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Lotus Sutra Talks

The Lotus Sūtra (Sanskrit: Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtram, lit. 'Sūtra on the White Lotus of the True Dharma'; traditional Chinese: 法華經; simplified Chinese: 法华经; pinyin: Fǎhuá jīng; lit. 'Dharma Flower Sutra') 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 and Nichiren, Korean Cheontae, and Vietnamese Thiên Thai 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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August 18th, 2009, Serial No. 03671 Faith, Lotus Sutra, Dogen |
Aug 18 2009 |
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Lotus Sutra underground bodhisattvas and Buddha's life-spanSerial: TL-00194 ADZG Monday Night, Lotus Sutra, Evil, Faith, Offering |
Aug 17 2009 Ancient Dragon Zen Gate |
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Lotus Sutra parables on skillful meansSerial: TL-00192 ADZG Sunday Morning, Lotus Sutra, Bodhisattva Way, Peace, Diversity, Faith |
Aug 09 2009 Ancient Dragon Zen Gate |
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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 ArgumentationSerial: RA-03660 Samdhinirmochana Mahayana Sutra Chapter 2 Samdhinormonchana Sutra (Part V), Buddha, Mahayana, Lotus Sutra |
May 23 2009 PM No Abode Hermitage |
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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, Vow, Teacher-and-Student, Heart... |
Apr 18 2009 |
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The Growth of OnenessSerial: TL-00187 ADZG Sunday Morning, Oneness, Buddha Ancestors, Lotus Sutra, Separation |
Apr 12 2009 Ancient Dragon Zen Gate |
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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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January 23rd, 2009, Serial No. 03632 Pain, Lotus Sutra, Buddha |
Jan 23 2009 |
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January 22nd, 2009, Serial No. 03631 Lotus Sutra, Karmic Consciousness, Buddha |
Jan 22 2009 |
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January 17th, 2009, Serial No. 03626 Lotus Sutra, Emptiness, Suzuki Roshi |
Jan 17 2009 |
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January 15th, 2009, Serial No. 03625 Lotus Sutra, Emptiness |
Jan 15 2009 |
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Platform Sutra. Hui Neng. Commentary on Poem in Section on PrayanaSerial: 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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The Meaning of Buddha's EnlightenmentSerial: TL-00180 ADZG One Day Sitting, Attachment, Lotus Sutra, Book of Serenity, Paramitas, Nirvana |
Dec 07 2008 Cenacle Chicago |
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December 3rd, 2008, Serial No. 03607 Ceremony, Emptiness, Lotus Sutra |
Dec 03 2008 |
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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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The Practice That Fills and Is Filled by the Entire Universe and the Bodhisattva Precept of Not Killing Practice, Buddha, Lotus Sutra |
Nov 22 2008 Morning |
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Leaping Into Timeless Enlightenment Practice, Lotus Sutra, Buddha |
Nov 17 2008 |
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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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The Buddha Way is Ongoing Crisis Faith, Lotus Sutra, Evil |
Aug 16 2008 Afternoon |
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Ordinary Mind is the WaySerial: BZ-01149 Saturday lecture Ordinary Mind, Instruction, Lotus Sutra, Teacher-and-Student, Passions, Daily Life,... |
Jul 26 2008 Berkeley Zen Center |
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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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Bodhisattva Action is to Remain Unmoved Stillness, Ceremony, Lotus Sutra |
Jun 14 2008 |
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Medicine and DiseaseSerial: BZ-01137 Saturday Lecture Discrimination, Five Ranks, Separation, Blue Cliff Record, Impermanence,... |
Jun 07 2008 Berkeley Zen Center |
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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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How Can I Help Beings Enter? Gratitude, Lotus Sutra, Nirvana |
May 10 2008 Morning |
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2008.05.02-MZMC-am Forgiveness, Desire, Lotus Sutra, Buddha Ancestors, Addiction, Enthusiasm, Birth-and-... |
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, Bell, Dogen |
Apr 19 2008 No Abode Hermitage |
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About the Lotus Sutra Lotus Sutra, Openness |
Apr 19 2008 |
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About the Lotus Sutra Lotus Sutra, Emptiness, Complete Perfect Enlightenment |
Apr 19 2008 |
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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, Intimacy, Emptiness |
Apr 17 2008 |
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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, Bell, Discrimination |
Apr 03 2008 |
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Embodying the Lotus Sutra Lotus Sutra, Emptiness, Posture, Breath |
Mar 27 2008 The Yoga Room |
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Embodying the Lotus Sutra Lotus Sutra, Meditation, Emptiness |
Mar 27 2008 |
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Embodying the Lotus Sutra Lotus Sutra, Emptiness, Three Treasures |
Mar 20 2008 The Yoga Room |
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Embodying the Lotus Sutra Lotus Sutra, Ceremony, Emptiness |
Mar 20 2008 |
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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, Buddha Nature, Emptiness |
Mar 13 2008 |
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Embodying the Lotus Sutra Lotus Sutra, Perfect Wisdom |
Mar 06 2008 The Yoga Room |
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Embodying the Lotus Sutra Lotus Sutra, Perfect Wisdom |
Mar 06 2008 |
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Living Dharma: Embracing the Bodhisattva Path Lotus Sutra, Practice, Buddha |
Mar 01 2008 B No Abode Hermitage |
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February 23rd, 2008, Serial No. 03549 Intimacy, Lotus Sutra, Complete Perfect Enlightenment |
Feb 23 2008 |
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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 |