The Lotus Sutra: A Contemporary Translation of a Buddhist Classic

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The Lotus Sutra: A Contemporary Translation of a Buddhist Classic
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Description

The Lotus Sutra is regarded as one of the world’s great religious scriptures and most influential texts. It’s 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 distinctions between the fully enlightened buddha and the bodhisattva who vows to postpone salvation until all beings may share it, and especially on each and every being’s innate capacity to become a buddha.

Gene Reeves’s new translation appeals to readers with little or no familiarity with technical Buddhist vocabulary, as well as long-time practitioners and students. In addition, this remarkable volume includes the full “threefold” text of this classic. (Source: Wisdom Publications)

Citation
Reeves, Gene, trans. The Lotus Sutra: A Contemporary Translation of a Buddhist Classic. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2008.
Publisher Link
Texts Translated
  1. Kumārajīva, trans. 妙法蓮華經 Miào fǎ lián huá jīng (Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra), T262, 09: https://21dzk.l.u-tokyo.ac.jp/SAT2012/T0262.html.


Translation of

 
Commonly referred to as the Lotus Sūtra, this text is extremely popular in East Asia, where it is considered to be the "final" teaching of the Buddha. Especially in Japan, reverence for this text has put it at the center of numerous Buddhist movements, including many modern, so-called new religions. The esteemed status of this scripture is epitomized in the Nichiren school's sole practice of merely paying homage to its title with the prayer "Namu myōhō renge kyō".
Text

  • Prefacevii
  • Translator’s Introduction1
  • The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings21
    • 1: Virtuous Conduct23
    • 2: Dharma Preaching33
    • 3: Ten Blessings41
  • The Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma51
    • 1: Introduction53
    • 2: Skillful Means75
    • 3: A Parable103
    • 4: Faith and Understanding141
    • 5: The Parable of the Plants159
    • 6: Assurance of Becoming a Buddha169
    • 7: The Parable of the Fantastic Castle-City179
    • 8: Assurance for the Five Hundred Disciples207
    • 9: Assurance for Arhats, Trained and in Training219
    • 10: Teachers of the Dharma225
    • 11: The Sight of the Treasure Stupa235
    • 12: Devadatta247
    • 13: Encouragement to Uphold the Sutra255
    • 14: Safe and Easy Practices261
    • 15: Springing Up from the Earth279
    • 16: The Lifetime of the Tathagata291
    • 17: The Variety of Blessings301
    • 18: Blessings of Responding with Joy315
    • 19: The Blessings of the Dharma Teacher321
    • 20: Never Disrespectful Bodhisattva337
    • 21: Divine Powers of the Tathagata345
    • 22: Entrustment351
    • 23: Previous Lives of Medicine King Bodhisattva353
    • 24: Wonderful Voice Bodhisattva363
    • 25: The Universal Gateway of the Bodhisattva Regarder of the Cries of the World371
    • 26: Incantations381
    • 27: The Previous Life of King Wonderfully Adorned387
    • 28: Encouragement of Universal Sage Bodhisattva393
  • The Sutra of Contemplation of the Dharma Practice of Universal Sage Bodhisattva399
  • Notes425
  • Glossaries429
    • 431 Glossary of Proper Names
    • Glossary of Terms455
  • Bibliography475
  • Index479