DESCRIPTION
The Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra 妙法蓮華經 (The Lotus Sutra) is one of the most influential and venerated Buddhist Mahāyāna sūtras. It is the main scripture on which the Tiantai, Tendai, Nichiren and Soka Gakkai schools of Buddhism were established. It is also influential for other East Asian Buddhist schools, such as Zen. According to the British Buddhologist Paul Williams, "For many Buddhists in East Asia since early times, the Lotus Sūtra contains the final teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha—complete and sufficient for salvation." The American Buddhologist Donald S. Lopez Jr. writes that the Lotus Sūtra "is arguably the most famous of all Buddhist texts."
Primary Reading
Suggested Reading
Donald S. Lopez Jr. The Lotus Sutra: A Biography (Princeton, Princeton University Press, 2016)
SYLLABUS
Session 1 - Buddha Emits a Light (Ch 1) Session 2 - The Parable of the Burning House (Ch 2 - 4) Session 3 Session 4 Session 5 Session 6 Session 7 Session 8📜 Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra
Ch 1 - Introduction
Ch 2 - Expedient Means / Upaya
Ch 3 - Simile and Parable
Ch 4 - Belief and Understanding
Ch 5 - The Parable of the Medicinal Herb
Ch 6 - Bestowing Prophecy
Ch 7 - The Parable of the Phantom City
Ch 8 - Five Hundred Disciples’ Prophecy
Ch 9 - Learners and Adepts Prophecy
Ch 10 - Teacher of the Dharma
Ch 11 - The Treasure Tower
Ch 12 - Devadatta
Ch 13 - Encouraging Devotion
Ch 14 - Peaceful Practices
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Ch 15 - Emerging from the Earth
Ch 16 - The Lifespan of the Tathagata
Ch 17 - Distinctions in Benefits
Ch 18 - Benefits of Joy
Ch 19 - Benefits of the Teacher of the Dharma
Ch 20 - Bodhisattva Never Disparaging
Ch 21 - The Spiritual Power of the Tathagata
Ch 22 - Entrustment
Ch 23 - Bodhisattva Medicine King
Ch 24 - Bodhisattva Wonderful Sound
Ch 25 - Bodhisattva Avalokitisvara Universal Gate
Ch 26 - Dharani
Ch 27 - King Wonderful Adornment
Ch 28 - Bodhisattva Samantabhadra