The Lotus Sutra: The White Lotus Sutra of the True Dharma

Written by Nicolas Soames and Hendrik Kern

Narrated by Taradasa

The Lotus S?tra is one of the most important Mah?y?na texts and the most widely read, chanted and revered, particularly in Asian Buddhist countries, notably China and Japan. It is the root text, so to speak, of the ‘Pure Land' schools, which often regard it as the principal Buddhist sutra, the study and practice of which projects the participant along the path to nirvana. It is certainly a remarkable document, replete with the Mah?y?na characteristics of fantastical images, extraordinary appearances, magical happenings, views of time and space which are galactic in size and pronouncements which are definite, unequivocal, practical in some areas and dependent upon a faith commitment in others. First and foremost, it proclaims the one y?na or vehicle of the Mah?y?na teaching as preeminent over other teachings, especially those following the paths of the ?ravakay?na (the hearers - the bhikshus) and the pratyekabuddhas (those attaining enlightenment through a solitary path) but also the lay men and lay women. These are the ‘four classes of assembly' who, according the Lotus S?tra, have been following the ‘preliminary' teachings presented by the Buddha ?akyamuni as an ‘expedient' (skilful means). The Lotus S?tra sees the Buddha, teaching from the Gridhrakuta, the Vulture Peak, the full teaching of the Mah?y?na which leads unerringly (if over aeons in larger numbers than the sands of the Ganges!) to nirv?na. Contained within the 27 chapters are many of the principal Buddhist teachings seen in all the schools across the world: the four noble truths, the 12 nid?na chain, the six paramit?s or perfections; again and again the qualities of mindfulness, diligence, patience and spiritual vigour or energy are propounded - without these, nirv?na is not attainable. In short, the path to enlightenment is not for the faint-hearted. Around these core teachings are magical stories of numerous Buddhas from different time eras appearing to support the teaching of ?akyamuni; bodhisattvas appearing from cracks in the ground; the Buddha Prabh?taratna, a Buddha of the far past, appearing in a jewelled st?pa; celestial chariots flitting around the sky; and the familiar bodhisattvas of Manju?ri, Maitreya, Bhaishajyar?ja and many others all have a place in this ultimate cosmic drama. The Lotus S?tra is an extraordinary vision, far from the more practical, straightforward texts of the P?li Canon. For those not accustomed to extreme Mah?y?na images it can appear very strange indeed. But for those prepared to go with it, it is remarkably absorbing, with a particular charisma and, without belittling it, even charm. That said, it has not been without controversy in the Pure Land tradition, and its often-repeated insistence on its efficacy by some practitioners over the years has occasionally led it into controversial areas. Nevertheless, it is a pinnacle of world Buddhist literature. The Lotus S?tra was originally a Sanskrit text, Saddharma Pundar?ka, which is translated variously - here, it is The White Lotus S?tra of the True Dharma, though it is generally known by its short version. Its popularity in the East is based on a fifth-century translation by the respected Chinese translator Kumar?j?va, and most of the recent English translations have come from this Chinese source. However, the first Western translations (from a Sanskrit text originating from Nepal) were by Eugène Burnouf into French in the 1852; and then, using the same source, by the Dutch translator Hendr

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ukemi Audiobooks from W. F. Howes Ltd
• Release date: Sep 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9781004133895