You are currently logged-out. You can log-in or create an account to see more talks, save favorites, and more. more info
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 and 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.
Title | Speaker | |
---|---|---|
Living Dharma: Embracing the Bodhisattva Path Lotus Sutra, Practice, Buddha |
Mar 01 2008 B No Abode Hermitage |
|
Interconnectedness Through Zen Practice Intimacy, Lotus Sutra, Enlightenment |
Feb 23 2008 |
|
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 |
|
Just Wholeheartedly Sit and Offer Offering, Lotus Sutra, Tassajara |
Dec 08 2007 |
|
The Awesome Presence of Active BuddhasSerial: TL-00174 Clouds in Water Dharma Talk, Letting Go, Lotus Sutra, Pain, Happiness, Bowing |
Nov 04 2007 St. Paul, MN |
|
Introduction to the Paramitas, Skillful Means: Recycle for New Functionality; e.g. Empty Toilet Paper RollSerial: BZ-01005 One Day Sitting Lotus Sutra, Precepts, Four Noble Truths, Practice Period, Patience, Right Speech,... |
Oct 21 2007 Berkeley Zen Center |
|
Zen Meditation as Bodhisattva VowDuring this course, we will study the bodhisattva vow, to see how the compassionate intentions of enlightening beings generate, work, and play with the mind of enlightenment to promote peace and... Balance, Karmic Consequences, Confession-and-Repentance, Soto Zen, Lotus Sutra,... |
Aug 21 2007 The Yoga Room |
|
Wholehearted Sitting: Essence of Zen Practice Lotus Sutra, Bowing, Vow |
Aug 16 2007 |
|
Zen Meditation as Bodhisattva VowDuring this course, we will study the bodhisattva vow, to see how the compassionate intentions of enlightening beings generate, work, and play with the mind of enlightenment to promote peace and... Obstacles, Lotus Sutra, Soto Zen, Confession-and-Repentance, Faith, Passions, Nirvana... |
Aug 07 2007 The Yoga Room |
|
Zen Meditation as Bodhisattva Vow Vow, Lotus Sutra |
Aug 07 2007 |
|
Worship of the BuddhaWhen a person pays homage and bows to the Buddhas, there is just one Buddha with no other person. Lotus Sutra, Bowing, Duality, Dogen, War |
Jul 28 2007 Morning No Abode Hermitage |
|
Only a Buddha and a BuddhaThe Lotus Sutra says that the desire to help beings open to Buddha's wisdom is the condition for Buddha's appearing in this world. Lotus Sutra, Soto Zen, Desire, Religion |
Jul 28 2007 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
|
Worship of the Buddha Lotus Sutra, Soto Zen, Happiness |
Jul 28 2007 Morning |
|
Only a Buddha and a Buddha Buddha, Lotus Sutra, Consciousness |
Jul 28 2007 Afternoon |
|
Zen Meditation as Bodhisattva VowDuring this course, we will study the bodhisattva vow, to see how the compassionate intentions of enlightening beings generate, work, and play with the mind of enlightenment to promote peace and... Patience, Desire, Teacher-and-Student, Confession-and-Repentance, Lotus Sutra,... |
Jul 24 2007 The Yoga Room |
|
Zen Meditation as Bodhisattva VowDuring this course, we will study the bodhisattva vow, to see how the compassionate intentions of enlightening beings generate, work, and play with the mind of enlightenment to promote peace and... Nirvana, Harmonizing, Lotus Sutra, Bell, Letting Go, Bodhisattva Way, Desire... |
Jul 17 2007 The Yoga Room |
|
Faith in Buddhism: Faith and DoubtSerial: BZ-01055A Class 3 of 5 Doubt, Mahayana, Lotus Sutra, Subject-and-Object, Buddha Nature, Non-duality, Big... |
May 31 2007 3 Berkeley Zen Center |
|
Awakening Through Mindful Storytelling Buddha, Practice, Lotus Sutra |
May 26 2007 AM No Abode Hermitage |
|
Coming Of AgeSerial: SF-01062 Story of Parvati and ...(?); falling in love - never alone; the entire universe in ten directions is the true human body; Coming of Age Program; samsara/dukkha; parenting a... Parvati, Karma, Dukkha, Samsara, Lotus Sutra, New Year, Continuous Practice, Hate,... |
May 20 2007 Green Gulch Farm |
|
Buddha's ParinirvanaSerial: BZ-01419 Sesshin Day 1 Parinirvana, Nirvana, Lotus Sutra, Greed, Mahayana, Four Noble Truths, Doubt,... |
Feb 17 2007 Berkeley Zen Center |
|
Kidzendo: Oneness of OppositesSerial: BZ-01415 "The Teaching is Just for You", Saturday Lecture Non-duality, Dragons, Ego, Lotus Sutra, Big Mind, Two Truths, Daily Life, Gaining... |
Jan 27 2007 Berkeley Zen Center |
|
Ryokan’s PoetrySerial: BZ-01413 Teaching Retreat, part 2 of 2 Branching Streams, Subject-and-Object, Lotus Sutra, Peace, Dragons, Discrimination,... |
Jan 20 2007 2 Berkeley Zen Center |
|
2007.01.14-serial.00116B Buddha, Lotus Sutra, Dogen |
Jan 14 2007 |
|
Big MindSerial: BZ-01405B Dharmakaya/Sambhogakaya/Nirmanakaya, Rohatsu Day 5 Trikaya, Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya, Nirmanakaya, Monkey Mind, Big Mind, Buddha Nature... |
