Dharma Flower (Lotus) Sutra
The complete title of the sutra is the Sutra of the (White) Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma. In this sutra the Buddha proclaims the ultimate principles of the Dharma that unite all previous teachings into one. The sutra is the major text studied by the Tiantai School of Buddhism in China and the Tendai and Nichiren-shoshu sects in Japan.
Commentary
It is one of the foremost Mahayana sutras, for it explains clearly and directly the central message of the Buddhadharma:
Śāriputra,what is meant by‘All Buddhas, the World Honored Ones, appear in the world only because of the causes and conditions of the one great matter?' The Buddhas, the World Honored Ones, appear in the world because they wish to lead living beings to realize the knowledge and vision of the Buddhas and gain purity. (DFS III 416)
Chinese Terms
法華經