Acintya Pitaka
Buddhāvataṃsaka Sūtra
The Mahāvaipulya Buddhāvataṃsaka Sūtra or simply Avataṃsaka Sūtra is one of the most influential Mahāyāna sutras of East Asian Buddhism. The title is rendered in English as Flower Garland Sutra, Flower Adornment Sutra, or Flower Ornament Scripture.
The Avataṃsaka Sūtra is set within an understanding of the Dharmadhatu – phenomena (dharmas) as infinite realms upon realms, mutually containing one another. The vision of interdependence expressed in this sutra was the foundation of the Huayan School, also known as Hwaeom in Korea and Kegon in Japan.
There are other Mahāyāna sutras that have similar themes, topics, and narrative styles to the Avataṃsaka Sūtra, such as the Vimalakirti Sutra, and are considered part of the 'Inconceivable' tradition. Certain chapters of the Avataṃsaka, as well, have also circulated as ‘stand-alone’ sutras.
Mahāvaipulya Buddhāvataṃsaka Sūtra (’Flower Adornment’)Daśabhūmika Sūtra ('The Ten Stages')Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra (’The Advice of Vimalakirti’)Śūraṅgama Samādhi Sūtra (’Heroic Progress Concentration’)Brahma Net SutraBodhisattva Jeweled NecklacePerfect Enlightenment Sutra (Mahāvaipulya Pūrṇabuddha-sūtra Prasannārtha-sūtra)Avaivartikacakranāmamahāyāna SūtraMahāsaṃnipāta Sūtra Collection
The Mahāvaipulya Mahāsaṃnipāta Sūtra 大方等大集經 is an anthology of Mahāyāna Buddhist sutras, meaning in English is the Sutra of the Great, Broad Assembly. This sutra collection was translated into Chinese by Dharmakṣema, beginning in the year 414. The anthology consists of 17 sutras across 60 fascicles. The only extant copy of the entire collection is found in Chinese, though individual sutras can be found in Sanskrit and Tibetan. It is said to have been preached by the Buddha from the age of 45 to 49 to Buddhas and bodhisattvas assembled from all directions, by a great staircase made between the Realm of Desire and the Realm of Form.