Buddhism

In Chapter 5 of the Lotus Sutra we find the following interchanged between a monk and Shakyamuni (“the Lord”):  When the Lord had thus spoken, the venerable Maha-Kasyapa said to him: Lord, if there are not three vehicles, for what reason then is the designation of disciples (Sravakas), Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas kept up in the present times? [...]

In the fifth chapter of the Lotus Sutra (“On Plants”) Shakyamuni addresses the monk Maha-Kasyapa, along with other senior disciples, declaring himself to be the master of all laws, the Lord of all Truth. To illustrate the significance of this he tells them a parable: Picture a great cloud full of water, ready to burst [...]

In the fourth chapter (“Disposition”) of the Lotus Sutra four aged monks address Shakyamuni and, in describing their lives, tell a parable that approximates in some respects to the biblical Parable of the Prodigal Son. They describe a man who deserts his father, living in a foreign land for 50 years. Meanwhile his father becomes [...]

In Chapter 3 of the Lotus Sutra the monk Sariputra becomes personally persuaded that the Lotus Sutra itself, the second turning of the wheel of Dharma (Buddhist truth), is the key to attaining Nirvana. But he then becomes concerned for 1200 advanced monks. These monks had all successfully freed themselves from all false views (concerning [...]

The Lotus Sutra is highly venerated by many practitioners of Mahayana Buddhism. In Chapter 3 Shakyamuni is presented as warning all of the dire consequences that will follow if they should scorn the teaching of the Lotus Sutra, which emphasises that the only real way for a person to attain to Nirvana is by treading [...]

I received an email some weeks back questioning my presentation of the first of the Four Noble Truths (see “The Four Noble Truths” in Buddhism, Articles). The emailer kindly informed me that he found my articles very interesting, but added: …if you wish to be considered academically and intellectually rigorous, you really need to ascertain [...]

In Chapter 3 (A Parable) of the Lotus Sutra the monk Sariputra addresses Shakyamuni Buddha: “When I first heard the voice of the Lord, I had a great terror lest it might be Mara, the evil one, who on this occasion had adopted the disguise of Buddha. But when the unsurpassed Buddha-wisdom had been displayed [...]

In Chapter 2 (Skilfulness) of the Lotus Sutra the veneration of stupas and the making of images or idols is said to be so meritorious as to guarantee that those who do such things will be enlightened: Shakyamuni continued, “Others also, who paid worship to the relics of the departed Ginas, erected many thousands of stupas [...]

The Sanskrit and Pali word yana means “vehicle.” Bearing a comparable sense to the Hindu word marga and Chinese Tao, it is used to describe the path or journey to enlightenment. In Buddhism there are three broad schools: (1) Mahayana, “The Great Vehicle”; (2) Hinayana, “The Small Vehicle” (as regarded by Mahayana Buddhists); and (2) Vajrayana, “The Vajra [...]

In Chapter 2 (Skilfulness) of the Lotus Sutra, it is made plain that those who think they do not need the teaching of the Lotus Sutra (as communicated by Shakyamuni) are considered to be proud, to be chaff or trash. They have no appreciation as to how subtle and inscrutable is the knowledge that leads [...]