Law of Causal Condition
The fundamental doctrine of Buddhism that all phenomena in the universe are produced by causation. Since all phenomena result from the complicated causes and effects, all existing things in the universe are inter-dependent, i.e., no self nature or existence on its own. Moreover, all phenomena and things are impermanent (i.e. changing constantly). It was to this law that Shakyamuni was awakened when he attained enlightenment.

Law of Cause and Effect
The Law of Cause and Effect treats of the Law of Causal condition as it relates to an individual.

Law of Dependent Origination
It states that all phenomenon arise depending upon a number of casual factors. In other word, it exists in condition that the other exist; it has in condition that others have; it extinguishes in condition that others extinguish; it has not in condition that others have not. For existence, there are twelve links in the chain:
Ignorance is the condition for karmic activity;
Karmic activity is the condition for consciousness;
Consciousness is the condition for the name and form;
Name and form is the condition for the six sense organs;
Six sense organs are the condition for contact;
Contact is the condition for feeling;
Feeling is the condition for emotional love/craving;
Emotional love/craving is the condition for grasping;
Grasping is the condition for existing;
Existing is the condition for birth;
Birth is the condition for old age and death;
Old age and death is the condition for ignorance; and so on.

Law of Karma
The results of actions, which produce effect that may be either good or bad. It is derived from the Law of Causal Condition (Law of Cause and Effect).

Lokottaravadinah
One of the Hinayana sect, a branch of Mahasanghikah, which held the view that all in the world is merely phenomenal and that reality exists outside it. They held that the body of the Buddha was transcendental from the time of his birth to the time of his death. Consequently, his behaviour as a human was merely a convention.

Lotus Sutra
Short name of the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law, or Saddharma-pundarik-sutra in Sanskrit. It consists of a series of sermons delivered by Shakyamuni towards the end of his preaching ministry. It is one of the most important sutras of Manayana Buddhism. Basically, it states that all sentient beings can attain Buddhahood, and nothing less than this is the appropriate final goal of all Buddhists. It also states that the Buddha is eternal, and the supreme form of Buddhist practice is the way of the Bodhisattva. Lotus flower is used to describe the brightness and pureness of the One Buddha Vehicle.

Lumbini Park
The birthplace of Shakyamuni Buddha, which lay between the state of the Shakyas and the Koliyas.

Lamps of the Worlds

Past, present, and future Buddhas

Land of Ultimate Bliss

See "Pure Land."

learners

Those in the first three grades of the four grades of disciples.

Lee Ping-Nan

See Li Ping-Nan.

left-home people

See "Sangha."

Li Ping-Nan

Master Chin Kung's Dharma teacher. Professor Professor Li's Dharma teacher was Patriarch Yin Guang. Some of Professor Li's are presented on the page titled "Enlightenment in One Lifetime ." Also see Professor Li's entry in the Bibliography.

Lions among Men

Buddhas.

Lokesvararaja

(English: "World-Sovereign-King"). A Buddha who taught the Dharma to Amitabha Buddha before Amitabha attained Buddhahood. At that time, Amitabha was living in the saha world as a monk named Dharamakara.

Longer Amitabha Sutra

See "Infinite Life Sutra."

lotus grades

The nine possible degrees of rebirth in the Western Pure Land. (Pure Land inhabitants are born from lotus blossoms.) The more merits and virtues the cultivator accumulates while on earth, the higher the cultivator's lotus grade, and the less time the cultivator has to spend inside a lotus blossom before rebirth occurs. (For more details, see the fourteenth through sixteenth contemplations that are spoken of in "The Contemplation Sutra.")