Readings of the Lotus Sutra

Download or read book Readings of the Lotus Sutra written by Stephen F. Teiser and published by Columbia University Press. This book was released on 2009-07-29 with total page 520 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Lotus Sutra proclaims that a unitary intent underlies the diversity of Buddhist teachings and promises that all people without exception can achieve supreme awakening. Establishing the definitive guide to this profound text, specialists in Buddhist philosophy, art, and history of religion address the major ideas and controversies surrounding the Lotus Sutra and its manifestations in ritual performance, ascetic practice, visual representations, and social action across history. Essays survey the Indian context in which the sutra was produced, its compilation and translation history, and its influence across China and Japan, among many other issues. The volume also includes a Chinese and Japanese character glossary, notes on Western translations of the text, and a synoptic bibliography.