The Śūraṅgama Sūtra is a Mahayana Buddhist sutra that has been especially influential on Korean Buddhism and Chinese Buddhism. It was particularly important for Zen/Chan Buddhism. The doctrinal outlook of the Śūraṅgama Sūtra is that of Buddha-nature, Yogacara thought, and esoteric Buddhism.
Chinese edition of the Śūraṅgama Sūtra, 1401 CE.
Stele with words from Shurangama Mantra, Beijing Rock Carving Art Museum
A statue of Usnisasitatapatra, the protective deity of the Śūraṅgama Mantra, Inner Mongolia. 18th century
The influence of Māra is a major theme of the Śūraṅgama Sūtra
Korean Buddhism is distinguished from other forms of Buddhism by its attempt to resolve what its early practitioners saw as inconsistencies within the Mahayana Buddhist traditions that they received from foreign countries. To address this, they developed a new holistic approach to Buddhism that became a distinct form, an approach characteristic of virtually all major Korean thinkers. The resulting variation is called Tongbulgyo, a form that sought to harmonize previously arising disputes among scholars.
An image of Gautama Buddha at Seokguram Grotto, Gyeongju, in South Korea
Monks going down to their rooms after evening prayers at Haeinsa
Reliquary
A stone image of a Buddha, near Gyeongju, South Korea. 7th century Silla.
