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The Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law

Translated By H. Kern (1884)

The Lotus Sutra is one of the most important texts in Buddhism and is considered by many as its finest gem. This text is one of the most famous scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism. It is the second of three sutras. The entire work is called The Threefold Lotus Sutra. The three titles are: The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings, The Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law and The Sutra of Meditation on the Bodhisattva Universal Virtue. The work presented here is the second and most popular sutra of the three, as translated by H. Kern in 1884. Until recently, all three sutras were not available in English until Kosei Publishing made all three available in one book. The Threefold Lotus Sutra.

The defining doctrine of Mahayana Buddhism is the belief that all people can reach an enlightened state. This idea is in sharp contrast with the Theravada belief that enlightenment is reserved for a select few scholars and monks. Since Mahayana Buddhism is dedicated to the ideal of having all beings someday achieve Buddhahood, it is called The Greater vehicle. Another defining characteristic is the Bodhisattva, or teacher, who is a soul who has already reached enlightenment, but chooses to postpone their ascension into Nirvana in order to teach others. What is striking about the Lotus Sutra and Mahayana Buddhism is its emphasis on devotion and faith. This is missing from Theraveda Buddhism for it stresses meditation and austerities.

The Lotus Sutra was originally written in Sanskrit. In Sanskrit, the name of the Lotus Sutra is "Saddharma Pundarika Sutra". It was translated several times into Chinese in the 3rd-5th centuries A.D. The most revered of these translations is by Kumarajiva who died in the early 5th century A.D. Almost all English translations of the Lotus Sutra are based on Kumarajiva's translation, as is this one.

Another reason this sutra is so important, is because of its role in the establishment of a school of Buddhism call Nichiren. In the mid-13th century, a Japanese monk named Nichiren founded a school of Buddhism based upon the Lotus Sutra. His teaching was very controversial, because he insisted on excluding all Buddhist practices except devotion to the Lotus Sutra. He founded a sect called Hokkekyo-shu (Dharma-Flower-Sutra Sect). The second chapter of the Lotus Sutra claims that the text is itself the highest form of the Dharma. This is why Nichiren taught that all other practices were unneccessary, since the Lotus Sutra was the very flower of the Buddha's teachings. Nichiren believed that its teaching contained the summit of the Buddha's teaching about supreme enlightenment and buddhahood. Nichiren defined the essence of its teaching as Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. This is why many Buddhist chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Its literal meaning is Nam: Devotion, Myoho: mystic law, Renge: cause and effect, and Kyo: sutra (teaching of the Buddha.) To many this phrase expresses the ultimate truth of life and the universe. They believe that this truth operates within our own lives and therefore, chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo allows each individual to tap his or her innate enlightened nature directly. Thus, one who chants it is able to gain power and wisdom to live with confidence, overcome any problem, and develop a happy future.

The Reluctant Messenger website is proud to make available to you The Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law.

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