The Heart of the Lotus Sutra: Lectures on the "Expedient Means" and "Life Span" Chapters

by Daisaku Ikeda

The Lotus Sutra has been regarded for centuries as one of the most important teachings in Mahayana Buddhism. This book goes beyond theory to show how to bring these teachings into practice in daily life. Containing profound truths for all people from every culture, it reveals the secret for attaining happiness for both oneself and others through the process of self-reformation. Based on the teachings of Nichiren, a 13th-century Buddhist teacher and reformer, the scriptures of the Lotus Sutra show how every person can attain Buddhahood.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Religion

448 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Daisaku Ikeda was a Buddhist philosopher, peacebuilder, educator, author and poet. He was the third president of the Soka Gakkai lay Buddhist organization and the founding president of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), which is today one of the world's largest and most diverse lay Buddhist organizations, promoting a philosophy of character development and social engagement for peace.

Ikeda was the founder of the Soka (value-creation) schools, a nondenominational school system based on an ideal of fostering each student's unique creative potential and cultivating an ethic of peace, social contribution and global consciousness. The school system runs from kindergarten through graduate study and includes a university in Tokyo, Japan, and another in California, U.S.A.

Ikeda was a staunch proponent of dialogue as the foundation of peace. Since the 1970s he has pursued dialogue with a wide range of individuals around the world in political, cultural, educational and academic fields. Over 50 of these have been published in book form, with people such as Mikhail Gorbachev, Elise Boulding, Joseph Rotblat and André Malraux. In furtherance of his vision of fostering dialogue and solidarity for peace, Ikeda has founded a number of independent, nonprofit research institutes that develop cross-cultural, interdisciplinary collaboration on diverse issues: the Boston Research Center for the 21st Century, the Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research and the Institute of Oriental Philosophy. The Min-On Concert Association and the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum promote mutual understanding and friendship between different national cultures through the arts.

Ikeda was a prolific writer who has published more than 100 works, ranging from Buddhist philosophy to biographical essays, poetry, children's stories and photographic collections.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book. I have been practicing Nichiren Buddhism for over a year now and learned an immense amount from this reading. I would recommend this to other Nichiren Buddhism practitioners because the things I learned in this book, are things not known by many. While everyone is different, to me chanting is just part of the picture. I want to truly understand the backbone behind the religion I follow. This book helped me to do that.

[Christie]

This has helped me to understand the Lotus Sutra better, as, Daisaku Ikeda has written about the "Expedient Means" and "Life Span" chapters, translated them and explained what they each mean and how they affect those off us who adhere to the Buddha's last sutra, which was the Lotus Sutra.

[Kylie Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting but it is a very hard book to read and get your head around

[Kakul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book for anyone interested in the ND school of Buddhism.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a great read
I didn’t read last section, as it talks about section of the LS that we don’t use in Gongyo anymore

[Shyra Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

4I absolutely love this lecture on gongyo.

I woul suggest that anyone that wishes to add to their knowledge of Nichiren Buddhism read this volume. Life changing experience!
4 Stars

[Maya Vann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening!

[Les]

I read this to understand what I was chanting, but of course, I walked away with much more than that. Gets repetitive at times, yet only as these chapters within the Lotus Sutra do themselves. Even so, the insight is relentless

[Marco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book! A complete and practical explanation of the 1st and 16th chapters of The Lotus Sutra.