Teiser, Stephen F., and Jacqueline Ilyse Stone. Readings of the Lotus Sutra. New York: Columbia University Press, 2009. Print.
To begin this assignment I searched the Skillman Library catalogue specifically for “Lotus Sutra” since I am interested in how this sacred Buddhist scripture allowed for not only monks or bodhisattvas to attain enlightenment, but also how the Buddha, through the texts, encouraged the laity to journey through the cycle of samsara and hopefully reach nirvana. I was particularly drawn to the second return of my search since it contained edited selections (versions) from the Lotus Sutra from not only India, but also regions in East Asia such as China and Japan. When I looked through the stacks for the book, the front cover captivated me since it incorporated the lotus flower, which symbolizes various Buddhist ideals such as purity, good fortune, and the different stages of enlightenment. Similarly, within the center of the lotus, there was also a depiction of the Buddha with perhaps, his disciples.
As I flipped through thebook, Chapters Three and Six stood out to me the most. Chapter Three titled, “Gender and Hierarchy in the Lotus Sutra,” by Jan Nattier,seemed to correspond to our discussion of gendered religion we have had in the past classes. Throughout the various Buddhist sect versions of the Lotus Sutra, a common theme of classifying monks over nuns (ie. men over women) was evident despite their class status. Likewise male characters were portrayed predominantly compared to female characters in the myths. The idea that men were considered more pure, and therefore more capable of attaining enlightenment is an interesting concept that is rather intriguing to me. Later on Chapter Six, which focused on the “Art of the Lotus Sutra,” by Willa Jane Tanabe, allowed me to see the progression of Buddhism text as it passed through various countries, as well as the paintings and drawings of Buddhist myth scenes and the Buddha himself. Each country, and illustrator, had its (or his) own style of depicting the stories, the guide to living a pure life, and the Buddha. As a visual learner, I enjoyed comparing these symbolic representations.
The books around the Readings of the Lotus Sutra concentrated on Buddhism in East Asia and the many different practices that are found in the region. There were books that further analyzed Zen (Chan) Buddhism in China, those that focused on the origins of Buddhism in India, and the tranlations to other countries. Overall, texts such as The fundamental wisdom of the middle way: Nāgārjuna’s Mūlamadhyamakakārikā, Buddhist fundamentalism and minority identities in Sri Lanka, and A few good men: the Bodhisattva path according to the Inquiry of Ugra would be useful if I were to continue my understanding of gendered roles in Buddhism as well as the differences and similarities between Buddhist sect practices.