List Price: $26.95 Details

Save: $8.36 (31%)

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime & FREE Returns

FREE delivery: Tuesday, April 27 on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon. Details

Fastest delivery: Monday, April 26
Order within 7 hrs and 12 mins Details

In Stock.

$$18.59 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Ships from	Amazon.com
Sold by	Amazon.com

Details

Ships from

Amazon.com

Sold by

Amazon.com

Return policy: This item is returnable

Add a gift receipt for easy returns

FREE Shipping on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon or get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime

FREE delivery: Wednesday, April 28 on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon. Details

Used: Good | Details

Sold by 📚 UpWard Bound Books L.L.C.

Fulfilled by Amazon

Other Sellers on Amazon

$18.59
+ $3.99 shipping

Sold by: sweethomeliquid2

$24.60
+ Free Shipping

Sold by: Publisher Direct

Have one to sell?

Sell on Amazon

Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See all 3 images

Follow the Author

Burton Watson

The Lotus Sutra Paperback – April 15, 1993

by Burton Watson (Translator)

125 ratings

See all formats and editions Hide other formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Hardcover

"Please retry"

$95.00

$51.98

$14.97

Paperback

"Please retry"

$18.59

$16.74

$2.69

Enhance your purchase

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 the world, it has had a profound impact on the great works of Japanese and Chinese literature, attracting more commentary than any other Buddhist scripture.

As Watson notes in the introduction to his remarkable translation, " The Lotus Sutra is not so much an integral work as a collection of religious texts, an anthology of sermons, stories, and devotional manuals, some speaking with particular force to persons of one type or in one set of circumstances, some to those of another type or in other circumstances. This is no doubt why it has had such broad and lasting appeal over the ages and has permeated so deeply into the cultures that have been exposed to it."

Print length

390 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Columbia University Press
Publication date

April 15, 1993
Reading age

22 years and up
Dimensions

8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
ISBN-10

9780231081610
ISBN-13

978-0231081610
See all details

Frequently bought together

Total price: $51.47

Buy the selected items together

This item:The Lotus Sutra by Burton Watson Paperback $18.59
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
FREE Shipping on orders over $25.00. Details
The Diamond Sutra by Red Pine Paperback $19.95
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
FREE Shipping on orders over $25.00. Details
The Heart Sutra by Red Pine Paperback $12.93
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
FREE Shipping on orders over $25.00. Details

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

Gene Reeves
208
Paperback
16 offers from $14.89
Michio Shinozaki
42
Paperback
$25.00
Red Pine
235
Paperback
$12.93
Tsugunari Kubo
104
Hardcover
$35.00
H. Kern
7
Paperback
$7.97
Burton Watson
8
Paperback
$23.98

Customers who bought this item also bought

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

Red Pine
235
Paperback
$12.93
Red Pine
172
Paperback
$19.95
Gene Reeves
208
Paperback
16 offers from $14.89
Vimalakirti
44
Paperback
$23.36
Nagarjuna
117
Paperback
$19.95
Wong Mou-Lam
64
Paperback
$15.41

Special offers and product promotions

Amazon Business: Make the most of your Amazon Business account with exclusive tools and savings. Login now
Amazon Business : For business-only pricing, quantity discounts and FREE Shipping. Register a free business account

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

A third-century Mahayana text, this is used and revered in several traditions. It contains the essential teachings of Mahayana, stressing the doctrine of the transcendental nature of the Buddha, the ideal of the Boddhisattva, and the possibility of universal liberation.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Watson's felicitous rendition of "The Lotus Sutra" captures superbly well the literary essence of the Chinese text. Considering the manifold complexities and beauties of the work, this is a stunning achievement." -- Victor Mair

"Watson's felicitous rendition of The Lotus Sutra captures superbly well the literary essence of the Chinese text. Considering the manifold complexities and beauties of the work, this is a stunning achievement." -- Victor Mair

"Watson's felicitous rendition of "The Lotus Sutra" captures superbly well the literary essence of the Chinese text. Considering the manifold complexities and beauties of the work, this is a stunning achievement." -- Victor Mair

ASIN : 0231081618
Publisher : Columbia University Press; Revised ed. edition (April 15, 1993)
Language : English
Paperback : 390 pages
ISBN-10 : 9780231081610
ISBN-13 : 978-0231081610
Reading age : 22 years and up
Item Weight : 1.2 pounds
Dimensions : 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #114,401 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #620 in Buddhism (Books)

Customer Reviews:
125 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		79%
4 star		8%
3 star		9%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

How are ratings calculated?

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Jimmer

ALL people can attain enlightenment!

Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2019

Verified Purchase

This isn’t my first copy of this book. This translation is recognized as the most correct of all of the translations. I’ve been practicing Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism with the Nichiren Shoshu for 12 years. This is the sutra that explains that 1) we can attain enlightenment in this lifetime, and 2) women can also attain enlightenment. The Japanese translation of the title is Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Chanting this is the basic part of our practice.

13 people found this helpful

Helpful

Brent

Namo keepers of the Law Flower Sutra!

Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2020

Verified Purchase

Reciting this version helped me understand some things more clearly. I recommend reading multiple versions or translations for that very reason. The demon Mara is translated as Devil in this version which is a suitable translation. But, I feel like people in the west might not fully understand that the Buddhist (Devil) is named Mara and is both an evil spirit demon and a metaphor for our own negative habitual tendencies. I don’t believe modern day Christian religious interpretations of the Bible that there is a single Creator god and a single Devil. The Christian Devil can of course be interpreted as both a spirit demon and a metaphor for our own negative thoughts and actions, but most modern Christians I think don’t understand it this way. Modern Christians seem to want to blame everyone’s negative actions on outside forces which is not logical outside of obvious cases of demonic possession which are a rare occurrence if you look at percentages although it occurs constantly. So if you read or recite this version just at least keep all this in mind. I would actually say Mara or Mara’s people instead of Devil or devil’s people whenever the western translation “Devil” is written. Outside of this, great translation and beautiful cover. It’s a lot of work to translate this Sutra. So, thanks for all the hard work Mr. Watson. Well done.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

banja john

All that I want to know

Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2020

Verified Purchase

This has been an informative read. The writer has made this a readable English version. It has been a slow read as I try to make sense of this text. So far I learned to understand some meaning of this Sutra. Nam Myho Renge Kyo

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Doug M

Superb translation of a difficult Buddhist text

Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2007

Verified Purchase

The Lotus Sutra has essentially defined East Asian Buddhism with it's imagery, devotional passages, and ideas regarding equality between men and women as well as Enlightenment for all beings. Unfortunately, the Lotus Sutra is one of the most challenging Buddhist texts to read due to it's length, depth, and difficult prose style. The imagery alone can be very tiring if you're new to Buddhism, and don't understand half of what's going on.

The good news is that Burton Watson's translation of the Lotus Sutra really brings this text to the Western audience in a way never done before. Burton helps provide good context in the introduction as to how to read the Sutra, as well as explanation of some of the people and places. Many translations use archaic English, which makes it even hard to read, but Watson balances modern translations with a poetic style very nicely.

Folks interested in the Lotus Sutra should look no further and purchase this book.

26 people found this helpful

Helpful

GARY L. SMITH

Important

Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2020

Verified Purchase

Another wonderful text

One person found this helpful

Helpful

NerdGirl

This is a great english translated version

Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2016

Verified Purchase

This is a great english translated version. I read the one in Vietnamese and its Spot on with the English Translation.

5 people found this helpful

Helpful

Nae

Love

Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2019

Verified Purchase

Love

Helpful

Using from 6 months

very good condition

Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2019

Verified Purchase

the book received was exactly as per description.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

robin challis

Ancient wisdom not so ancient after all

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 17, 2013

Verified Purchase

Burton Watson's translation of the Lotus Sutra is probably the best modern translation - it's the one I've always turned to anyway. Anyone wanting to explore one of the deep pools of human wisdom and insight, in fact the deepest, I would recommend pulling on the thread of the Lotus Sutra. Mixed metaphors abound. You never know where it might take you! Enjoy.

One person found this helpful

cuskellk

Wonderful read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 25, 2012

Verified Purchase

Ordered this last summer as my holiday reading material. It arrived really quickly and had trackin enabled which was brilliant. Arrived in good condition too.

Felipe

Ótimo texto

Reviewed in Brazil on January 24, 2019

Verified Purchase

Um texto de grande importância para o Budismo Mahayana. Ótima tradução para o inglês. Um texto complicadinho, longo, repetitivo. Recomendado para interessados, pois é uma obra referência.

One person found this helpful

Translate review to English

Cobra

A great read for Nichiren practitioners

Reviewed in Canada on May 2, 2020

Verified Purchase

If you want to delve deeper into your Mahayana Buddhist practice - this is a must read. Beautiful introduction by the author gives you a better perspective.

Merle

A Piece of Crap

Reviewed in Canada on June 1, 2014

Verified Purchase

It's just a bunch of hyperbole and very few ideas. I can see how this would be a popular sutra back when lay people were forbidden from meditating and everyone was illiterate. In reality, it sucks.

See all reviews