Maxwell Institute Podcast The life of the Lotus Sutra, with Donald S. Lopez, Jr. [MIPodcast #60]
Feb 28, 2017
Donald S. Lopez, Jr., a distinguished professor of Buddhist and Tibetan studies and author, discusses the long journey and contested history of the Lotus Sutra. He traces its movement across Asia, its claim that anyone can become a Buddha, rhetorical strategies for legitimacy, its impact in China and Japan, and its varied political uses. Short, lively, and full of historical turns.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Unexpected First Encounter With The Lotus Sutra
- Donald Lopez recounts his first encounter with a Buddhist teacher in 1972: a plain-dressed American chanting the Lotus Sutra and a student who found an ounce of hash while chanting.
- The story illustrates how Western counterculture drew people to Buddhism through unexpected, personal encounters rather than stereotypical images.
Why The Lotus Sutra Stands Out In Buddhist Literature
- Lopez chose the Lotus Sutra for its narrative richness and debates about authenticity, unlike shorter or more arcane sutras.
- He notes Buddhism has no single signature text, so a few sutras (Heart, Diamond, Lotus) gained Western recognition unevenly.
The Title Frames Authenticity Claims
- 'Sutra' signals a text attributed to the Buddha and 'Saddharma Pundarika' means the Discourse on the White Lotus of the True Doctrine.
- 'True Dharma' in the title asserts the Lotus's claim to be the authentic teaching over competing traditions.
When the Lotus Sutra arrived in Boston in 1844 the few people who could read it were intrigued by its parables that reminded them of the Bible. For these westerners, the Lotus was like a gateway into a mysterious and profound culture from across the world. But it took a long time to get there, from India to China, Japan, and beyond, and the most exciting history occurred before it ever reached Europe.
The Lotus is a book that explains how you can be a Buddha, too. But its explanation challenged earlier Buddhist texts and led to disagreements that have lasted for centuries.
Donald S. Lopez, Jr. joins us to talk about his new book, 
Donald S. Lopez, Jr. is the Arthur E. Link Distinguished University Professor of Buddhist and Tibetan Studies at the University of Michigan. His many books include The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, and a biography of The Tibetan Book of the Dead. His latest book is