The Lotus Sutra

Not great literary fare in the original Buddhist Sanskrit of previous and later Buddhist sutra standards, remarkably predictable in literary devices, it is a strange sutra that will penetrate the mind and lay dormant or wisk a person up into the air without notice. I don't know...something about this sutra. I knew the core teaching in terms of Buddhism principles, but there is something about the WAY it's written I guess that is what's driving the engine that it turns on within the reader. It's okay, go ahead and read that last sentence again. The Buddha's true cosmological nature and role is clarified explicitly for the first time ever within this sutra, which is what makes it notable in terms of content. In terms of teaching style, it does not teach, which is equally, perhaps, what's odd about this sutra. That is to say, it does not teach, and yet it IS the teaching. This is not usual within Buddhist sutras by any means. A strange review? Well, if you are curious enough to buy this mystical sutra (Hey, I'm paraphrasing the sutra here), you must, of course, be chosen to begin your career as a bodhisattva, like NOW, according to this sutra...so buyer beware. Buddha-to-be training may ensue with absolutely no prior notice whatsoever, and you may come face-to-face with the Buddha from time to time while reading, copying, reciting, teaching, or even owning a copy.

This is certainly one of the best Buddhist books available to the English-speaking reader. Not only is the translation of the Lotus Sutra clear and excellent, but this version includes two other sutras, the "Prologue" Sutra of Innumerable Meanings and the "Epilogue" Universal Virtue Sutra, which traditionally accompany the Lotus Sutra in East Asian countries but are not easy to find in English translation. This version comes with a glossary to explain Sanskrit terms which appear in the Sutras, which is quite helpful. Although the translation to English is done well, this is not the kind of book you can just pick up and read, and clearly understand. It gradually becomes clearer with time, and you could read the Lotus Stura a thousand times and discover something new every time. To accompany this book, particularly if you are new to Buddhism, I would recommend a good commentary, such as "Buddhism for Today" by Nikkyo Niwano, to study along with it to explain some of the allegory and hyperbole one finds in this and other ancient Buddhist literature, the symbolism behind it, and how we can apply these ancient teachings to make our lives and our world better.

The translation: Watson's translation of the Lotus Sutra is the most widely read version in English, and for laypeople it certainly deserves that distinction. Watson's English flows well and manages to avoid overuse of Sanskrit words, although a few generally understood Sanskrit terms are used. The layout of the book is attractive, and the typeface is extremely readable. I found the glossary in the back helpful to understand some of the Buddhist jargon (both English and Sanskrit) used in the translation.The sutra: The Lotus Sutra more than any other work is responsible for the distinctiveness of East Asian Buddhism. Its peculiar theme is the promolgation of Mahayana Buddhism by explaining the principle of the Dharmakaya and the Boddhisattva ideal, although in doing so it sometimes takes cheap shots at Theravada Buddhism. The Lotus Sutra contains some of the most enthalling stories in Mahayana Buddhism, such as Buddha's parable of the phantom city. Most interesting, in this reviewer's opinion, is Buddha's prophecy of enlightment for Devadatta. Regarded as Buddhism's version of Judas, Devadatta tried numerous times to kill the Buddha and cause schism in the sangha. By telling this prophecy of enlightenment for even the most notorious sinner in all of Buddhist thought, Buddha is saying that the fundamental principle of the Dharmakaya can reach even the most deluded person.Essential for understanding Mahayana Buddhism, I would recommend this version of the Lotus Sutra to anyone interested in this variety of Buddhism.

This new translation of the most important scripture in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition has a special value. Not only is it reliable, but Burton Watson's rendition all but sings. Translated directly from the Chinese Kumarajiva version, regarded as the most historically legitimate version, this complete and straightforward Lotus Sutra is recommended for its accessibility and its seriousness of purpose. Since its appearance in China in the third century, the Lotus Sutra has been regarded as one of the most illustrious scriptures in the Mahayana Buddhist canon. The object of intense veneration among generations of Buddhists in China, Korea, Japan, and other parts of East Asia, it has attracted more commentary than any other Buddhist scripture and has had a profound impact on the great works of Japanese and Chinese literature. Conceived as a drama of colossal proportions, the text takes on new meaning in Burton Watson's translation. Depicting events in a cosmic world that transcends ordinary concepts of time and space, The Lotus Sutra presents abstract religious concepts in concrete terms and affirms that there is a single path to enlightenment--that of the bodhisattva--and that the Buddha is not to be limited by time and space. Filled with striking imagery, memorable parables, and countless revelations concerning the universal accessibility of Buddhahood, The Lotus Sutra has brought comfort and wisdom to devotees over the centuries and stands as a pivotal text in world literature.

This is the most beautiful translation of the Lotus Sutra that I have ever read. Burton Watson has taken care to preserve the meaning behind the text, while translating it into a readable form that is both illuminating and absorbing.