The Lotus Sutra: An Accessible Translation of a Timeless Buddhist Classic

Grimes Golden: A strange and curious read, the translation here seems somewhat literal. An interesting choice to keep the monster names in Western terms adds an unusual dynamic to the stories.

I feel like I got a great deal of information out of this text, its no wonder religions have centered around it. At times it seemed to me the text tries to tell a story that the Buddha is fact an inter-dimensional event of some sort. Beyond space and time, our soul purpose in this reality is to encounter and bring about a Buddha type dimensional event. At numerous times in the reading the narrator assures the reader that by finishing this text, a Buddha event is all but assured. I would occasionally get a pleasant full body electrical/chill sensation while reading that was unexplainable.

I would warn the reader to not go into the book with a sense of frivolity. This sutra seems to contain much information of power, and positive vibrations to those few intellectuals who seek its ways.

United States on Aug 10, 2023

Brent: Namo Keepers of the Law Flower Sutra.

This version is translated in a more modern way compared to older versions that still have Sanskrit words and is still written in old dialect including the way people used to convey vast unimaginable amounts of time. So, it would be easier to understand terms and amounts of time in this version of the Law Flower Sutra. I have read the older style and I had to look up definitions in the back of the book a lot. After 3 times through I started remembering Sanskrit terms. I would recommend reading this version and the older style with Sanskrit words. In the introduction, Reeves mentions the inconstancies or contradictions in the text that apparently possibly Reeves and however many others think are in the Law Flower Sutra or the Dharma in general. (Reeves is most likely talking about meanings being lost in translation) But, (be assured the original teaching is still there enough in English), there are no contradictions in this text or the Dharma. At least not in the Kosei Published version of The Lotus Sutra. I have not read this version through to the end. In fact, a big part of The Law Flower Sutra is to reassure practicing Buddhists (in...

United States on Aug 18, 2020

Paul Smith: Read

United Kingdom on Oct 14, 2019

Cass: I loved, and love this book. Not a Lotus Sutra scholar, and can't say I totally understand it, but it is very poetic, and I return time and time again just for the joy of reading something calming and beautiful.

Canada on Jul 15, 2016

B. Lutze: Gleich vorneweg, ich empfehle drei Lotos Sutra Übersetzungen. Die von Burton Watson, diese hier von Gene Reeves und die deutsche Version von Margareta von Borsig. Wenngleich alle drei wertvoll sind, gibt es Übersetzungsunterschiede, da sie aus dem chinesischen übersetzt wurden und dort, wie in vielen Sprachen, ein und das gleiche Wort unterschiedlich ausgelegt werden kann. Das zweite Kapitel etwa heißt bei Watson "Expedient Means", bei Reeves "Skillful Means", bei Borsig "Geschicklichkeit. Die berühmte Phantom-Stadt aus Kapitel 7 des Sutras heißt bei Watson "Phantom City", bei Reeves "Fantastic Castle-City" und bei Borsig "Zauberstadt". Man sieht, dass den Übersetzungen unterschiedliche Bedeutungen entspringen. Die meisten Kapitel und Begriffe sind von Watson sehr gut übersetzt worden. Reeves ist jedoch zeitgenössicher und es klären sich bei ihm viele Begriffe, da er nicht nur übersetzt, sondern auch viele Begriffe in Sanskrit überprüft und origineller übersetzt. Z.B. nennet er den Buddha "Tathagata", was viel schöner ist, als das von Watson benutzte und etwas sperrige "The Thus Come One".
Leider gibt es nicht DIE eine Übersetzung, ich empfehle immer mindestens...

Germany on Feb 07, 2016

Joseph J. Truncale: I am more of a scientific minded kind of individual, but in my search for knowledge I have made it my business to also read numerous religious material such as The Bible (both the old and new testament), The Koran, and numerous other philosophical treatises. I also have an interest in Zen, Buddhism, and Nichiren Buddhism system.

This huge 492 page text (The Lotus Sutra translated by Gene Reeves) is what might be considered the primary book of many Asian philosophical systems such as Zen and the numerous Buddhist sects around the world. This is the reason I decided to read this book. I will admit to not completely understanding everything in this volume, but than I had the same problem plowing through the Bible and the Koran many years ago. Nevertheless, I do have a better understanding of why this book is so important to Buddhists.

Like most religious type texts, the Lotus Sutra has numerous stories and parables as it explains what it means to seek and become like a true Buddha. The book covers the following material: Translator's introduction, which emphasizes that this book is aimed at people interested in Buddhism but are not necessarily Buddhist scholars. The...

United States on Mar 28, 2014

Kalmi: This is my first ever encounter with the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma. I found the translation easy to understand and follow. While I know many of the quintessential Buddhist Sanskrit terms that are usually left untranslated, I appreciate the translator's use of more commonplace English phrases or expressions in their place to make it more approachable for the novice.

As for the Lotus Sutra itself it is a text that every Buddhist and every non-Buddhist who has any interest whatsoever in East Asian religion or culture should read. And this translation is a great place to start.

Canada on Nov 26, 2012

Matt Jenkins: The Lotus Sutra is one of the world's great religious scriptures and most influential texts. It has been a seminal work in the development of Buddhism throughout East Asia, and by extension in the development of Mahayana Buddhism throughout the world. Taking place in a vast and fantastical cosmic setting, the Lotus Sutra places emphasis on skillfully doing whatever is needed to serve and compassionately care for others, on breaking down sharp distinctions between the ideals of the fully enlightened buddha and the bodhisattva who vows to postpone personal salvation until all beings may share it together, and especially on each and every being's innate capacity to become a buddha.
This new translation takes particular care to appeal to readers with little or no familiarity with technical Buddhism vocabulary, and this volume includes the full "threefold" text of this classic [The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings, The Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma and The Sutra of Contemplation of the Dharma Practice of Universal Sage Bodhisattva].

"This translation is immediately the new standard, expressing the Lotus Sutra with accuracy, clarity, and fresh readability. The...

United Kingdom on Sep 01, 2010