While reading Master Hsuan Hua’s 15-volume commentary on the Lotus Sutra, I have been periodically corresponding with the publisher, the Buddhist Text Translation Society, to clarify whether what I perceive are errors are in fact errors or simply different interpretations of Buddhism. Having mostly read texts based on Japanese perspective, I’ve found Hsuan Hua’s Chinese focus noticeable different at times. During one of these email exchanges, I was alerted to the fact that the Dharma Realm Buddhist University’s YouTube channel includes an audiobook of the 28 chapters of the Lotus Sutra. With the exception of chapters 8, 9 and 13, each chapter is introduced with a synopsis. This synopsis is combined for chapters 15 and 16 and chapters 17 to 19. The text is based on the Buddhist Text Translation Society’s translation of Kumarajiva’s Chinese version of the Lotus Sutra.
Chapter 4, Faith and Understanding
Chapter 6, Conferring Predictions
Chapter 7, The Parable of the Conjured City
Chapter 8, Five Hundred Disciples Receive Predictions
Chapter 9, Predictions for Those in Need of Study and Those Beyond Study
Chapter 11, The Jeweled Stupa Appears
Chapter 13, Encouragement to uphold
Chapter 14, Practices of Peace and Joy
Chapter 15, Emerging from the Earth
Chapter 16, The Tathāgata’s Life Span
Chapter 17, The Discourse on Merit and Virtue
Chapter 18, The Merit of a Joyful Response
Chapter 19, The Merit and Virtue of a Dharma Teacher
Chapter 20, Bodhisattva Never Slighting
Chapter 21, The Spiritual Powers of a Tathāgata
Chapter 23, The Account of Bodhisattva Medicine King’s Past Lives
Chapter 24, Bodhisattva Wondrous Voice
Chapter 25, The Universal Door of Guan Yin Bodhisattva
Chapter 27, The Account of King Wonderful Adornment’s Past Lives