Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra

This manuscript contains the Lotus Sūtra (Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra), also known as The White Lotus of the Good Dharma, a foundational Mahāyāna scripture attributed to the Buddha Śākyamuni. Delivered on Vulture Peak to a vast assembly of bodhisattvas—including those emerging from beneath the earth—the sūtra teaches the existence of a single, true path to enlightenment. It distinguishes between provisional and ultimate teachings and portrays the Buddha as an eternal being who continues to teach beyond his historical lifetime. Central episodes include the appearance of the long-departed Buddha Prabhūtaratna in a suspended stūpa, into which Śākyamuni enters, signifying the unity of all Buddhas. Especially revered in East Asia, the text emphasizes its own supremacy and the boundless merit gained through devotion to it. (Source: 84000). The folia appear dull after fol. 125 and the handwriting seems to change as well. It is choppy and rougher, suggesting perhaps two different scribes may have written the mss. Lettering on 128a- 131b is washed out, making it difficult to read. The top edges of fols 158a- 171b are torn. Fol. 195a appear newly written.