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.

Gene Reeves's new translation appeals to readers with little or no familiarity with technical Buddhist vocabulary, as well as long-time practitioners and students. In addition, this remarkable volume includes the full "threefold" text of this classic.

Lotus Sutra: A Contemporary Translation of a Buddhist Classic, Gene Reeves (translator), Wisdom Publications, Paperback, 504 Pages, $24.95

Gene Reeves is recently retired from teaching at the University of Tsukuba, where he taught Buddhism and American Studies. He is currently doing research, teaching, and writing about the Lotus Sutra at Rissho-Kosei-kai in Tokyo. The late Nikkyo Niwano (1906-99) was the founder and for many years president of Rissho Kosei-kai. The recipient in 1979 of the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion, he was dedicated to interreligious cooperation in the quest for peace and played a leading role in the establishment of the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP). Many of his books on Buddhism have been translated into English.

	Contents: The LOTUS SUTRA
	Preface	vii
	Translator's Introduction	1
	THE SUTRA OF INNUMERABLE MEANINGS	21
1.	Virtuous Conduct	23
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	103
4.	Faith and Understanding	141
5.	The Parable of the Plants	159
6.	Assurance of Becoming a Buddha	169
7.	The Parable of the Fantastic Castle-City	179
8.	Assurance for the Five Hundred Disciples	207
9.	Assurance for Arhats, Trained and in Training	219
10.	Teachers of the Dharma	225
11.	The Sight of the Treasure Stupa	235
12.	Devadatta	247
13.	Encouragement to Uphold the Sutra	255
14.	Safe and Easy Practices	261
15.	Springing Up from the Earth	279
16.	The Lifetime of the Tathagata	291
17.	The Variety of Blessings	301
18.	Blessings of the Dharma Teacher	321
20.	Never Disrespectful Bodhisattva	337
21.	Divine Powers of the Tathagata	345
22.	Entrustment	351
23.	Previous Lives of Medicine King Bodhisattva	353
24.	Wonderful Voice Bodhisattva	363
25.	The Universal Gateway of the Bodhisattva Regarder of the Cries of the World	371
26.	Incantations	381
27.	The Previous LIfe of King Wonderfully Adorned	387
28.	Encouragement of Universal Sage Bodhisattva	393
	THE SUTRA OF CONTEMPLATION OF THE DHARMA PRACTICE OF UNIVERSAL SAGE BODHISATTVA	399
	Notes	425
	Glossaries	429
	Glossary of Proper Names	431
	Glossary of Terms	455
	Bibliography	475
	Index	479