RELIGST 1J03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Lotus Sutra, Mahayana Sutras, Zhiyi
6 Apr 2016
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500 b. c. - a. d. 600s. Taintai buddhism in china; zhiyi, 538 - 597 ce. Zhiyi and other interpreters did not understand the history of the texts because of the various diferent truths being told from diferent countries. He put them together into one idea in a 45 year teaching career. The ive periods of the buddha"s teaching, according to zhiyi: avatamasaka sutra, hinayana sutra, early mahayana sutras, perfecion of wisdom sutras, lotus sutra. The lotus sutra: chapter 3: parable and simile. An explanaion of why the buddha teaches and uses expedient means. A father represented as the buddha and his children, being the people in the world, are trapped in a burning house and are too pre occupied by their material objects in the house. The house represents samsara and the father is trying to get them out and promise they something beter that all three of them will get out on three carts.
