The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra, more commonly known in English as the Lotus Sutra (Sanskrit: Saddharma-pundarika-sutra), is one of the major Buddhist texts of East Asia. It was spoken in the last period of Shakyamuni Buddha s life, proclaiming the ultimate principles of the Dharma, which unites all previous teachings into one. With many parables e.g. those of the burning house, the lost son, and the rain the Buddha teaches that all beings can become fully enlightened and that this achievement, and not that of becoming Shravakas or Pratyekabuddhas, has always been the ultimate intent of his teaching. This Sutra also includes separate chapters on several important bodhisattvas within the Mahayana tradition, such as Avalokiteshvara (Guan Shi Yin) and Samantabhadra (Pu Xian). There are many other translations in English of the Lotus Sutra. The uniqueness of this sixteen volume series is that all twenty-eight chapters include extensive commentary by the late Tripitaka Master Hsuan Hua, whose accessible explanations show this ancient text s meaning as instruction for practice on the spiritual path in the modern world. In Chapter 2, Expedient Devices, the Buddha explains how there is just one teaching for Buddhahood. All other teachings or vehicles - the Storehouse Teaching, the Penetrating Teaching, the Separate Teaching - are provisional expedient teachings. They merely open the provisional and reveal the real. The English translation of this Sutra and the commentary of Master Hua was done by the Buddhist Text Translation Society (BTTS). The translation process of the Society is modeled after the translation assemblies of earlier times and publishes work only after it has passed through four committees for primary translation, revision, editing, and certification. The leaders of these committees are bhikshus (monks) and bhikshunis (nuns) who have devoted their lives to the study and practice of the Buddha s teachings. For that reason, works published by the Society emphasize the practical applications of the Buddha s teachings. Chapter 2: Expedient Devices. Here the Buddha explains how there is just one teaching for Buddhahood. All other teachings and vehicles - the Storehouse Teaching, the Penetrating Teaching, the Separate Teaching - are provisional expedient teachings. They merely open the provisional and reveal the real." Other books in the series include Vol 1 Introduction by Tripitaka Master Hsuan Hua, ISBN: 0-88139-433-5 (2001, 2nd ed). Vol. 2 Ch 1: Introduction, ISBN 0-917512-22-7 (1977). Vol. 4 - Ch 3: A Parable, ISBN 0-917512-62-6 (1979). Vol. 5 Ch 4: Belief and Understanding, ISBN 0-917512-64-2 (1980). Vol. 6 Ch 5: Medicinal Herbs, Ch 6: Conferring Predictions, ISBN 0-917512-65-0 (1980). Vol. 7 Ch 7: The Analogy of the Transformation City, ISBN 0-917512-67-7 (1980). Vol. 8 Ch 8: Five Hundred Disciples Receive Predictions, Ch 9: Bestowing Predictions, ISBN 0-917512-71-5 (1980). Vol. 9 Ch 10:Masters of the Dharma, Ch 11: Vision of the Jeweled Stupa, ISBN 0-917512-85-5 (1981). Vol. 10 Ch 12: Devedatta, Ch 13: Exhortation to Maintain, ISBN 0-917512-34-0 (1982). Vol 11 Ch 14 Happily Dwelling Conduct, ISBN: 978-0-88139-443-6. Vol 12 Ch 15 Welling Forth from the Earth, Ch 16 Thus Come One s Life Span, ISBN: 978-0-88139-443-6. Vol 13 Ch 17: Discrimination of Merit and Virtue, Ch 18: Rejoicing, Ch 19 Merit and Virtue of a Dharma Master, ISBN 978-0-88139-445-0. Vol 14 Ch 20 Never-Slighting Bodhisattva, Ch 21 Spiritual Powers of the Thus Come One, Ch 22 The Entrustment, Ch 23 Medicine King, Ch 24 Bodhisattva Wondrous Sound, ISBN 978-0-88139-446-7. Vol 15- Ch 25 Guanshiyin, ISBN 978-0-88139-447-4. Vol 16- Ch 26 Dharani, Ch 27 King Wonderful Adorment, Ch 28 Universal Worthy, ISBN 978-0-88139-448-1. - from Amzon