ASIAN 230 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Lotus Sutra, Bodhisattva, Manjushri
Document Summary
Om a hun = combination of all sutras. Om a ra ba dza na dhi = boddhisattva of wisdom. Names and art/depictions are different in different regions = didn"t understand that all people are worshipping same figure. European description of buddha in 17th century = man or demon that spread idolatry across asia. Primary opponent of christianity in asia because taught idol worship. Jesuits went to se asia and saw buddha as person they must refrute. Greatest scholars were coming up with conclusions that are completely wrong. Buddha born in egypt and sailed to india. British east india co. = reason learned sanskrit. Now seen as place to bring about second renaissance. See greatest of indian culture and bring about change in europe. French man that translated lotus sutra wrote book on buddha. Buddha was just a human born in india who fought against brahman priests and caste system.