RECOMMENDED BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES

Here is a list of recommended Buddhist Scriptures (Sutras-Sanskrit, Suttas-Pali).

Brief description and importance of each sutra soon to follow.

HEART SUTRA
The Great Heart of Perfect Wisom Sutra is chanted daily in Buddhist monasteries and temples throughout the world. It is considered the most potent formulation for piercing the delusive mind. It is the core of Buddha's teaching, the condensed message of the Wisdom Sutras he gave over the couse of his twenty two years of teaching.

The Great Heart of Wisdom Sutra is to be grasped not through the intellect but with the heart- that is, through one's own deepest intuitive experience.

Thus, "perfect wisdom" here means transcendental wisdom, as well as the path leading to the attainment of this wisdom the text of the teaching conducive to its realization.

In the Heart Sutra the Budha is speaking to Sariputra, a chief disciple noted for his wisdom. The Buddha recounts how the Bodhisattva of Compassion realized through deep samadhi that the human personality is merely the product of the five skandas (literally "aggregates")- form feeling, perception, tendencies, and that of consciousness- that are fundamentally empty of real substance.

The Buddha then discloses the illusory nature of the eighteen realms of sense, made up of the six sense organs, the corresponding six types of sense data, and the six acts of sensing; the twelve links in the chain of causation; the Four Noble Truths; and even the dualistic conception of that of Nirvana(Enlightenment/extinquishment) and Samsara(suffering).

LOTUS SUTRA
Since its appearance in China in the third century, the Lotus Sutra has been regarded as one of the most illustrious scriptures in the Mahayana Buddhist canon. The object of intense veneration among generations of Buddhists in China, Korea, Japan, and other parts of East Asia, it has attracted more commentary than any other Buddhist scripture and has had a profound impact on the great works of Japanese and Chinese literature. Conceived as a drama of colossal proportions. Depicting events in a cosmic world that transcends ordinary concepts of time and space, the Lotus Sutra presents abstract religious concepts in concrete terms and affirms that there is a single path to enlightenment - that of the bodhisattva - and that the Buddha is not to be delimited in time and space. Filled with striking imagery, memorable parables, and countless revelations concerning the universal accessibility of Buddhahood, the Lotus Sutra has brought comfort and wisdom to devotees over the centuries and stands as a pivotal text in world literature. It has had such broad and lasting appeal over the ages and has permeated so deeply into the cultures that have been exposed to it.

The Lotus Sutra more than any other work is responsible for the distinctiveness of East Asian Buddhism. Its peculiar theme is the promolgation of Mahayana Buddhism by explaining the principle of the Dharmakaya and the Boddhisattva ideal. The Lotus Sutra contains some of the most enthalling stories in Mahayana Buddhism, such as Buddha's parable of the phantom city. Most interesting, in this reviewer's opinion, is Buddha's prophecy of enlightment for Devadatta. Regarded as Buddhism's version of Judas, Devadatta tried numerous times to kill the Buddha and cause schism in the sangha. By telling this prophecy of enlightenment for even the most notorious sinner in all of Buddhist thought, Buddha is saying that the fundamental principle of the Dharmakaya can reach even the most deluded person. Essential reading for understanding Mahayana Buddhism. I highly recommend this version of the Lotus Sutra to anyone interested in this variety of Buddhism.

AVATAMSAKA SUTRA- Flower Ornament Sutra
The Avatamsaka Sutra (The Sutra of the Garland of Flowers) is among the largest and greatest of the scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism. It is 12 volumes in Chinese, and 1600 pages in this English edition published by Shambhala. As with most Mahayana scriptures, it treats Buddha not as merely a man of ancient India, but as a cosmic principle. Differing from the austere and non-theist Theravada scriptures, it is full of gods and goddesses, heavens, jewelled trees and imaginary beings. The Avatamsaka Sutra became very influential in Chinese Buddhism, and was responsible for the creation of the Hua-Yen school.

This book is a "must read" book for all serious Buddhist practitioners. This Sutra give you all kinds of insights that lead to the path of enlightenment. If one knows how to read this Sutra and understands its contents, one can attain boundless joy and happiness. Avatamsaka is for everyone and for daily life. Try it out yourself, there is nothing to lose but everything to gain.

VIMALAKIRTI SUTRA
The Vimalakirti Sutra is one of the most influential works of the Mahayana Buddhist canon, is of particular importance in the Ch'an or Zen sect. Originally written in Sanskrit, probably in the first century c.e., it claims to record events more than four hundred years earlier. Noted for its eloquent, orderly exposition of the basic tenets of Mahayana, the text is also remarkable for the liveliness of its episodes and frequent touches of humor, rarities in a religious work of this type. The Vimalakirti Sutra is unusual in that its central figure is not a Buddha or Buddhas, but a wealthy townsman, Vimalakirti, who epitomizes the ideal lay believer. For this reason, and because of the sutra's enduring literary appeal, it has been particularly popular among lay Buddhists in China, Japan, and the other Asian countries where Mahayana doctrines prevail, and has exercised a marked influence on literature and art.

