Lankavatara Sutra (楞伽經注)

About 楞伽經註

Tang · by 智嚴註

21,373 · about 71 min

The Commentary on the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra is an annotation on the important Buddhist scripture, the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra, composed by the eminent Tang dynasty monk Zhiyan. Active during the seventh century, Zhiyan's commentary integrates Yogācāra and Tathāgatagarbha thought, offering profound explanations of core doctrines such as the five dharmas, three natures, eight consciousnesses, and two kinds of selflessness. This annotation systematically organizes the theories of the Yogācāra school, aiding in the understanding of the transition and development from Indian Buddhism to Chinese Buddhism. As a significant text in the study of the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra, Zhiyan's commentary holds an authoritative position within Chinese Buddhism. It provides crucial reference material for researching Tang dynasty Buddhist thought and the Yogācāra system, and has exerted a profound influence on later Chan and Huayan schools.