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The Jewel in the Lotus

by Sangharakshita

The Sutra includes the story of a drunkard who is shown a jewel tied in his clothing, and also introduces us to the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, whose well-known mantra 'Om Mani Padme Hum' reveals a key principle of the story and of the sutra itself.

Talk given in 1971.

This talk is part of the series Parables, Myths and Symbols of Mahayana Buddhism in the White Lotus Sutra.

Tracks (click play to listen)

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1. Tibet's Mani walls (11:10) 
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2. What is a mantra? - Avalokiteshvara mantra (7:36) 
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3. Purna's Buddhaworld (7:33) 
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4. The Parable of the Drunk Man and the Jewel (2:33) 
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5. The symbolism of drunkenness and sleep (5:05) 
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6. Eternity and Time (1:13) 
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7. Gradual method and sudden method (8:33) 
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8. The symbolism of the jewel (6:15) 
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9. How the jewel is a symbol of the True Self (2:46) 
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10. The wishfulfilling gem (chintamani) (4:13) 
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11. The symbolism of the lotus (4:57) 
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12. OM MANI PADME HUM (5:23) 
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13. What is a Bodhisattva? (4:15) 
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14. Forms and legends of Avalokiteshvara (6:11) 
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15. Avalokiteshvara's name (2:34) 
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16. A meditation on Avalokiteshvara (11:51) 


Total running time: 1:32:08