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The Flower Adornment Sutra
AVATAMSAKA SŪTRA 大方廣佛華嚴經
The Avatamsaka Sūtra is vast and exuberant, ushering readers into an awe-inspiring cosmic celebration of Dharma. It is about our path as bodhisattvas and it is as inspiring for us today as it was for Buddhists hundreds of years ago.
These lectures are recordings of the ongoing Monthly Study Intensive Lecture Series offered by Rev. Issan Koyama. All materials may be accessed free of charge. Please do not use any written or audio-visual materials for commercial purposes. For permission to use these resources for educational purposes, kindly contact us in writing at: infor@nyzcfordogenstudy.org.
© 2026 New York Zen Community for Dōgen Study
THE LECTURES
This introduction explores the many ways we are already connected to the Avatamsaka Sutra, highlighting its immense influence on our present practices, vows, and recitations.
Building on a review of the Buddha’s essential teachings, this lecture introduces the Avataṃsaka Sutra through an examination of its title, historical formation, major chapters, and extant versions.
A comprehensive overview of how the Avataṃsaka Sutra presents the entirety of the Buddhadharma and Buddha Way.
Introducing the Sutra’s most iconic teachings, including the meaning of arousing bodhicitta, the principle that “all is one and one is all” and the reconciliation of the apparent dichotomy between self and other.
Exploring how the self and the surrounding world are created by our minds; the 5 Skandha system and the Ten Grounds.
Introducing the Sutra’s structure and themes; the 7 Sites and the 8 Assemblies.
[Chapter 1] Samantabhadra Bodhisattva - a symbol of function and action, and the moment-by-moment arising of this world through innumerable, ever-changing connections.
[Chapter 2] The significance of Virocana Buddha permeating like sunlight anywhere, anytime; the various Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and deities appearing as metaphors for the Buddhadharma. The 33 Heavens.
Practice in the mountains and the city. The 10 Names of the Tathāgata. The 4 Noble Truths. The karmic transgressions. The 10 Synonyms for Cessation. The 4 Aspects of Reality.
[Chapter 3] The samadhi of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. The perspective of zazen compared to the ordinary point of view.
[Chapter 4] Samantabhadra Bodhisattva expounds on the nature of the world and how it is formed by causes and conditions.
The principle of interdependent origination; the seeds of Yogācāra teachings; the magnificent harmony of existence arising from bodhisattvas' vows and deeds.
[Chapter 5] The Flower Treasury Ocean of Worlds. The Lotus Treasury World. Byōdō (equality) and shabetsu (individuality).
The true meaning of Ordinary Mind (Byōjō shin) and the equality of all dharmas.
The Fragrant Banner of Various Radiant Stamens. The story of Ānanda in Keizan’s Denkōroku. Amida Buddha’s Pure Land and Three Pure Land Sutras.
[Chapter 6] Vairocana Buddha and radiant light as a metaphor for the free function of the Tathāgata.[Chapter 7] The Names of the Tathāgata and the meaning of “Ten Directions”.
More on the 10 Names of the Tathāgata and why Buddhas appear in multiple forms.
[Chapter 8] The Four Truths of the Āryas (Four Noble Truths). How the Mahāyāna path differs from the practices of Early Buddhism. Liberation from the 12 Links of Dependent Origination and cessation.
How dukkha (suffering) leads to liberation. [Chapter 9] The great light of enlightenment (Aloka) radiating from the wheel marks on the soles of Buddha’s feet.
The 32 Wondrous Marks of the Buddha. Why we cannot completely eliminate delusion. The 7 Factors of Awakening,.The Mahāyāna understanding of shunyata and the reconciliation of all dichotomies.
[Chapter 10] Mañjuśrī asks 9 prominent bodhisattvas for clarification and finally takes the role of the one answering in the form of 10 Mondō. A look at the mondō tradition of Sōtō Zen founded by Tōzan.
Mañjuśrī asks about the nature of karmic actions. Several well-known mondō are examined. The meaning of dharmas being neither bad nor good. Why study isn’t enough and practice is essential.
Mañjuśrī asks if prajñā is foremost why did the Tathāgata teach Six Paramitas? Dōgen’s understanding of prātimokśa (Shusho ichinyo). The Ten Powers of a Buddha; the four kinds of fearlessness; and the One Dharma Body.
[Chapter 11] Foremost Wisdom Bodhisattva asks Mañjuśrī about the Bodhisattva path and he answers with140 verses about how to live and practice as children of the Buddha.
Continuing the study Mañjuśrī’s 140 verses with examples of how Dōgen Zenji quoted these verses in Eihei Shingi and other writings.
[Chapter 12] In the form of a dialog with Mañjuśrī, Foremost Worthy Bodhisattva provides a detailed exposition on the Bodhisattva path. The meaning of “faith."
The ways in which bodhisattvas creatively express dharma to Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike inspired by samādhi..
[Chapter 13] Ascent to the Summit of Mount Sumeru. The Trāyastrimśa Heaven Palace. Lord Śakra recites verses for each of the Ten Buddhas. [Chapter 14] Ten praise verses recited by bodhisattvas on the summit of Mount Sumeru.
[Chapter 15] The Ten Abodes. Dharma Wisdom Bodhisattva enters “The Bodhisattva’s Countless Expedients Samādhi,” and expounds on the Ten Stages of a bodhisattva’s practice/awakening
Continuing a close examination of the Ten Bodhisattva Abodes and their significance.
Muge (no obstacle) and the view that is free of dichotomy - with examples from Dōgen’s Tenzo Kyokun, the Five Eyes, Bankei’s Unborn Zen, and Fūgai Honkō’s horsefly metaphor. [Chapter 16] The Brahman Conduct and the completion of the Ten Stages.
The 10 Precepts and the shift from secular values to the values of the Buddha-Dharma. Why a bodhisattva’s initial arousing of bodhicitta is simultaneously the attainment of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.
The causes and conditions leading to Bodhi Mind with a reading from Dōgen’s Hotsu Bodaishin. [Chapter 17] The Merit of Initial Resolve and the power and function of Bodhisattvas resolved to attain realization.
A bodhisattva’s ceaseless renewal of resolve and continuous practice. “One is All and All is One” in terms of space and time. Shinran and Dōgen on self-power and other-power. Kannō dōkō. [Chapter 18] Clarifying the Dharma.
The Bodhisattva Path and the need for ceaseless diligence. A review of the Four Dharma Seals, the Gateway of Wishlessness, the Gateways to Liberation, and the Mahaprajnaparamita Hrdaya Heart Sutra.
Buddhist meditation. A look at the verse portion of Kannon-gyō, and Case 8 of Shōyōroku – Hyakujo and the Wild Fox.
[Chapter 19] Ascent to the Suyāma Heaven Palace. [Chapter 20] Verses Praising Dharma. [Chapter 21] The Ten Practices. A review of the various sites and the structure of the sutra.
Answering questions about Chapters 14 and 15.
[Chapter 21] A close look at the 10 Bodhisattva Practices and how they correspond to the paramitas.
Continuing to examine the 10 Bodhisattva Practices in Chapter 21 and how they apply to us now.
Continuing Chapter 21: 10 Bodhisattva Practices; focuing on "Genuine Practice".
[Chapter 22] The Ten Inexhaustible Treasuries: faith, precepts, shame, blame, learning, giving, wisdom, recollection, retention, eloquence.
Continuing with Chapter 22, with special focus on giving (dana) and an introduction to Chapter 23 and Chapter 24.
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