The Lotus sutra: a contemporary translation of a Buddhist classic

Description

The Lotus Sutra is one of the world's great religious scriptures and most influential texts. It has been a seminal work in the development of Buddhism throughout East Asia, and by extension in the development of Mahayana Buddhism throughout the world. Taking place in a vast and fantastical cosmic setting, the Lotus Sutra places emphasis on skillfully doing whatever is needed to serve and compassionately care for others, on breaking down sharp distinctions between the ideals of the fully enlightened buddha and the bodhisattva who vows to postpone personal salvation until all beings may share it together, and especially on each and every being's innate capacity to become a buddha. This new translation takes particular care to appeal to readers with little or no familiarity with technical Buddhist vocabulary, and this volume includes the full "threefold" text of this classic.;The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings -- Virtuous Conduct -- Dharma Preaching -- Ten Blessings -- The Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma -- Skillful Means -- A Parable -- Faith and Understanding -- The Parable of the Plants -- Assurance of Becoming a Buddha -- The Parable of the Fantastic Castle-City -- Assurance for the Five Hundred Disciples -- Assurance for Arhats, Trained and in Training -- Teachers of the Dharma -- The Sight of the Treasure Stupa -- Devadatta -- Encouragement to Uphold the Sutra -- Safe and Easy Practices -- Springing Up from the Earth -- The Lifetime of the Tathagata -- The Variety of Blessings -- Blessings of Responding with Joy -- The Blessings of the Dharma Teacher -- Never Disrespectful Bodhisattva -- Divine Powers of the Tathagata -- Entrustment -- Previous Lives of Medicine King Bodhisattva -- Wonderful Voice Bodhisattva -- The Universal Gateway of the Bodhisattva Regarder of the Cries of the World -- Incantations -- The Previous Life of King Wonderfully Adorned -- Encouragement of Universal Sage Bodhisattva -- The Sutra of Contemplation of the Dharma Practice of Universal Sage Bodhisattva -- Glossary of Proper Names. The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings -- Virtuous Conduct -- Dharma Preaching -- Ten Blessings -- The Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma -- Skillful Means -- A Parable -- Faith and Understanding -- The Parable of the Plants -- Assurance of Becoming a Buddha -- The Parable of the Fantastic Castle-City -- Assurance for the Five Hundred Disciples -- Assurance for Arhats, Trained and in Training -- Teachers of the Dharma -- The Sight of the Treasure Stupa -- Devadatta -- Encouragement to Uphold the Sutra -- Safe and Easy Practices -- Springing Up from the Earth -- The Lifetime of the Tathagata -- The Variety of Blessings -- Blessings of Responding with Joy -- The Blessings of the Dharma Teacher -- Never Disrespectful Bodhisattva -- Divine Powers of the Tathagata -- Entrustment -- Previous Lives of Medicine King Bodhisattva -- Wonderful Voice Bodhisattva -- The Universal Gateway of the Bodhisattva Regarder of the Cries of the World -- Incantations -- The Previous Life of King Wonderfully Adorned -- Encouragement of Universal Sage Bodhisattva -- The Sutra of Contemplation of the Dharma Practice of Universal Sage Bodhisattva -- Glossary of Proper Names.