Lotus Sutra Talks
The Lotus Sūtra (Sanskrit: Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtram, Sūtra on the White Lotus of the True Dharma, Chinese: 妙法蓮華經) is one of the most influential and venerated Buddhist Mahāyāna sūtras. It is the main scripture on which the Tiantai along with its derivative schools, the Japanese Tendai, Korean Cheontae, Vietnamese Thiên Thai and Nichiren schools of Buddhism were established. It is also influential for other East Asian Buddhist schools, such as Zen. According to the British Buddhologist Paul Williams, "For many Buddhists in East Asia since early times, the Lotus Sūtra contains the final teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha—complete and sufficient for salvation." The American Buddhologist Donald S. Lopez Jr. writes that the Lotus Sūtra "is arguably the most famous of all Buddhist texts," presenting "a radical re-vision of both the Buddhist path and of the person of the Buddha."
Two central teachings of the Lotus Sūtra have been very influential for Mahāyāna Buddhism. The first is the doctrine of the One Vehicle, which says that all Buddhist paths and practices lead to Buddhahood and so they are all actually "skillful means" of reaching Buddhahood. The second is the idea that the lifespan of the Buddha is immeasurable and that therefore, he did not really pass on into final Nirvana (he only appeared to do so as upāya), but is still active teaching the Dharma.
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Eighty-second Birthday TalkSerial: BZ-02192 My Intention as a Priest, Saturday Lecture Four Methods of Guidance, Generosity, Transmission, Lotus Sutra, Culture, Gratitude,... |
Jul 09 2011 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Denkoroku Class Mishaka Birth-and-Death, Karma, Describe, Karmic Consciousness, Ego, Patience, Family... |
Apr 14 2011 4 |
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Denkoroku Class - Kumorata The Nineteenth Ancestor Birth-and-Death, Karma, Transmission, Continuous, Karmic Consciousness, Five Ranks,... |
Feb 24 2011 2 |
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Genjo Koan Lotus Sutra, Transmission, Fundraising, Anger, Enemies, Happiness, Separation,... |
Feb 12 2011 |
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Receiving With Gratitude Practice Period, Intimacy, Lotus Sutra, Gratitude, Tassajara, Anger, Patience,... |
Nov 20 2010 |
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Calling Out to the Hungry Ghosts Lotus Sutra, Peace |
Oct 30 2010 |
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My Way As A TeacherSerial: BZ-02129 Berkeley Zen Center - A garden that is cultivated, Saturday Lecture Eihei Shingi, Way-Seeking Mind, Teacher-and-Student, Lotus Sutra, Bell, training,... |
Oct 02 2010 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Facing the Wall for Nine Years Tassajara, Lotus Sutra, Attachment, true dharma, Impermanence |
Sep 18 2010 Morning No Abode Hermitage |
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The Mind of Enlightenment Silence, Lotus Sutra, Dogen, Bodhidharma |
Aug 19 2010 The Yoga Room |
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Five Ranks ClassSerial: BZ-02121 Katsuki Sekida's Commentary
Five Ranks, Cultivation, Passions, Karma, Concentration, Lotus Sutra, training,... |
Aug 19 2010 7 |
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The Unique Breeze of Reality and the Wondrous Function of Non-Dual Wisdom Emptiness, Faith, Koan, Lotus Sutra, Separation |
Aug 14 2010 Morning No Abode Hermitage |
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For a Sentient Being to be a Sentient Being is just not to Move Priest, japanese, Lay, Lotus Sutra, Vimalakirti |
Nov 14 2009 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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Tao Wu's Condolence CallSerial: BZ-02062 Shuso talk Blue Cliff Record, Continuous, Birth-and-Death, Practice Period, true dharma,... |
Oct 24 2009 1 |
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Causation within the Wondrous Dharma Flower Karmic Consciousness, Lotus Sutra, causation, Faith, Ego |
Oct 17 2009 Morning No Abode Hermitage |
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Causation within the Wondrous Dharma Flower Nirvana, Lotus Sutra, Evil |
Oct 17 2009 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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Leaving Home and Receiving the Precepts Renunciation, Faith, Karmic Consciousness, Lotus Sutra, Attachment |
Sep 26 2009 Morning No Abode Hermitage |
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Leaving Home and Receiving the Precepts Karmic Consciousness, Lotus Sutra, Commitment, Community |
Sep 26 2009 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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Class 5 Absorption In The Treasury Of Light Subject-and-Object, Cultivation, Transmission, Manjushri, Lotus Sutra, Religion,... |
