The lotus sutra translated by hendrik kern,1884 lotus. The lotus sutra by burton watson 9780231081610 paperback. He is the translator from chinese into english of the lotus sutra. Its also nonscholar friendly, making it a good choice for more casual studiers of buddhism. Its message is universal, sublime, and nonsectarian although it is a. The lotus sutra quotes showing of 33 with the appearance of this light, the body of universal sage bodhisattva will become as dignified as a mountain of purple gold, so well ordered and refined that it has all the thirtytwo characteristics. The reluctant messenger explores the mysteries of science and religion and describes a theory that unifies them both.
Buy the lotus sutra translations from the asian classics new ed by watson, burton isbn. Back to lotus sutra the sutra of innumerable meanings. The lord then addressed the eighty thousand bodhisattvas mahasattvas by turning to bhaishagyaraga as their representative. With very few exceptions the readings in these two editions are almost.
The lotus sutra book by gautama buddha thriftbooks. Wisdom of the lotus sutra 1 the wisdom of the lotus sutraa discussion on religion in the twentyfirst century this is the first installment of a new series in which sgi president ikeda engages in a discussion on the lotus sutra with soka gakkai study department. Other languages do not have the poetic brevity of chinese to express so much, in so few words. Whether youre experienced with the lotus or have never endeavored to read it, youll have a deeper understanding. The sutra of the lotus flower of the wonderful law translated by h. This combination of the burton translation of the lotus sutra, and the commentaries of. The lotus sutra translated by burton watson including rev. Feb 01, 2009 he is the translator from chinese into english of the lotus sutra. Jul 03, 2007 this is the lotus sutra memorized, recited, and chanted by some western buddhist monks. The sutra of the lotus flower of the wonderful law dharma. Readings of the lotus sutra linked to amazon, including a kindle version.
Feb 20, 2018 since you mentioned, ive read some chapter titles from wikipedia. It contains the essential teachings of mahayana, stressing the doctrine of the transcendental nature of the buddha, the ideal of the boddhisattva, and the possibility of universal liberation. This combination of the burton translation of the lotus sutra, and the commentaries of rev. Burton watsons felicitous rendition of the lotus sutra captures superbly well the literary essence of the chinese text. Wisdom of the lotus sutra 1 the wisdom of the lotus sutra a discussion on religion in the twentyfirst century this is the first installment of a new series in which sgi president ikeda engages in a discussion on the lotus sutra with soka gakkai study department chief katsuji saito and vice chiefs takanori endo and haruo suda. Buddha is about to expound the sutra of the great vehicle mahayana called the lotus. Other complete english translations of the lotus sutra. It is one of the worlds great wisdom texts but that doesnt mean it is an easy read. The lotus sutra is widely considered to be the most sacred teaching of the buddha.
This is the lotus sutra memorized, recited, and chanted by some western buddhist monks. A modern interpretation of the threefold lotus sutra. 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. Science and the worlds religions are pieces to a puzzle that need each other to form a complete picture. When i read dhamma, id prefer to read pure dhamma which reduces defilements and increase insights. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval. Kern 1884 homage to all the buddhas and bodhisattvas. Most of these resources are online, but a few are not. 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. This is a copy and paste of something i posted to the nichirenbuddhism sub a few minutes ago. Whats being evaluated here is the translation and presentation of the work. The lotus sutra and its opening and closing sutras.
The buddhas brilliant deception in the lotus sutra, he reveals that there is not a threefold path to liberation, but one way. But this seriously disturbed me, so i figured id post it here too to get the perspective of some nonnichiren believers in the lotus sutra. The lotus sutra is regarded by many others as a religious classic of great beauty and p. A beautiful translation with deep love from a lay buddhist practitioner minerva lee. Click here for the reluctant messenger host site the sutra of the lotus flower of the wonderful law translated by h. The reluctant messenger explores the unification of science and religion because science and the major religions are pieces to a puzzle that need each other to form a complete picture. These i think are sufficient to get a broader overview about the different possible translations of the lotus sutra.
Essays on the lotus sutra, which he edited, was published in 2002. The lotus sutra more than any other work is responsible for the distinctiveness of east asian buddhism. The lotus sutra is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential sutras, or sacred scriptures, of buddhism. Click here for the reluctant messenger host site eastern wisdom, sutras and ancient sacred texts some of the greatest knowledge about the meaning of life reside in the texts and sutras that make up eastern wisdom. An excellent, recent book of contemporary essays related to the lotus sutra. A thirdcentury mahayana text, this is used and revered in several traditions. 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. Kern the lotus sutra and its opening and closing sutras. At that time the messenger raced swiftly after the son and laid hold of him. In it, shakyamuni expounds the ultimate truth of life to which he was enlightened. The lotus sutra translated by hendrik kern,1884 lotus happiness.
