Dharma Discourse: The Lotus Sutra
Expedient Means
The following excerpt from the Lotus Sutra is the record of a discourse given by Shakyamuni Buddha in Rajagriha, India. The Buddha addressed a multitude of monks, nuns, and laypeople on the subject of emancipating living beings. He elaborated on this subject at the request of all present, who, led by Maitreya, the Bodhisattva of the future, asked the Buddha three times to share with them this discourse.
This passage, translated by Burton Watson, is reprinted from The Lotus Sutra with permission from Columbia University Press.

Share with a Friend
Member Supported Content
Please login or join to continue.
Become a Supporting Member
*With Autorenew
- You Get
- Tricycle | The Magazine - a one-year subscription to premier Buddhist quarterly
- Tricycle Retreats - a new online video teaching every every week by a contemporary Buddhist teacher
- Tricycle | The Digital Edition - web based edition of the magazine
- The Wisdom Collection - nearly two decades of teachings by the world's most compelling teachers, from the pages of Tricycle
- Tricycle Gallery - the best in Buddhist art to download and share with friends
- Tricycle Book Club - online discussions with leading Buddhist authors
- Tricycle Discussions - teacher-led explorations of dharma in daily life
- The Tricycle Blog - our diary of the global Buddhist movement
- Daily Dharma - heart advice delivered direct to your inbox
- The Tricycle Newsletter - the latest news, teachings, events, and more, every Monday
Become a Supporting Member
Become a Sustaining Member
*With Autorenew
- You Get
- Tricycle | The Magazine - a one-year subscription to premier Buddhist quarterly
- Tricycle Retreats - a new online video teaching every every week by a contemporary Buddhist teacher
- Tricycle | The Digital Edition - web based edition of the magazine
- The Wisdom Collection - nearly two decades of teachings by the world's most compelling teachers, from the pages of Tricycle
- Tricycle Gallery - the best in Buddhist art to download and share with friends
- Tricycle Book Club - online discussions with leading Buddhist authors
- Tricycle Discussions - teacher-led explorations of dharma in daily life
- The Tricycle Blog - our diary of the global Buddhist movement
- Daily Dharma - heart advice delivered direct to your inbox
- The Tricycle Newsletter - the latest news, teachings, events, and more, every Monday








Latest Magazine Comments
Many thanks for this Clark. It brings many threads together for me, and of the various spiritual 'takes' on the...
What of the human mind isn't?
??
I think that's called a preconception
Sometimes leaning into the wind can look like getting yourself wrapped around a flagpole.