Jun 11 2009 |
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The Ultimate Transcends All ArgumentationSamdhinirmochana Mahayana Sutra Chapter 2 Samdhinormonchana Sutra (Part V), Vasubandhu, Mahayana, Lotus Sutra |
May 23 2009 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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Questions and Answers in Buddhism Religion, Right Speech, Lotus Sutra, Buddha Mind, Vows, Teacher-and-Student, Heart... |
Apr 18 2009 |
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Zazen to Become a BuddhaSerial: BZ-02022 Sitting for 10 Kalpas and Not Attaining Buddha, Saturday Lecture Bodhisattva, MM-9, Karma, Bodhisattva Way, Lotus Sutra, Peace, Bodhidharma, Big Mind... |
Mar 28 2009 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Platform Sutra. Hui Neng. Commentary of Poem: Prajna: Serial No. 01452Serial: BZ-01452 Rohatsu, Day 7, side A Darkness and Light, Attachment, Platform Sutra, Big Mind, Light-and-Darkness, Karma,... |
Dec 13 2008 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Commentary on Poem in Section on PrajnaSerial: BZ-02010 Platform Sutra - Hui Neng, Rohatsu Day 7 Hui Neng, Darkness and Light, Attachment, Light-and-Darkness, Karma, Platform Sutra,... |
Dec 13 2008 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Forbearance Practice Khanti Paramita: Engaged Buddhism (Prison Work): Serial No. 01075Paramitas, Engaged Buddhism, Lotus Sutra, Politics, Two Truths, Absolute-and-Relative... |
Nov 29 2008 Berkeley Zen Center |
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The Practice That Fills and Is Filled by the Entire Universe and the Bodhisattva Precept of Not Killing Lotus Sutra, Buddha Ancestors, Soto Zen, Dogen, Buddha Mind |
Nov 22 2008 Morning No Abode Hermitage |
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Buddha Sitting as Us; Us Sitting as Buddha Lotus Sutra, Emptiness, War, Mindfulness |
Oct 18 2008 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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July 26th, 2008, Serial No. 01149 Ordinary Mind, Instruction, Lotus Sutra, Teacher-and-Student, Passions, Daily Life,... |
Jul 26 2008 |
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Bodhisattva Action is to Remain Unmoved Lotus Sutra, Manjushri, Complete Perfect Enlightenment, Bodhisattva Way, Soto Zen... |
Jun 14 2008 No Abode Hermitage |
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June 7th, 2008, Serial No. 01137 Discrimination, Five Ranks, Separation, Blue Cliff Record, Impermanence,... |
Jun 07 2008 |
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How Can I Help Beings Enter? Nirvana, Gratitude, Lotus Sutra, Bodhisattva Way |
May 10 2008 Morning No Abode Hermitage |
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Pure Land is Here and Now Non-discrimination, Lotus Sutra, Discrimination, Emptiness |
May 10 2008 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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2008.05.02-MZMC-am Forgiveness, Desire, Lotus Sutra, Zendo, Buddha Ancestors, Addiction, true dharma,... |
May 02 2008 Minnesota Zen Center |
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Embodying the Lotus Sutra Lotus Sutra, Buddha Nature, Manjushri, Heart Sutra, Book of Serenity |
Apr 24 2008 The Yoga Room |
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About the Lotus Sutra Lotus Sutra, true dharma, Bell, Bodhisattva Vow, Dogen |
Apr 19 2008 No Abode Hermitage |
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Embodying the Lotus Sutra Lotus Sutra, Buddha Nature, Intimacy, Emptiness |
Apr 17 2008 The Yoga Room |
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Embodying the Lotus Sutra Lotus Sutra, Bell, Discrimination, Observe, Evil |
Apr 03 2008 The Yoga Room |
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Embodying the Lotus Sutra Lotus Sutra, Emptiness, Posture, Breath, zen meditation |
Mar 27 2008 The Yoga Room |
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Embodying the Lotus Sutra Lotus Sutra, Emptiness, true dharma, Triple Treasure, Describe |
Mar 20 2008 The Yoga Room |
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Embodying the Lotus Sutra Lotus Sutra, Buddha Nature, Emptiness, Religion, Manjushri |
Mar 13 2008 The Yoga Room |
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Embodying the Lotus Sutra Lotus Sutra, zen meditation, true dharma, Perfect Wisdom, Bodhisattva Vow |
Mar 06 2008 The Yoga Room |
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Practice at Berkeley Zen CenterSerial: BZ-01108 Taking a Position, Saturday Lecture Practice Position, Humility, Monastic Practice, Beginners, Don't Know Mind,... |
Jan 12 2008 Berkeley Zen Center |
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October 21st, 2007, Serial No. 01005 Lotus Sutra, Precepts, Four Noble Truths, Practice Period, Patience, Right Speech,... |
Oct 21 2007 |