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The Lotus Sutra: Revised Edition (BDK English Tripitaka) Hardcover – April 30, 2007

by Tsugunari Kubo (Translator), Akira Yuyama (Translator)

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The "Lotus Sutra," as it is generally known in the West, is one of the most important of all the Mahayana sutras, and especially in Japan, where it is popularly known as the Ho-ke-kyou, it has been held in high regard ever since Prince Shoutoku included a commentary on it in his set of commentaries on three Mahayana sutras (San-gyou-gi-sho).

It is a work of great literary merit, including as it does many sections of verse and various parables, but at the same time it has earned a lasting place in the history of Buddhism owing to the superior quality of its philosophical content. The concept of ‘One Vehicle’ especially, which permeates the whole work, has had immeasurable influence upon Japanese Buddhism.

It is divided into 28 chapters, of which Chapter 16, ‘The Life Span of the Tathagatayuspramana-parivarta XV), is especially important for its eulogy of sakyamuni as the embodiment of the eternal life and as having attained enlightenment in the inconceivably remote past. Among the numerous parables those of the three carts and the burning house, the wealthy man and his poor son, the three kinds of medicinal herbs and two kinds of trees, and the phantom city and the treasure land are especially famous. In addition Chapter 25, ‘The Universal Gate of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara’ (Skt.: Samantamukha-parivarta XXIV), which describes the blessings of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, was circulated in China and Japan as an independent sutra and is still recited today. It is also a well-known fact that the chant, or daimoku, of the Nichiren School of Japan and related sects consists of the invocation na-mu added to the Japanese title of this sutra, resulting in Na-mu-myou-hou-ren-ge-kyou.

Print length

362 pages
Language

English
Publisher

BDK America
Publication date

April 30, 2007
Dimensions

6.2 x 1.1 x 9.3 inches
ISBN-10

1886439397
ISBN-13

978-1886439399
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The BDK English Tripitaka Series was started by the late Dr. Rev. Yehan Numata, founder of the Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai (BDK) [Society for the Promotion of Buddhism.] The goal of this series is to make available in the English language the Buddhist scriptures and commentaries of the Sino-Japanese edition of the "Taisho Tripitaka." Scholars and specialists from throughout the world have been enlisted to translate the selected texts into English. When completed, the one-hundred eight volumes will comprise the First Series of the BDK English Tripitaka.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ BDK America; 2nd edition (April 30, 2007)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 362 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1886439397
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1886439399
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.54 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.2 x 1.1 x 9.3 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #66,859 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #16 in Buddhist Sacred Writings (Books)

Customer Reviews:
169 ratings

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4.7 out of 5

169 global ratings

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Kevin Adams

Review of the BDK ( Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai society for promotion of Buddhism ) translation of the Lotus Sutra

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 21, 2013

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One thing is definitely clear right from the start...this version of the Lotus Sutra contains many Sanskrit words. The author and translators of this version chose to leave certain Sanskrit words in Sanskrit, without translating them. Also the names of the different Buddhas are in Sanskrit, they are not translated into English. While attempting to casually read this version, you will come across many different Sanskrit words and phrases, for example....Nayutas of Kotis, Kalpas, Bhagavat, Srvakas, devas, nagas, 60 yojanas in height, 40 yojanas in width and so on...so unless your an expert in Sanskrit language or you have some kind of background in Sanskrit, I think it is difficult to casually read this version.

But the Sanskrit words are no problem with this version. Thankfully, in this version in the back is a very nice glossary which is very comprehensive and it very well defines the various Sanskrit words the book contains. Also near the back is a very nice bibliography which lists different versions of the Lotus Sutra by different authors which are available here on this website as well as other websites.

In April 1982, Dr. Numata Yehan of (BDK ) Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai, formed and put together a special preparatory commitee to translate the entire 84,000 writings of the Chinese Tripitaka ( Buddhist Canon ) into English., This version of the Lotus Sutra is just one of the many books that the Translation Committee has translated into English over the years.

The Translation Committee of ( BDK ) currently consisits of 11 people. The initial translating and editing of this volume was overseen and done under the direction of the Editorial Committee in Tokyo. There is a Publishing Committee which is headquartered in Berkley California, so these 2 committees work in cooperation with each other to produce and bring this version to you.

As far as this version is concerned, since it was translated and edited and published by different committees, that has its advantages and disadvantages. The committees have produced a very reliable and good strong version. On the other hand sometimes committees can be like overstuffing the cookie jar and you might end up with some broken and fragmented cookies.

I have several different versions of the Lotus Sutra. I find it useful to have several different versions when reading and studying. I reccomend aquiring yourself several different versions of the Lotus Sutra.

Another nice thing about this version is it is a non sectarian version. The BDK ( Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai ) Society for the Promotion of Buddhism is a non sectarian organization who are dedicated to translating various Buddhist texts into English.They do not promote any sect or any particular school of Buddhism. As for different sects or schools of Buddhism, the BDK is completely nuetral.

