Skilful Means: A Concept in Mahayana Buddhism

The book opens with “General Introduction,” where Michael Pye defines Buddhist skilful means, explains problems of terminology, and situates the concept within Mahāyāna literature, especially the works associated with Kumārajīva’s translations. Chapter 2, “The Initial Teaching of Skilful Means in the Lotus Sutra,” examines how the Lotus Sutra introduces the doctrine through Śāriputra’s perplexity and the Buddha’s exposition of teachings adapted to different capacities. Chapter 3, “Stories about Skilful Means in the Lotus Sutra,” analyzes major parables such as the burning house, the poor son, the rain-cloud, hidden treasure, the magic city, and the physician, showing how narrative becomes a vehicle of doctrinal adaptation. Chapter 4, “Mythology and Skilful Means in the Lotus Sutra,” explores cosmic illumination, the equivalence of all buddhas, and bodhisattva transformations as expressions of compassionate strategy. Chapter 5, “Skilful Means in the Teaching of Vimalakīrti,” presents the saintly layman Vimalakīrti as a model of wisdom, illness, paradox, and compassionate intervention. Chapter 6, “Skilful Means in the Perfection of Insight Literature,” connects upāya with insight, emptiness, and Madhyamika perspectives. Chapter 7, “Skilful Means in Pre-Mahayana Buddhism,” traces earlier Buddhist patterns that anticipate the Mahāyāna formulation, including the Buddha’s decision to teach the Dhamma. Chapter 8, “The Term Hōben in Modern Japanese,” discusses colloquial, reference, sectarian, and Buddhist uses of the term. Chapter 9, “General Observations,” draws together the wider implications of skilful means for Buddhist doctrine, practice, religious diversity, and interpretation, followed by appendices on major texts, the Lotus Sutra, Chinese occurrences of fang-pien, and related materials