On the nature and message of the Lotus Sumacrtra in the light of early Buddhism and Buddhist scholarship (towards the beginnings of Mahamacryamacrna)

Author: Karel Werner

Source: Asian Philosophy, Volume 14, Number 3, November 2004 , pp. 209-221(13)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

The aim of this paper is to compare the contents of the Lotus Sumacrtra and the style of presentation of its message with the thrust of the Buddha's teachings as they are preserved in the early Buddhist sources, particularly the Sutta Pitaka of the Pamacrli Canon, and also in the Pamacrli commentarial literature. In the process it attempts to identify in the early sources the precedents of some of the bold statements in the Lotus Sumacrtra which appear as complete innovations, but may be elaborations of elements contained in Pamacrli sources in germinal form. Despite the difference in style, language and mythological imagery, the conclusion is that both the Sutta Pitaka and the Lotus Sumacrtra express in their respective manners the true spirit of the Buddhist message. Attention is drawn also to the striking parallels between the Buddhist picture of the multiple universe and modern cosmological theories.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1080/1463136042000270579

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