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Origins

Lotus Sutra

Facsimile edition of the Cambridge University Library Lotus Sutra manuscripts

The Lotus Sutra is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential sutras, or sacred scriptures, of Buddhism.

Its key message is that Buddhahood--a condition of absolute happiness, freedom from fear and from all illusions--is inherent in all life. The development of this inner life state enables all people to overcome their problems and live a fulfilled and active life, fully engaged with others and with society.

Almost two thousand years after Shakyamuni's death, Nichiren, a thirteenth-century Japanese monk, distilled the profound theory of the Lotus Sutra into a practice to enable anybody to reveal their Buddhahood, or highest state of life, in the midst of day-to-day reality.

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