Lotus Sutra App / Book

[Seishin]

I've just downloaded this Lotus Sutra app as I've become interested in deepening (more like acquiring) my knowledge of Mahayana Buddhist "scriptures". Seemed like a good place to start.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.threedos.lotussutrafree&hl=en

At first glance it seems to meets what I was looking for but wondered if anyone else had encountered this app book and had any views or comments.

[Jishin]

Haven't tried it. Regarding Sutras, I have just stuck to the heart Sutra as my time is limited and it seems to cover all the bases.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Jundo]

Hi Toby,

I do not know this app, but let me comment on the Lotus Sutra and some translations.

The Lotus Sutra is filled with wild stories, parables, images and special effects to make George Lucas seem dull.

It was very important to Dogen, who wilded up (with his own wild language) the already wild stories of the Lotus.

For Lotus Sutra translations, the Burton Watson version and the newer Gene Reeves version are said to be the most readable in style.

http://www.amazon.com/Lotus-Sutra-Co...us+gene+reeves

http://www.english.fgs2.ca/sites/default/files/pdf/The%20Lotus%20Sutra.pdf

with translator's introduction etc. here

http://www.nichirenlibrary.org/en/ls...Introduction/3

Here is an excellent book by Taigen Dan Leighton. relating how Dogen danced with the Lotus Sutra stories in Shobogenzo:

Visions of Awakening Space and Time: Dogen and the Lotus Sutra

https://www.amazon.com/Visions-Awakening-Space-Time-Lotus/dp/019532093X

and two online essays that cover some of the same material ...

http://www.ancientdragon.org/dharma/articles/dogens_appropriation_of_lotus_stura_ground_and_space

http://www.thezensite.com/ZenEssays/DogenStudies/The_Lotus_Sutra_as_a_Source.html

Now, is it necessary or recommended for a Zen Practitioner, especially a newer Practitioner, to read all the Lotus Sutra? Not at all. You can, and it can be very beautiful and amazing (and perplexing), like our version of the Old Testament (also an old colorful book filled with wild stories, parables, images and special effects.) It is fine if you have a taste for and enjoy such literature, but it is not at the top of the list of things to study I think.

Was the Lotus Sutra actually spoken by the Buddha? No, it was written centuries after his lifetime by religiously inspired human authors, unknown. The story is quite fantastic. However, if the message is good, well, one might say it is thus the "word of the Buddha."

Here is a small sample of the story telling style, which I took pretty much at random. It will give you a feeling (For reference, a "Kalpa" is a very very long Era of time]:

At that time the Buddha said to Shariputra, "Now, in the midst of this great assembly of heavenly and
human beings, shramanas, Brahmans and so forth, I say this. In the past, under twenty thousand million
Buddhas, for the sake of the unsurpassed way I have constantly taught and converted you. And you
throughout the long night followed me and accepted my instruction.. Now , because I want to make you
recall to mind the way that you originally vowed to follow, for the sake of the voice-hearers I am
preaching this great Vehicle sutra called the Lotus of the Wonderful Law, a Law to instruct the
bodhisattvas, one that is guarded and kept in mind by the Buddhas.

"Shariputra, in ages to come, after a countless, boundless inconceivable number of kalpas have passed,
you will make offerings to some thousands, ten thousands millions of Buddhas, and will honor and
uphold the correct Law. You will fulfill every aspect of the way of the bodhisattva and will be able to
become a Buddha with the name Flower Glow Thus Come One, worthy of offerings, of right and
universal knowledge, perfect clarity and conduct, well gone, understanding the world, unexcelled worthy,
trainer of people, teacher of heavenly and human beings, Buddha, World-Honored One.

"Your realm will be called Free from Stain, the land will be level and smooth, pure and beautifully
adorned, peaceful, bountiful and happy. Heavenly and human beings will flourish there. The ground will
be of lapis lazuli, roads will crisscross it in eight directions, and ropes of gold will mark their boundaries.
Beside each road will grow rows of seven-jeweled trees which will constantly flower and bear fruit. And
this Flower Flow Thus Come One will employ the three vehicles to teach and convert living beings.

