Studies in the Lankavatara Sutra

by D.T. Suzuki

The title Lankavatara might mean entering Lanka (Perhaps referring to the temporary Mahayana period of Ceylon), suggesting that the doctrine of this scripture are possibly consistent with earlier Buddhism preserved in the Pali language. Suzuki has greatly helped the reader of the basic scripture by discussing the main ideas. He tells how to study this scripture, compares it with the popular Zen Buddhism discusses such typical and important doctrines as Mind-only the Triple body of the Buddha and many minor topics. Suzuki is both an exacting scholar and an understanding exponent of these difficult concepts. He adds a Sanskrit-Chinese-English Glossary, and also an Index. This work is essential for grasping the main ideas of the scripture.

Genres: Buddhism, Philosophy, Zen, Religion

463 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1968

About the author

Daisetsu Teitaro Suzuki (鈴木 大拙 貞太郎 Suzuki Daisetsu Teitarō; rendered "Daisetz" after 1893) was Professor of Buddhist philosophies at Ōtani University. As a translator and writer on Buddhism and Eastern philosophy, he greatly helped to popularize Japanese Zen in the West.

Reviews

[Duarte Grilo · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suzuki's study is both a helpful aid to understanding the fairly obscure Lankavatara Sutra and a serious work of philosophy on its own. The Introduction addresses the importance of the Lankavata to Mahayana Buddhism, and Zen in particular, and then goes into the transmission and translations of the text. It includes a short side-by-side English translation of the Sung, Wei, T'ang, and Sanskrit versions of the text for comparison purposes, followed by a translation of the introductory chapter of the Lanka. The heart of the book is in the second part, "The Lankavatara Sutra and the Teaching of Zen Buddhism." It was principally due to Bodhidharma, who brought Zen to China from India, that the Lanka came to prominence there, and it is therefore of great interest to Suzuki. It is not a passage by passage "explanation" of the text (like Garfield's commentary on Nagarjuna, for example) but it does discuss and interpret most of the major points in the sutra. Other points that are treated apart from Zen (but that are quite important in the Yogacara school) are covered in the last section, "Some of the Important Theories Expounded in the Lankavatara."

Suzuki is faithful to the spirit of the text in his interpretation, but he does cast his own shadow at times. A benevolent shadow, but one that is worth questioning at times. I think it's probably best to struggle through the Lankavatara first before consulting the "Studies," but it is a fantastic companion and an eminently respectable guide.

[Jughead · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very contemplative look at the Lankavatara Sutra that has become indispensable. After reading Red Pine's new translation of the Lankavatara Sutra I found this book hugely helpful in understanding much of what this sutra is about, particularly in relation to Chan Buddhism. A must read.