Song · Source text translated by 施護等
400 · about 1 min
The Sutra of the Parable of the Consecrated King, translated by the eminent scripture translator Śikṣānanda and others during the Song Dynasty, belongs to the Mahāyāna Buddhist canon. This sutra employs the metaphor of a consecrated king to expound the path of Bodhisattva practice, emphasizing the union of Wisdom (Prajñā) and compassion, and revealing the truth that all sentient beings can attain Buddhahood. Through parables and narratives, the scripture elucidates the essential principles of the Dharma in an accessible manner, guiding practitioners to eradicate attachments and awaken to their intrinsic nature. This sutra holds a significant position within Chinese Buddhism, regarded as one of the guiding classics for the practice of the Mahāyāna Bodhisattva path, exerting a profound influence on later Buddhist thought and practice. Śikṣānanda, a renowned translator of the Song Dynasty, produced a translation characterized by fluent language and clear exposition of principles, making it an important component of the Chinese Buddhist canon.