Dec 01 2006 Berkeley Zen Center |
|
Women’s Practice: Falling into the *** HoleSerial: BZ-01388 Women's Sitting Intimacy, Dharma Transmission, Blue Cliff Record, Lineage, Transmission, Lotus Sutra... |
Sep 24 2006 Berkeley Zen Center |
|
Commentary on "Komyo-zo Zammai" by Koun EjôSerial: BZ-01174 Storehouse of Radiant Light Samadhi, One-Day Sitting Koun Ejô, Concentration, Samadhi, Hate, Discrimination, Gaining Mind, Liberation,... |
Jul 16 2006 Berkeley Zen Center |
|
March 2006 talk, Serial No. 00052 Silent Illumination, Lotus Sutra, Buddha's Birthday, Hongzhi, Oneness |
Mar 2006 |
|
March 2006 talk, Serial No. 00055, Side B Silent Illumination, Lotus Sutra, Concentration, Hongzhi, Intention |
Mar 2006 |
|
Embodying Silence, Hearing Dharma Silence, Breath, Money, Lotus Sutra |
Jan 21 2006 |
|
Whispers of Enlightenment Unspoken Transmission, Lotus Sutra, Dharma Transmission, Impermanence, Lineage |
Jan 11 2006 |
|
Beyond Words: Unspoken Dharma Transmission Transmission, Lotus Sutra, Dharma Transmission, Impermanence, Lineage |
Jan 11 2006 |
|
Enlightenment Beyond Words Transmission, Lotus Sutra, Dharma Transmission |
Jan 11 2006 |
|
Unraveling Zen Through KoansSerial: RB-01649A Seminar_Mahayana-Practice_as_Vision_2 Buddha, Practice, Lotus Sutra |
2006 Johanneshof |
|
Lotus Sutra: Path of Universal TransformationSerial: RB-01702A Seminar_Mahayana-Practice_as_Vision_1 Buddha, Mahayana, Lotus Sutra |
2006 Johanneshof |
|
Buddha's Pointing at the GroundSerial: BZ-01207 Indra's Planting a Blade of Grass, Saturday Lecture SER-4, Sanctuary, Book of Serenity, Lotus Sutra, Sangha, Buddha's Birthday,... |
Dec 10 2005 Berkeley Zen Center |
|
Emptiness as All Things Contingent Upon Each Other: “What do You Think Enlightenment is?”Serial: BZ-01204B Rohatsu Day 1 Lotus Sutra, Buddha Nature, Two Truths, Four Noble Truths, Ego, Lay, Practice Period... |
Dec 01 2005 Berkeley Zen Center |
|
Birth and DeathSerial: SF-00970 Sunday Lecture - Children's Lecture: children's story - Amos and Boris; response to Hurrican Katrina; Story of king, knowing death is coming; vowing to live for the... Kids' Talk, Birth-and-Death, First Principle, Vow, Four Noble Truths, Lotus... |
Sep 04 2005 Green Gulch Farm |
|
Zendo LectureLotus Sutra, Suzuki Roshi, Mindfulness, Offering, Sanctuary, Obstacles, Impermanence... |
Jul 23 2005 Tassajara |
|
Eight Practices of Bodhisattva, Tibetan Tradition, Bodhisattva Song and Kid Zendo DaySerial: BZ-01328 Saturday Lecture Lotus Sutra, Dharma Transmission, Patience, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center,... |
Jun 18 2005 Berkeley Zen Center |
|
GenjokoanSerial: BZ-01033A Class 3 of 5 Birth-and-Death, Ordinary Mind, Buddha Nature, Continuous Practice, Impermanence,... |
Jun 02 2005 3 Berkeley Zen Center |
|
DongshanSerial: BZ-00593 Sesshin Day 3 Three Treasures, Four Noble Truths, Practice Period, Buddha Mind, Soto Zen, Lotus... |
Mar 25 2005 Tassajara |
|
Wallace Stevens and Emptiness Lotus Sutra, Separation, Five Ranks, Evil, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Uchiyama,... |
Mar 20 2005 Berkeley Zen Center |
|
Dogen: Four Embracing Actions of a Boddhisattva; Loving Speech and Beneficial ActionSerial: BZ-01308B Sesshin Day 1 Offering, Soto Zen, Gratitude, Separation, Vow, Avalokiteshvara, Lotus Sutra... |
Feb 19 2005 Berkeley Zen Center |
|
Introduction to Buddhism: The Four Noble TruthsSerial: BZ-00567 Class 2 of 4 Four Noble Truths, Right Speech, Right Effort, Concentration, Birth-and-Death,... |
Jan 31 2005 2 Berkeley Zen Center |
|
Title UnknownSerial: BZ-00595 Shuso talk, sesshin 1, day 3 Blue Cliff Record, Bell, Lotus Sutra, Practice Period, Bodhisattva Way, Silent... |
Jan 27 2005 Tassajara |
|
Mindful Paths to EnlightenmentSerial: RA-00277 1.23.05 Sesshin #4 Continuous Practice, Lotus Sutra, Passions, Patience |
Jan 23 2005 |
|
One Mind, Infinite Insight Journey Continuous Practice, Passions, Lotus Sutra, Patience |
Jan 23 2005 |
|
Pathway to Tranquil Insight Continuous Practice, Lotus Sutra, Patience, Passions |
Jan 23 2005 |
|
Removing Signs Class 7 Part 2 Q&ASerial: RA-00279 1-18-05 Class 7 part 2 Q&A GGF Tenshin Rishi Anderson Jan. P.P. Q&A It is possible to know and percieve a mental object without a... Birth-and-Death, Duality, Buddha Nature, Lotus Sutra, Interdependence, Enthusiasm, Silence, Doubt... |
Jan 18 2005 Class 7 Part 2 Green Gulch Farm |
|
Lotus Sutra ClassSerial: SF-03557 Dining Room Class Lotus Sutra, Intimacy, Vow, Manjushri, First Principle, Ordinary Mind, Suzuki Roshi,... |
Dec 03 2004 Tassajara |