A prolonged meditation on the nature of ultimate realization, this masterpiece of spiritual literature is an intimate conversation between the Buddha and his close disciple. It reaches poetic heights in its evocation of the sublime. Highly recommended!

SURANGAMA SUTRA
Containing apocalyptic thinking, it is asserted that this sutra will disappear upon the disappearance of the dharma. The basic concern of the text is to point out as to how the law of causality terminates in the emergence of delusion, and on account of delusion samsaric bondage is given rise to. The only way to overcome delusion, and thereby bondage, is to attain the state of enlightenment. Since the attainment of enlightenment is seen as the solution of the problem, the text, thus, engages in laying down the road map of specific practices that enable one to reach the liberative goal of salvation, which is freedom from the law of causality, and thereby from delusion and bondage. Insofar as the store consciousness (alaya) continues to function, to that extent causality will remain operative. The methods, as developed in the text, are thus aimed at breaking the alaya. Upon the destruction of three marks of the alaya, which are self-evidencing, perception and form, the practitioner attains what is called the Surangama samadhi, or the gateway to Perfect Enlightenment. Upon the attainment of Enlightenment is revealed the nature of the Tathagata store of One Reality.

SIX PATRIARCH'S DHARMA JEWEL PLATFORM STURA
The Platform Sutra records the teachings of Hui-neng, the Sixth Patriarch, who is revered as one of the two great figures in the founding of Ch'an (Zen) Buddhism.

LANKAVATARA SUTRA
Reflects those fundamental themes of Buddhism which the Mahayana in general cherishes and upholds. It looks at existence from the absolute and relative realms, and thinks that suffering will be experienced so long as one confines oneself to the realm of the relative. Since the relative cannot be ultimately realm, it has to be seen as nothing more than a projection of the mind. As to how to realize the ultimate truth of unity the text resorts to general Mahayana theory of Buddhalogy in which the Buddha is seen as the ultimate ontological principle.

In order to realize unity with this ontic principle, we have to make use of such methods which, though relative, terminate in the realization of Enlightenment. These methods are spoken of as Skilful Means. As a spiritual manual, the text points out as to how the Bodhisattvas, on account of their unlimited compassion for sentient beings, work for the salvation of all. While delineating on the theme of Bodhisattvas, the text thereby speaks about the ten vows of a Bodhisattva. It is in incarnating these vows within that a real turn-about or spiritual transformation occurs, and thereby are uprooted the roots of ignorance. The text, thus, offers a spiritual banquet to those who want to taste the bliss eternal.

Metta (loving kindness) Sutra
"He who is skilled in good and who wishes to attain the state of Calm should act(thus):
He should be able, upright, perfectly upright, compliant, gentle, and humbe.

Contented, easily supported, with few duties, of simple livelihood, controlled in senses, discreet, not impudent, he should not be greedily attached to families.

He should not commit any slight wrong such that other wise men might censure him, (Then he should cultivate his thoughts thus:)
May all beings be happy and secure; may their minds be content.

Whatever living beings there may be- feeble or strong, long(or tall), stout, or medium, short, small, or large, seen or unseen, those dwelling far or near, those who are born and those who are yet to be born- may all beigs, without exception, be happy-minded.

Let not one deceive another nor despise any person whatever in any palce. In anger or ill will let not one wish any harm to another.

Just as a mother would protect her only child even at the risk of her own life, even so let one cultivate a boundless heart towards all beings.

Let one's thoughts of boundless love pervade the whole world- above, below and across- without any obstruction, without any hatred, without any enmity.

Not falling into wrong views, virtuous and endowed with Insight, one gives up attachment to sense-desires. Verily such a man does not return to enter a womb again." (End of sutra.)

OTHER CLASSICS RECOMMENDED

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, by D.T. Suzuki
The Secrets of Chinese Meditation, by Lu K'uan Yu
The Youngest Disciple, by Edward Thompson
What the Buddha Taught, by Walpola Rahula
In the Hope of Nibbana, by Winston L. King
The Living Lotus, by Ethel Mannin
Three Pillars of Zen, by Phillip Kapleau, roshi
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, by Paul Reps
Shobogenzo- by Dogen Zenjei
The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma, by Red Pine
Primer of Soto Zen: A Translation of Dogen's Shobogenzo Zuimonki, by Dogen, Reiho Masunaga

Recommended books specific to Soto Zen practice include:

Opening the Hand of Thought by Kosho Uchiyama, Roshi; 
Zen Mind Beginner's Mind, by Shunryu Suzuki, Roshi; 
Return to Silence, by Dainin Katagiri, Roshi.

Teachings of Dogen Zenji can be read in:
The Wholehearted Way, translated by Rev. Shohaku Okumura and 
Moon in a Dew Drop, Tanahashi et. al. translators.

Teachings by Keizan Zenji can be read in :
Transmission of the Light translated by T. Cleary.