Lotus Sutra Ceremony Ritual (禮法華經儀式)

About 禮法華經儀式

470 · about 2 min

The Ritual of the Lotus Sutra is a significant liturgical text of the Tiantai school of Buddhism, composed by the eminent monk Master Zhiyi (Zhiyi) of the Sui Dynasty. Centered on the Lotus Sutra, this ritual meticulously outlines practices such as sutra recitation, prostration, and offerings, embodying the Tiantai doctrine of the harmonious integration of the Three Truths. Master Zhiyi synthesized the liturgical traditions of the Northern and Southern Dynasties with the universal and perfect teachings of the Lotus Sutra, establishing this ritual as a vital component of Tiantai's practice of śamatha and vipaśyanā. This text holds a revered position in Chinese Buddhism, serving both as an essential document for studying Tiantai's practical system and as the foundational basis for Lotus Sutra repentance ceremonies in later monastic traditions. Its influence on the institutionalization of Buddhist rituals in China has been profound and enduring.