The Lankavatara Sutra - A Mahayana Text (楞伽阿跋多羅寶經)

About 楞伽阿跋多羅寶經

Liu Song · Source text translated by 求那跋陀羅

44,460 · about 148 min

The *Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra* is an important Buddhist scripture, translated into Chinese in 443 CE by the Indian monk Guṇabhadra during the Liu Song dynasty. This sutra belongs to the Tathāgatagarbha (Buddha-nature) category of texts. Set against the backdrop of the Buddha's discourse on Laṅkā Mountain, it expounds upon the doctrines of Consciousness-Only (Vijñānavāda) and Tathāgatagarbha theory, synthesizing teachings from the Madhyamaka and Yogācāra schools. Through a dialogue format, the scripture investigates the nature of mind-consciousness, the principle that the three realms are mind-only, and other core doctrines, while also addressing stages of meditation and Bodhisattva practice. It holds a revered position in East Asian Buddhism, regarded by the Chan (Zen) tradition as a foundational text, and has profoundly influenced the development of Buddhist thought across East Asia. Its profound philosophical system and practical guidance for cultivation make it an essential text for the study of Mahāyāna Buddhism.