The Lotus Sutra is regarded as one of the world's great religious scriptures and most influential texts. It's 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 distinctions between the fully enlightened buddha and the bodhisattva who vows to postpone salvation until all beings may share it, and especially on each and every being's innate capacity to become a buddha.

This illustrated edition features more than 110 full-page and two-page illustrations by a world-renowned and award-winning artist, and brings the fantastical and image-filled world of the Lotus Sutra vividly to life. Demi's illustrations are both classical and contemporary in feel, perfectly complementing Reeves's masterful and modern translation.
Illustrated Lotus Sutra, Gene Reeves, Demi (Illustrator), Wisdom Publications, Hardcover, 544 pp, $107.00

Gene Reeves has been studying, teaching, and writing in Japan for twenty--five years, primarily on Buddhism and interfaith relations. Now an international advisor at Rissho Kosei--kai, he is also professor emeritus at Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago and a founder of the International Buddhist Congregation in Tokyo, where he serves as special minister. As a Buddhist teacher, he travels frequently to China, Singapore, Taiwan, America, and Europe to give talks at universities and churches, mainly on the Lotus Sutra. He is the translator of The Lotus Sutra: A Contemporary Translation of a Buddhist Classic, editor of A Buddhist Kaleidoscope: Essays on the Lotus Sutra, and author of Stories of the Lotus Sutra.

In addition to his work coordinating an annual international seminar on the Lotus Sutra, Reeves has been long active in interfaith conversations and organizations; he was chair of the planning committee for the 1987 Congress of the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) at Stanford University; he was one of the founders of the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions; and he was a long--term member of the Board of the Society for Buddhist Christian Studies and an international advisor to the Niwano Peace Foundation. In Japan he has been an advisor to the Japan Liaison Committee of the IARF and a participant in the Religious Summit at Mt. Hiei and in various activities of the World Conference of Religions for Peace. He has participated in both the World Buddhist Forum in China and in the International Lay Buddhist Forum in Korea and Spain. He is retired from both the University of Tsukuba in Japan and from Renmin University of China.

Demi was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts into a family of renowned artists, with painting in her blood. She studied at The Instituto Allende in Guanajuato, Mexico; with Sister Corita at Immaculate Heart College in Hollywood, California; at the M.S. University in Baroda, India, while on a Fulbright scholarship; and at the China Institute for Arts in New York City.

Demi is the award-winning author and illustrator of over 300 bestselling children's books, including picture-book biographies of spiritual leaders such as Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, The Dalai Lama, Lao Tzu, Confucius, Su Tung Po: Chinese Genius, Gandhi, Jesus, Saint Francis, Mother Teresa, Saint Bernadette, Hildegarde of Bingen, Muhammad, Shiva, Guru Nanak, & Hiawatha.

Her titles have sold over two million copies. Numerous folktales such as The Empty Pot and Liang and The Magic Paintbrush transmit the wonder and magic of China.

Her work has received many awards and accolades, among them the Christopher Award, which recognizes individuals whose work makes a positive difference in the world, and The Middle East Book Award. Her titles have also been designated American Library Association Notable Children's Books, New York Times Best Illustrated Books, Notable Books for a Global Society, and American Bookseller Pick of the List Books.

Preface	vii
Translator's Introduction	1
The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings	19
1: Virtuous Conduct	21
2: Dharma Preaching	33
3: Ten Blessings	41
The Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma	51
1: Introduction	53
2: Skillful Means	75
3: A Parable	111
4: Faith and Understanding	153
5: The Parable of the Plants	171
6: Assurance of Becoming a Buddha	183
7: The Parable of the Fantastic Castle-City	195
8: Assurance for the Five Hundred Disciples	225
9: Assurance for Arhats, Trained and in Training	239
10: Teachers of the Dharma	247
11: The Sight of the Treasure Stupa	261
12: Devadatta	273
13: Encouragement to Uphold the Sutra	283
14: Safe and Easy Practices	289
15: Springing Up from the Earth	307
16: The Lifetime of the Tathagata	321
17: The Variety of Blessings	331
18: Blessings of Responding with Joy	345
19: The Blessings of the Dharma Teacher	355
20: Never Disrespectful Bodhisattva	377
21: Divine Powers of the Tathagata	385
22: Entrustment	391
23: Previous Lives of Medicine King Bodhisattva	395
24: Wonderful Voice Bodhisattva	403
25: The Universal Gateway of the Bodhisattva Regarder of the Cries of the World	409
26: Incantations	423
27: The Previous Life of King Wonderfully Adorned	431
28: Encouragement of Universal Sage Bodhisattva	441
The Sutra of Contemplation of the Dharma Practice of Universal Sage Bodhisattva	451
Notes	479
Glossaries
-- Glossary of Proper Names	485
-- Glossary of Terms	501
Bibliography	515
Index	517
About the Translator	527
About the Illustrator	529