The Lotus Sutra
An important
Mahayana text
The Mahayana Scriptures
• Mahayana scriptures have their own sacred texts called
sutras (pali: suttas).
• Earliest Mahayana scriptures were written down in the
ancient Indian language of sanskrit between the first century
B.C.E. and 150 C.E. (Some scholars say they were not
complete until the 5th century C.E.). There is NO belief in an
oral tradition like that of Theravada Buddhists.
• These were also translated into other languages such as
Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese.
• Recent discoveries of Mahayana scriptures in Afghanistan
suggest that the earliest scriptures we have might be as
ancient as the earliest Theravada scriptures.
The Mahayana Scriptures
• The origin of Mahayana scriptures is much debated
• Some claim that as they have emerged so many centuries
after the Buddha himself, they can only be interpretations of
the Buddha’s teachings (Theravada view!).
• Some claim there must have been a parallel Buddhist council
held at the same time as the 1st council at which the
Mahayana teachings were recited.
• Others claim that Mahayana teachings were too advanced for
the people to fully understand so teachings like the
Prajnaparamita sutra were magically hidden by the nagas
(sea serpents/ sea dragons) for safe guarding until human
beings were ready for them!
• Several centuries later, Buddhists like Nagarjuna (1st century
C.E. ) magically rediscovered them and wrote them down
when he was spiritually inspired.
The Mahayana Scriptures
•
A number of Mahayana scriptures (three in particular)
became especially popular and important in Asia:-
1.
The Prajnaparamita sutras which are primarily on the
‘Perfection of Wisdom’ recall Mahayana’s views on Sunyata
(shunyata) or emptiness – this is the view that nothing in
the universe exists independently, permanently and
inherently. The most famous of the prajnaparamitas is THE
HEART SUTRA (often recited in Tibetan and Japanese
monasteries today). The Madhayamaka School of
Mahayana treat the Heart Sutra as its most important
scripture.
The Mahayana Scriptures
• 2. The Lakhavatara sutra sets out the theory of
Buddha nature (not on our Spec!)
• 3.The LOTUS SUTRA is seen by many schools in the
Far East as the expression of the Buddha’s most
important teachings and is regarded as the most
important scripture of all. Nichiren in Japan revere it
beyond anything else! In the book, it is clear that the
emphasis is on Mahayana to the detriment of
Hinayana encompassing the ideals of i) The
Bodhisattva and ii) the ideal of skilful means (upaya –
kausalya)
The Mahayana Scriptures
• Mahayana scriptures DO NOT fall into the same
categorisation as the Pali Canon e.g.:• There is no Mahayana vinaya
• Most of the Mahayana scriptures are sutras representing the
words of a disciple, not the Buddha himself.
• Some Mahayana works contain Abhidhamma analysis e.g.
psychology of meditation; powers of enlightenment; qualities
of enlightenment.
• Many of the Mahayana texts are believed to have been
inspired by the next Buddha; Buddha Maitreya who will come
down to the world in the future and teach in person.
• Majority are written in sanskrit, not pali.
The Lotus Sutra
• This is one of the most important
Mahayana scriptures.
• It is particularly popular in both
China and Japan.
• It is said to be the talk given by the
Buddha to followers and bodhisattvas
on Vulture Peak in Rajagraha in
Northern India
The Lotus Sutra
• The Lotus Sutra teaches about the superiority of
the Mahayana goal in relation to Theravada
Buddhism and its central focus is the notion that
the many doctrines and practices taught by the
Buddha are all really part of a single path or ‘one
single vehicle’ (ekayana) which embraces both
Hinayana and Mahayana .It further states that
when the Buddha teaches different doctrines to
different audiences, he is not being deceptive;
rather, this is skilful means in action (upaya –
kausalya) that adapts the basic message to suit an
audience. (Haven’t all great orators done this?!).
The Lotus Sutra
• There is reference to the three vehicles
(triyana) in the Lotus Sutra but all in the
end are subsumed within the ‘Buddha –
vehicle’ or Buddhayana and all lead to
awakening (bodhi)t as there can be many
paths to buddhahood and all vehicles lead
ultimately to the same goal. This suggests a
derogatory dig at Hinayana for its insistence
that their path is the only one to
enlightenment and you have to be ordained
to even achieve enlightenment.
The Lotus Sutra
• The idea of all paths lead to awakening, a central
theme of The Lotus Sutra is seen in the scriptures
most famous parable called “The parable of the
burning house” about a father who sees his three
young sons playing inside a burning house and are too
distracted to notice the danger. So he lures them out
by promising each the sort of cart he most desires.
When they come out, they are all given one type of
cart. This is said to be skilful rather than deceitful, as
the subterfuge saves their lives!
How do Mahayana followers
regard their scriptures?
• Not all Mahayana Buddhists agree on the amount of
significance you should attach to the scriptures
• Many schools refer to more than one scripture as a guide
• Some schools focus on entirely one scripture e.g. Nichiren –
Lotus Sutra
• Some schools do not place any value on studying the scriptures
e.g. Zen (although Zen masters have been known to study the
Heart Sutra, whereas others e.g. Tibetan schools place supreme
importance on studying them.