Buddhavacana and Dei Verbum

Challenged by the teaching of Vatican II about the "e;seeds of the Word"e; in non-Christian religions, this book investigates the sacred character of the Saddharmapundarika Sutra and its relation to the fundamental theological category of scriptural inspiration.In applying the methods of modern exegesis, the Sutra in its ingenious composition is disclosed as a religious drama about the inspirational experience of the Buddha. The draft of a theology of inspiration along the guide lines of the Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum of Vatican II elaborates a 'christology of the Word' as its core, which allows an extension of inspiration in analogical manner to non-Biblical scriptures.The contrast of Christ, the "e;Word incarnate"e;, and Buddha, the "e;Inspired One"e;, offers a new contribution to an inter- religious dialogue.