Plain Language Huayan Sutra -- Series of Essence of Buddhist Culture

Author: Wen Xing Translated by Zhu Yin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-10-01
Features: The carrier of Buddhist culture is the vast Buddhist scriptures passed down through the ages. Just as Confucian classics are divided into classics, history, philosophy, and collections, Buddhist classics are also categorized into three major divisions, known as the "Three Baskets of the Dharma." The "Sutras" hold the highest status, as they are the teachings expounded by the Buddha to guide his disciples in practice. Therefore, what people are most concerned about today are these "Buddhist scriptures." The Circle of Awakening Sutra is the teaching expounded by the Buddha to the twelve Bodhisattvas, including Manjushri and Samantabhadra, on the profound principles and methods of observation and practice for the complete awakening of the Tathagata. It is generally divided into an introduction, the main text, and a circulation section. The introduction describes the Buddha entering the Samadhi of Great Radiant Wisdom, the pure, silent, and equal and complete non-dual realm of all Buddhas and sentient beings, where there are ten thousand masses led by the twelve great Bodhisattvas, such as Manjushri, all entering this Samadhi and residing in the equal Dharma assembly of the Tathagata. The main text describes the Buddha sequentially expounding the principles and methods of observation and practice of the Circle of Awakening in response to the successive questions of the twelve great Bodhisattvas, such as Manjushri. It is divided into twelve chapters, each beginning with a (Q&A) in the form of discourses and followed by a verse summarizing the meaning. The last chapter, the Chapter of the Virtuous and Good, includes the circulation section in its latter half, describing the vows of the Vajrasattvas, heavenly kings, (ghost kings), and others to protect those who uphold this scripture.