Now when the buddha emits this beam of brightness he is helping to reveal the meaning of the true entity of phenomena. Lotus sutra buddhist text translation society youtube. Once the buddha was staying at the city of royal palaces on mount grdhrakuta with a great assemblage of great bhikkhus, in all twelve thousand. Because the lotus sutra is such an important and timely scripture, i have long cherished the hope that all people.
Bhikkhu sujato, a young australian monk with a background in philosophy, is one of my heroes because of his ability to think critically about the buddhist tradition, and especially for his thinking on the relation between samatha and vipassana approaches to meditation. Seest thou, bhaishagyaraga, in this assembly the many gods, nagas, goblins, gandharvas, demons, garudas, kinnaras, great serpents, men, and beings. You can see all this book s content by visiting the pages in the below index. 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.
One of the truly great gems of ancient eastern thought is the diamond sutra, pun intended. A guide to the threefold lotus sutra rissho koseikai. Within the buddhist canon, the lotus sutra is one text that should be read. 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. Eastern wisdom, sutras and ancient sacred texts the reluctant. 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. He classified the lotus sutra as conveying the teachings that shakyamuni buddha expounded toward the end of his life, which the buddha intended to be passed on to the future for the enlightenment of all people. Lopez opens the book with a succinct overview of the content of the lotus sutra, skillfully setting the stage for the following chapters on the lotus sutra in india, china, japan, across the atlantic though actually from india and nepal to europe and then to boston, and finally on the lotus sutra in the twentieth century and its journey. A contemporary translation of a buddhist classic by gene reeves 186 ratings, 4. The bhagavadgita teaches a doctrine of universal truth.
Reeves is currently working on a buddhist natural theology which. 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. At that time, the buddha told the bodhisattvas, gods, humans, and the four assemblies, in the past, throughout limitless aeons, i sought the dharma flower sutra without laxness or weariness. These and other books, such as the the gospel of buddha, are presented for the serious student into mystical. A very nice, personal essay of why the lotus sutra is important to michael wenger, of the san francisco zen center pdf. This text is one of the most famous scriptures of mahayana buddhism. The sutras key message is that buddhahood, the supreme state of life characterized by boundless compassion, wisdom and courage, is. 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. As i dont need the bunno kato version for reference, i will send it to anyone interested. The sutras 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. Kern 1884 chapter x the preacher the lord then addressed the eighty thousand bodhisattvas mahasattvas by turning to bhaishagyaraga as their representative. Kern 1884 the lotus sutra is one of the most important texts in buddhism and is considered by many as its finest gem. Since its appearance in china in the third century, the lotus sutra.
Anyway, here he is on the question of the continue reading is the lotus sutra authentic. The lotus sutra is regarded as one of the worlds great religious scriptures and most influential texts. The daimoku of the lotus sutra wnd i nichiren buddhism. Here, lopez provides what he calls the plot summary of the lotus sutra. May 19, 2017 lopez opens the book with a succinct overview of the content of the lotus sutra, skillfully setting the stage for the following chapters on the lotus sutra in india, china, japan, across the atlantic though actually from india and nepal to europe and then to boston, and finally on the lotus sutra in the twentieth century and its journey. 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.
Fragment of the lotus sutra, found in a buddhist stupa shrine in gilgit pakistan in 1931. I found the glossary in the back helpful to understand some of the buddhist jargon both english and sanskrit used in the translation. What if there was a grand theory of everything that included science and the 7 true religions. 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. Lotus of the wonderful law, a law to instruct the bodhisattvas, one that is guarded and kept. Please keep checking back for updates and we progress through the sutra. Please write me a private message, if you want to have this translations of the lotus sutra. The lotus sutra translations from the asian classics. Overall, burton watsons translation is a good, nonoffensive goto edition pretty easily found in print. It is a translation of the lotus sutra expedient means and life span chapters. The signs now are like those of the earlier auspicious portent, this is an expedient means used by the buddhas.
Great book for for anyone interested in buddhism to read. Read the lotus sutra a contemporary translation of a buddhist classic by available from rakuten kobo. Motifs from the lotus sutra figure prominently in the dunhuang caves built in the sui era. 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. Shokai kanai, was my idea of making the actual sutra more readable and understandable. For many aeons, i was a king and vowed to seek supreme bodhi with an unretreating mind. Opening the way for the enlightenment of all people t. Saddharma pundarika sutra or the lotus of the true law h.
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. It provides a line by line explanation of these 2 amazing sutras and a great way to really deepen your understanding of buddhism. I find that the translation by itself is sometimes difficult to read in context, and the. The layout of the book is attractive, and the typeface is extremely readable.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. You can see all this book s content by visiting the pages in. The lotus sutra ebook by 9780861719877 rakuten kobo. This page is devoted to resources related to the study, understanding, and practice of the lotus sutra. The lotus sutra also seems mysterious and far removed from our real lives because it presents fantastic stories and scenes of visionary worlds, while it also includes a number of philosophical.
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