Buddhist Sutras
Heart Sutra
The shortest and most essential sutra in Mahayana Buddhism. It encapsulates the essence of Emptiness (Śūnyatā) in approximately 260 characters.
Diamond Sutra
A Mahayana sutra that captures the core of Emptiness (Śūnyatā) philosophy. It is composed of 32 sections.
Dhammapada
A jewel of early Buddhism that compresses the Buddha's teachings into 423 verses. Divided into 26 chapters, it conveys wisdom for daily life.
Lotus Sutra
One of the greatest Mahayana sutras. It contains the core 7 chapters of the One Vehicle (Ekayāna) teaching that all beings can attain Buddhahood.
Avatamsaka Sutra
The king of Mahayana sutras that magnificently unfolds the world of the Buddha's enlightenment. It presents 7 key chapters on Indra's Net of interconnection and the Bodhisattva path.
Vimalakirti Sutra
Famous for layman Vimalakirti's 'thunderous silence.' It contains the essence of non-dual dharma (Advaya) and the Mahayana Bodhisattva path.
Shurangama Sutra
A core Chan Buddhist sutra that directly points to the nature of mind. It details the stages of practice and the obstacles of illusion (māra).
Nirvana Sutra
A sutra containing the Buddha's final teachings. It proclaims that all sentient beings possess Buddha-nature and reveals the true meaning of Nirvana.
Platform Sutra
The collected dharma talks of the Sixth Patriarch Huineng. A foundational text of Chan (Zen) Buddhism, teaching sudden enlightenment and inherent purity of self-nature.
Infinite Life Sutra
The foremost of the Three Pure Land Sutras, expounding Amitābha Buddha's 48 great vows and the Pure Land. A foundational text of Other-Power faith.
Amitabha Sutra
A short and essential Pure Land sutra describing the splendor of the Western Pure Land and rebirth through recitation of Amitābha's name.
Ksitigarbha Sutra
A sutra containing Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's great vow to save even beings in hell. It carries teachings on filial piety and salvation.
Brahmajala Sutra
The foundational sutra of Mahayana Bodhisattva precepts. It illuminates Bodhisattva ethics through the Ten Major Precepts and Forty-Eight Minor Precepts.
Sutra of Forty-Two Sections
The first Buddhist scripture transmitted to China. An introductory text conveying 42 core teachings of the Buddha in concise passages.
Lankavatara Sutra
A core sutra of Consciousness-Only (Yogācāra) and Tathāgatagarbha thought. The scripture Bodhidharma transmitted to Huike, a foundational text of early Chan Buddhism.
Sutta Nipata
The oldest poetry collection in the Pali Canon. The Buddha's original teachings are preserved in poetic form.