Two Buddhas Seated Side by Side

July 29, 2019
Scholars Lopez Jr. and Stone offer an in-depth introduction to the Lotus Sutra—one of the most influential texts of East Asian Mahayana Buddhism—in this comprehensive, highly technical work. Their opening exploration of the Lotus Sutra focuses on the work as a text of timeless revelation (which captures the Buddha’s words and actions) against a backdrop of backlash from mainstream Buddhism. Although originally composed in India during the first century BCE, over centuries the text rose in stature and influence over Mahayana Buddhism. Nichiren, the 13th-century Japanese founder of the Nichiren Buddhist tradition, reinterpreted the Lotus Sutra for what he saw as an age of decline, emphasizing the salvation of even the most deluded as long as they accepted and embraced the sutra. By unpacking the Lotus Sutra chapter by chapter and explaining both the lesson presented by the Buddha and the influence on subsequent Buddhist lineages, Lopez Jr. and Stone’s detailed analysis makes for a welcome, admirable addition to the large repertoire of more general Lotus Sutra studies. Their incorporation of Nichiren showcases the sutra as not merely a religious document, but a text of living faith concerned with the salvation of everyday people. Though readers with even a passing interest in the topic will find this hard-going, this intricate text will be welcomed by dedicated Buddhist readers interested in the history of the Lotus Sutra.

August 9, 2019

Lopez (Buddhist & Tibetan studies, Univ. of Michigan; Seeing the Sacred in Samsara) and Stone (religion, Princeton Univ.) present an in-depth exploration of the Lotus Sutra, an influential text in Mahayana Buddhist traditions. The aim is to create a "chapter-by-chapter roadmap" of the sutra in order to make it more accessible to modern audiences. The authors propose readers look at the work from two approaches: by understanding its historical context and studying the analyses that aided in the dissemination of Mahayana Buddhism across Asia. The commentary of 13th-century Buddhist monk Nichiren is used to exemplify the sutra's influence in East Asian Buddhist traditions and notes his significant role in the development of Buddhism in Japan. Throughout, each chapter of the sutra is clearly explained, historical references are provided for parables and allusions, and the authors expand on the meaning and significance of Nichiren's interpretations. VERDICT While scholarly in nature, this work's engaging, thoughtful manner serves its subject well. Essential for readers with academic-level interest in Buddhist studies.--Anitra Gates, Erie Cty. P.L., PA

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