Hokke

Hokke, or the Lotus Sutra (Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra), is a foundational Mahayana Buddhist scripture. The name Hokke derives from the Chinese Fahua jing and the Japanese reading of the characters for “Dharma Flower.” The sutra is traditionally dated to Indian authors in the early centuries CE and is celebrated for its teaching that all beings can attain Buddhahood and that the Buddha’s ultimate nature is revealed through skilful means.

Central themes include upāya (skillful means) and ekayana (the One Vehicle). The sutra argues that many teachings serve a single goal, and it presents key parables, such as the Burning House, to illustrate expedient instruction. It emphasizes the timeless, eternal Buddha and the universality of buddha-nature, teaching that the path to enlightenment is present in all beings.

History and transmission: The Lotus Sutra circulated widely in India and entered China and Japan, surviving in several translations. The most influential Chinese renderings were by Dharmarakṣa and Kumārajīva in the 3rd–5th centuries CE. In East Asia it shaped the Tiantai/Tendai and Nichiren traditions, and continues to be a major reference in Buddhist thought.

Influence: The Hokke has deeply affected doctrinal development, devotion, and art in East Asia. In Nichiren Buddhism, Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō is a central practice. Beyond sectarian use, the Lotus Sutra is studied as a key text on Buddhist universality, compassion, and the multiplicity of teachings employed to lead beings to awakening.