Lotus Sūtra (Skt. Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra, i.e., “Sūtra of the Lotus of the Good Dharma”); one of the most important sutras of Mahāyāna Buddhism, especially popular in China and Japan. The schools of T’ien-t’ai (Jap., Tendai) and Nichiren are based on its teaching; it is, however, recognized by all other Mahāyāna schools, since it contains the essential teachings of the Mahāyāna: the doctrines of the transcendental nature of the Buddha and of the possibility of universal liberation. It is considered in the Mahāyāna as that sūtra that contains the complete teachings of the Buddha, in contrast to the Hinayana sūtras, which contain it only partially. It is said to have been expounded by the Buddha at the end of his period of teaching. It was written down in about the year 200.
The Lotus sūtra is a discourse of the Buddha on Vulture Peak Mountain before an endlessly large throng of various kinds of sentient beings. In it the Buddha shows that there are many methods through which a being can attain enlightenment (also bodhi) but which have only temporary validity and in their nature are all one: the “vehicles” of the shrāvakas, pratyekabuddhas, and bodhisattvas are different from one another only insofar as they are adapted to the varying capabilities of beings. The Buddha taught these three vehicles (triyāna) as skillful means (upāya). In reality, however, there is only one vehicle, the buddha vehicle, which leads to enlightenment and includes both Hīnayāna and Mahāyāna.
This view is illustrated by the well-known simile of the burning house from which a father wants to save his playing children. Since they will not heed his call, he promises them, each according to his inclination, a wagon yoked with an antelope, a goat, or a buffalo if they will drop their game and leave the house. When, as a result of this trick, they have been rescued from the house, he makes them each a gift of a very valuable wagon drawn by a white buffalo.
The Lotus Sūtra also stresses the importance of faith (shraddhā) on the path to liberation, as a result of which the buddhas and bodhisattvas can offer their help. A separate chapter is devoted to the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara in which the notion of help from the bodhisattvas is particularly clearly expressed.
In the Lotus Sūtra the Buddha is not presented as a historical person, but rather as a manifestation of the dharmakāya (trikāya), which exists eternally. Every being participates in this transcendental nature of the Buddha (buddha-nature, busshō) and can thus become a buddha, i.e., awaken to his true nature.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zen. Shambhala Publications, Inc.
Lotus Sūtra documents
Books on Lotus Sūtra
External links