Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra

▪ Buddhist text

in full  Saddharma-laṅkāvatāra-sūtra 

      (Sanskrit: “Sūtra of the Appearance of the Good Doctrine in Laṅkā”), distinctive and influential philosophical discourse in the Mahāyāna Buddhist tradition that is said to have been preached by the Buddha in the mythical city Laṅkā. Dating from perhaps the 4th century, although parts of it may be earlier, it is the chief canonical exposition of Vijñānavāda (“Doctrine of Consciousness”), or subjective idealism. It teaches, in other words, that the world is an illusory reflection of ultimate, undifferentiated mind and that this truth suddenly becomes an inner realization in concentrated meditation.

      The thought of the Laṅkāvatāra is reflected in the Yogācāra school and provides some of the philosophical background of Zen. It is distinct from two other main thrusts in Mahāyāna, the Prajñāpāramitā (“Perfection of Wisdom”) emphasis and the worship of Amitābha, the Buddha of Infinite Light. The sutra was first translated into Chinese in the 5th century and has been the subject of many treatises and commentaries.

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