One of my other versions, was translated by a single author who is a very well known author and translator of Chinese classical texts into English, Alot of people don't trust his version and are leary of it because he was hired by a very well known lay buddhist organization, and that organization used to be part of another organization and there was a huge fight and argument and the 2 organizations broke up and divided from each other ( I am sure by now you know which organization I am referring to and I am sure you know which author they hired to translate the lotus sutra for them)

and another version I have is very nice, but the problem with that version is.....it is too westernized the original feel and flavour and nuances and shades of meanings of the lotus sutra are all gone and have been literally translated right out of that version. That particular version makes it look like the Lotus Sutra is a piece of American Literature. It is highly readable and most understandle, but just too much has been lost in the translation and the original feel and flavour, nuances have all been sacrificed.

anyway, enough about those other versions....lets get back to this version shall we?

The authors and translators of this version have been very careful to keep the original flavour and the feel and the nuances and shades of meanings in the native Sanskrit lanuguage as they translated it. They were careful not to lose or to remove those aspects of the Lotus Sutra. Before I got this version, I didn't really care about those aspects...but now, I have grown to like and to cherish those aspects and I see how keeping the flavour and the feel of the text,as well as the nuances and shades of meanings helps to add value to the text..., this makes quite a big difference and overall feeling of the text, compared to an too westernized version

of all the version which I have, this version is my favourite one. I am sure, that you will cherish this version and find it to be an invaluable version of the Lotus Sutra to have on your bookshelf at home.

In the very front of this book in the Translators' Introduction, it is very thoroughly explained in great depth and detail exactly how they translated this version,this version was translated from the Chinese version by Kumarajiva.

as you read it everyday, perhaps,like me, you will find and discover a new nugget of wisdom everytime you read it.

94 people found this helpful

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Rich Maurer

Must have if you are into Buddhism

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 25, 2021

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I love this book. Nicely bound. Reads well. The translation is nice. All in all if you need a copy of The Lotus Sutra start here and then explore with others as your education progresses and you achieve a deeper understanding of the Dharma

2 people found this helpful

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Dawn

Very durable and well made!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 8, 2021

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I enjoyed the translation. The book itself is very well made. I was opening it and making lots of notes, toting it around, shoving it in and out of my backpack and it doesn't show a single dent or wrinkle. The pages are thicker paper too, which is good for underlining and notes. I can't see the underlines through the paper.

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Denny

Excellent text size for older eyes and built to last many repeat readings

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 17, 2018

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I have bought other books in the BDK English Tripitaka series so I expected this one to be of high quality and it is. The one I received does not have a dust cover or jacket; however, the surface is smooth and shiny and the binding is tight. As far as the translation, it has been the most understandable for me, especially considering that the translators included a glossary in the back. I prefer seeing the Sanskrit terms with the exception of bodhisattva's names, where I would have preferred an inline English translation in parenthesis. Other than that, I would suggest that if this is the first time reading the Lotus sutra, to also read an introduction or commentary either prior to or along with this translation.

I purchased https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HL6SKN0/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title by Yoshiro Tamura and https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B006JGV6DE/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title by Thich Nhat Hanh, which has more interpretation. Yoshiro's book is much easier to use as you read the sutra or before reading as an extended introduction.

18 people found this helpful

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Brent

Namo keepers of the Law Flower Sutra!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 3, 2020

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It took me a little longer to recite this version because the names are still in Sanskrit. I enjoyed reciting this one none the less. I typically recite the Kosei version because the Buddha’s and Bodhisattva’s names are in English, but I like having this version, too. Very sturdy hardcover excellent for multiple readings or recitations.

One person found this helpful

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Robert Platters

High quality edition of the Lotus Sutra

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 23, 2011

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This translation is both very scholarly and very smooth. It is definitely of better quality overall than the other Lotus Sutra translations I have seen over the years. If I had to recommend just one, it would be this one, because it is so readable and accurate. For example, some other Lotus Sutra translations translate classes of spiritual beings into western equivalents, such as dragons, gryphons, etc. To me, this is totally unacceptable, and a Buddhist sutra should retain its special Indian character while being accessible to English readers. This translation is so skillful and takes everything in stride, translating what should be translated and keeping a few Sanskrit terms where necessary to convey the actual meaning. I wholeheartedly recommend this translation because it truly preserves the authenticity and the meaning of the original text. This version is really of high quality in every way, and its layout, construction, and binding are all beautiful as well.

49 people found this helpful

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The M4chin3

Great book! I plan on owning all of the ...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 26, 2016

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Great book!
I plan on owning all of the tripitaka eventually.
I was a bit hesitant this being a chinese interpretation and not a tibetan one. Small caveat' to have but hey communist china is totally trying to swallow Tibet.
Written very poetically and artistically. You can be reading important Buddhist principles and concepts and not know it as it's conveyed in the book.
When you've been hit by a car and spent 11 days in a coma this is a great book to have had delivered and be able to read.

4 people found this helpful

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William Michael Remensnyder

Fast shipping

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 7, 2021

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Fast shipping and book in excellent condition. Thank you!

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Top reviews from other countries

marlene

Lotus Sutra

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 26, 2022

Verified Purchase

I am very pleased with the condition of the book, I am looking forward to reading it, and would definitely buy other books from this seller in the future.