The Lotus Sutra is one of the Buddhist texts which can give a real Idea of the force, originality, influence, and value of the Buddhist Positivene;5s. This essay on Buddhist Positiveness was originally written (in 1994) by Fernando Tola as an answer to the Catholic Pope's criticism of Buddhism, according to which Buddhism is a 'negative' religion; and this essay was presented afterwards, in an abridged version, as a paper, in The International Conference of The International Association of Buddhist Studies held in Lausanne, Switzerland (in 1999). The topics which are dealt with in this book are on the conflict of change in Buddhism; the conflict of change in the Lotus Sutra; apologetics and harmony in the Lotus Sutra and Bhavya; sunyata in the Lotus Sutra; some reflections that the translation of the saddharmapundarikasutra ) from its original text into Spanish) provoked in the authors regarding some linguistic, semantic and communication problems; the meaning of the infinite numbers in the Lotus Sutra; beginninglessness of the Veda and the Dharma, names of the Bhiksus and Bodhisattvas in the Lotus Sutra; Buddhist spirituality: positiveness in the Lotus Sutra; Buddhism and family; attitudes in regard to food in Ancient India, and some important reviews concerning the Lotus Sutra.

A compact summary like Probing the Sutras has been sorely needed for some time, as more and more Westerners have dipped into meditation without any understanding of its predominantly Buddhist scriptural underpinning. This concise, well-informed introduction to the history and contents of eleven seminal Buddhist sutras also provides suggestions for reflection, meditation, and practical applications related to the key teachings of each scripture. Readers of Probing the Sutras will be able to develop a framework for understanding Buddhist doctrines--and see the unique pearls of wisdom contained within each sutra.

Stories are ancient and wondrous tools with the mysterious power to transform lives. And the stories and parables of the Lotus Sutra-one of the world's great religious scriptures and most influential texts-are among the most fascinating and dramatic. In this fun, engaging, and plain-English book, Gene Reeves-the translator of Wisdom's critically acclaimed and bestselling edition of the Lotus Sutra-presents the most memorable and remarkable of the Lotus Sutra's many stories and parables, along with a distillation of his decades of reflection on them in an accessible, inspiring, and naturally illuminating way. The Stories of the Lotus Sutra is the perfect companion to Reeve's breathtaking translation of this scriptural masterpiece as well as a thoroughly enjoyable stand-alone volume for those who want to bring the inspiring teachings of the bodhisattva path into their daily lives.

How much meditation is good for you? Why visualize an Enlightened being? Are there places that meditation doesn't reach? All of these questions and very many more are tackled in this substantial compilation of Sangharakshita's teachings on meditation, drawn from previously published works and from the unpublished transcripts of seminars. Discussions reveal how Sangharakshita learned the practices on which his system of meditation - 'an organic, living system' - is based, and how that system has evolved over the years.

Originally published: Carlsbad, Calif.: Hay House, 2012.

This study establishes a comprehensive transcultural dialogue between Whitehead's process metaphysics and East Asian Hua-yen Buddhism, including both the profound parallels and the doctrinal debates that arise between these two traditions. To advance this dialogue, Dr. Odin has called upon several other Western hermeneutical systems in order to radically reinterpret Hua-yen modes of thought: phenomenology, depth psychology, linguistic analysis, and dialectical discourse. Of special interest is Dr. Odin's exposition of Korean Hua-yen (or Hwaom) Buddhism, including a full translation of the famous Ocean Seal (with Autocommentary) composed by Uisang (625-702), the first patriarch of Korean Hua-yen Buddhism. This is the first published translation of a major Korean Buddhist's treatise into English.

"This landmark collection is the definitive introduction to the Buddha's teachings in his own words. The American scholar monk Bhikkhu Bodhi, whose voluminous translations have won widespread acclaim, here presents selected discourses of the Buddha from the Pali Canon, the earliest record of what the Buddha taught. Divided into ten thematic chapters, In the Buddha's Words reveals the full scope of the Buddha's discourses, from family life and marriage to renunciation and the path of insight. A concise informative introduction precedes each chapter, guiding the reader toward a deeper understanding of the texts that follow." "In the Buddha's Words allows even readers unacquainted with Buddhism to grasp the significance of the Buddha's contributions to our world heritage. Taken as a whole, these texts bear eloquent testimony to the breadth and intelligence of the Buddha's teachings, and point the way to an ancient yet ever vital path. Students and seekers alike will find this systematic presentation indispensable."--BOOK JACKET.