sutra is one of the most important of all the mahayana sutras. Ordinary people like us can also embrace these qualities if we choose to embrace the lotus sutra of the one buddha vehicle and. To those seeking for the sravaka vehicle he taught the dharma with respect to the four noble.
He performs the task of the tathagatas and has been sent by me to the world of men, he who in the last days shall copy, keep, or hear this sutra. The many worlds and one vehicle of the lotus sutra class. The international lotus sutra seminar is a yearly event gathering scholars. It is a matter of faith in some schools of buddhism that the sutra contains the words of the historical buddha. Explain the concept of the replacement of the three vehicles with the one vehicle. This lotus sutra is known for its extensive instruction on the concept and usage of skillful means sanskrit. The term one vehicle indicates that although this principle applies to everything in the entire dharmarealm, it is a single law. A modern interpretation of the threefold lotus sutra. All the twentyeight chapters of the lotus sutra are nam. Here are the 10 quotes about the one buddhavehicle in the lotus. 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. 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.