"Shariputra, when this Buddha appears, although it will not be an evil age, because of his original vow he
ill preach the Law through the three vehicles. His kalpa will be called Great Treasure Adornment. Why
will it be called Great Treasure Adornment? Because in that land bodhisattvas will be looked on as a great
treasure. Those bodhisattvas will be countless, boundless, inconceivable in number, beyond the reach of
reckoning or of simile and parable. Without the power of Buddha wisdom, one cannot understand how
many. Whenever these bodhisattvas wish to walk anywhere, jeweled flowers will uphold their feet.

‘These bodhisattvas will not have just conceived the desire for enlightenment, but all will have spent a
long time planting the roots of virtue. Under countless hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, millions of
Buddhas they will have carried out Brahma practices in a flawless manner, and will have been perpetually
praised by the Buddhas. Constantly they will have cultivated Buddha wisdom, acquiring great
transcendental powers and thoroughly understanding the gateways to all the doctrines. They will be
upright in character, without duplicity, firm in intent and thought. Bodhisattvas such as this will abound in
that land.

"Shariputra, the life span of the Buddha Flower Glow will be twelve small kalpas, not counting the times
when he is still a prince and before he becomes a Buddha. The people of his land will have a life span of
eight small kalpas. When Flower Flow Thus Come One has lived for twelve small kalpas, he will
prophesy that the bodhisattva Firm Full will attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi [Supreme Complete Enlightenment]. He will announce to the
monks, ‘This bodhisattva Firm Full will be the next to become a Buddha. He will be named Flower feet
Safely Walking, tathagata, arhat, samyak-sambuddha. His Buddha land will be like mine.’

"Shariputra, after the Buddha Flower Glow has passed into extinction, the era of the Correct Law will last
for thirty-two small kalpas, and the era of the Counterfeit Law will last for another thirty-two small
kalpas."

Gassho, J

SatToday

[Seishin]

Jundo

Many thanks for the advice and guidance. Having read what you have said and also delving a little further into this particular version, I'll reckon I'll stay with the recommended reads for now and maybe leave this for the future. Boy they had some good story tellers back in the day. Grateful for the additional suggestions.

[Byrne]

The Lotus Sutra is dope. It is a unique and powerful book. It's one of those that you really need to experience for yourself if you want to understand. And if it's not the sort of thing that strikes you're fancy, no big deal.

Gassho

Sat Today

[Meian]

I have a habit of trying lots of apps, and quickly eliminating all but a select few that work easily for me. This app sounds interesting, will give it a try. Thanks for mentioning.

Gassho,
Kim
s/t

[Meian]

I have a Samsung 5, so on Google Play I found "The Lotus Sutra" (Jing Si) and "The Lotus Sutra FREE" (Spirit Apps) - the one is listed in this thread, I don't think the other is (unless I missed it). Only one asked for permissions. Not sure which one is being referenced, so I downloaded both. Curious to learn others' thoughts as/if they try them as well.

Gassho
Kim
s/t

[MyoHo]

images.png

Sat today


MyoHo

[Kyonin]

Hi all,

First, thank you ro the link to the app. It's nice to have a nice little ebook of this.

In my limited experience with the Lotus Sutra, I agree that it can be a wonderful experience, but sometimes I am left wondering about the meaning. Have we lost a lot in the sands of time and translations.

At any rate I think it's good to have it and read it from time to time.

Gassho,

Kyonin
#SatToday

[Seishin]

I have a Samsung 5, so on Google Play I found "The Lotus Sutra" (Jing Si) and "The Lotus Sutra FREE" (Spirit Apps) - the one is listed in this thread, I don't think the other is (unless I missed it). Only one asked for permissions. Not sure which one is being referenced, so I downloaded both. Curious to learn others' thoughts as/if they try them as well.

Gassho
Kim
s/t

Kim

Its the Spirit Apps versions, although there does seem to be quite a few others. Haven't had time to play around with the app itself and the text is very small on my cheap tablet but I will certainly keep it for future reference. Glad folk have found the link useful.

[Meian]

Thank you, Seishin-Do. The Spirit Apps version crashes immediately on my phone, unfortunately. I uninstalled it. I did just update my phone, not sure if the update is the problem. I may look for the ebook at some point, but I am also very slowly reading through the precepts book (Mind of Clover), so this may be a way of telling me "one thing at a time" ...... or not.

Gassho
Kim
S/t

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