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THE SUTRA OF THE LOTUS FLOWER

OF THE WONDERFUL LAW

Translated by SENCHU MURANO

NICHIREN SHU HEADQUARTERS

1-3-15 IKEGAMI, OTA-KU, TOKYO

The Lotus Sutra, in Sanskrit Saddharmapundarika­ sutra, is one of the most important sutras in Mahayana Buddhism.Its importance was already stressed by the famous Indian scholar Vasubandhu (320-400) who wrote an excellent commentary on it in the fifth century.  The Sutra became still more famous and influential when it was translated into Chinese by Kumarajiva (34+-4'1j) in the year 406. After T'ien T'ai Chih-I (538-597)  founded  the T''ien School  in China,  based  on  the  teaching expounded  by this Sutra in the sixth century,  it was considered  one of the  canonical  Sutra of Chinese Buddhism,  and few leaders of the schools founded in later times expressed their own philosophies without referring to it. Prince Shoroku of Japan (574-6:21) wrote a commentary on this Sutra the beginning of the sixth century. After T'ien-T'ai   School of Gina   was introduced  to Japan  by Saicho (767-822) and  became the Tendai  Sect of Japanese  Buddhism; the Lotus Sutra became  loved  as literature among the  people.

The   Chinese title of the Lotus Sutra given by Kumirajiva was Miao-Fa-Lien-Hua-Ching, or  Myohorengekyo   in the  Japanese pronunciation.This  name  was given  the highest honour by Nichiren    Shonin (1222-1282), who  regarded  this tide as a synonym of the Truth  as well as the Eternal   Buddha  Himself   The   reciting of the Lotus Sutra has since then been-monopolized  by the followers of Nichiren.

Japanese   Buddhism of today is blamed for its disintegration. It is split into many sects and subsect. In addition many "new religions" have recently been created on the soil of the older Buddhist sects. But when we cross-examine the general aspect of the latter various denominations we find that they can be classified in not so many headings: Tendai, Shingon, Zen, Jodo and Nichiren.  Tendai and Shingon practise esoteric rites.  Zen practises zazen, or sitting in meditation. Judo followers devote themselves to Armitabha Buddha.  The followers of Nichiren chant the Sacred Title. The reality is that some of the temples of one or other of these five sects possess elements under other headings.  Some Tendai and Shingon temples recite the Lotus Sutra, and admit practice of the Nembutsu. Some Zen temples recite sutras including the  Lotus  Siara,  practise esoteric rites and do not refuse even chanting of the Nembutsu, Some Jodo and  Nichiren  temples have esoteric elements.  Only the Jodo sects do not recite the Lotus Sutra, but it is interesting to note that many Buddhist scholars specializing in the study of the Lotus Surra are jodo priests.

Senchu Murano, the translator of the Lotus Sutra, who has spent .more than twenty years on this most commendable work, is an old friend of mine.  Born in 1908, he is one of the few Japanese Buddhist priests who write in English.  He is a graduate of Rissho University, established by the Nichiren Sect, and of the University of Washington in the U.S.A. He was the editor of Young East, a Buddhist publication in English which appeared regularly in Tokyo from 1952 to 1966. He  was  the  most  appropriate man and  one of the  only Japanese scholars  able to translate   into  English the  very  difficult Chinese version of the Lotus Sufra, because he is a professor of Buddhism  at Rissho University  and concurrently the chief priest  of a Nichiren  temple  in Kamakura, whose daily duty  is to recite  the Chinese  version of the Lotus Sutra.

Rene de Berval

CONTENTS

Preface

Introduction

Translator `s note

Introduction

CHAPTER:

1. Expedients
2. A Parable
3. Understanding by faith
4. The Simile of Herbs
5. Assurance of Future Buddha hood
6. The Parable of a Magic City
7. The assurance of Future Buddha hood of the Five hundred Disciples
8. The assurance of Future Buddha hood of the Sravakas  Who have something more to learn and of the Sravakas Who have nothing more to learn
9. The teacher of the law
10. The appearance of a Stupa of Treasures
11. Devadatta
12. The encouragement of Keeping this Sutra
13. Peaceful Practices
14. The Appearance of Bodhisattvas from Underground
15. The Duration of the Life of the Tathagata
16. The Variety of Merits
17. The Merits of a person who Rejoices at Heating This Sutra
18. The merits of the teacher of the law
19. The never-despising Bodhisattva
20. The Supernatural power of the Tathagatas
21. Transmission
22. The Previous life of the medicine-King Bodhisattva
23. The wonderful-voice Bodhisattva
24. The Universal Gate of the Seeing-World-voice Bodhisattva
25. The Dharanis
26. King wonderful-Adornment as the previous life of a Bodhisattva
27. The Encouragement of the Universal-sage Bodhisattva

Glossary I .  Sanskrit words, English Buddhist terms and Translated proper name given in this translation

Glossary  II. Important Chinese Buddhist Terms given in the Myohorengekyo

Index

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