1. Prajñāpāramitā (Perfection of Wisdom) Sutras
These sutras focus on emptiness (śūnyatā) and transcendental wisdom (prajñā):
• Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra (8,000 Lines Perfection of Wisdom)
• Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra (25,000 Lines Perfection of Wisdom)
• Śatasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra (100,000 Lines Perfection of Wisdom)
• Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra (Diamond Sutra)
• Hridaya Sutra (Heart Sutra)
• Ratnaguṇasaṃcaya Gāthā (Verses on the Perfection of Wisdom)
2. Tathāgatagarbha (Buddha-Nature) Sutras
These texts explore the inherent Buddhahood in all beings:
• Tathāgatagarbha Sūtra (Buddha-Nature Sutra)
• Śrīmālādevī Siṃhanāda Sūtra (Lion’s Roar of Queen Śrīmālā)
• Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra (Nirvana Sutra)
• Anūnatvāpūrṇatva-nirdeśa Sūtra (Sutra on Non-Decrease and Non-Increase)
• Aṅgulimālīya Sūtra
• Mahābherīhāraka Sūtra
3. Pure Land Sutras
These describe the celestial realms and Amitābha Buddha’s Pure Land:
• Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra (Longer Pure Land Sutra)
• Amitābha Sūtra (Shorter Pure Land Sutra)
• Amitāyurdhyāna Sūtra (Contemplation Sutra)
• Bodhirājakumāra Sūtra
4. Lotus Sutra and Related Sutras
Emphasizing the universality of Buddhahood and skillful means:
• Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra (Lotus Sutra)
• Samantabhadra Meditation Sutra
• Bhadrakalpika Sūtra (Sutra on the Fortunate Eon)
5. Avataṃsaka (Flower Garland) Sutras
These texts present a grand vision of the Buddha’s enlightenment:
• Avataṃsaka Sūtra (Flower Garland Sutra)
• Gaṇḍavyūha Sūtra (Sutra of the Supreme Array)
• Ten Stages Sutra (Daśabhūmika Sūtra)
• Brahmaviśeṣacintīparipṛcchā Sūtra
6. Vimalakīrti and Lay Practice Sutras
Texts focusing on lay practitioners and non-dual wisdom:
• Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra (Teaching of Vimalakīrti)
• Śūraṅgama Sūtra (Heroic March Sutra)
7. Lankāvatāra and Mind-Only Sutras
Associated with Yogācāra and Mind-Only teachings (cittamātra):
• Lankāvatāra Sūtra (Descent into Lanka Sutra)
• Samdhinirmocana Sūtra (Sutra Unraveling the Intent)
• Mahāyānasūtrālaṅkāra (Ornament of Mahayana Sutras)
8. Bodhisattva and Mahāsanghika Sutras
Texts on the bodhisattva ideal and conduct:
• Bodhisattvapiṭaka Sūtra
• Upāliparipṛcchā Sūtra
• Ratnakūṭa Sūtra (Jewel Heap Sutra Collection)
• Kāśyapa-parivarta Sūtra
9. Tantric and Esoteric Sutras
Early Mahāyāna texts foundational to Vajrayāna:
• Mahāvairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sūtra (Mahāvairocana Sutra)
• Vajraśekhara Sūtra
• Susiddhikara Sūtra
10. Miscellaneous Mahayana Sutras
Lesser-known but important texts:
• Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra (Descent into Lanka)
• Tathāgata Guhya Sūtra (The Hidden Teachings of the Tathāgata)
• Ugra-Paripṛcchā Sūtra (The Inquiry of Ugra)
• Mahāsamnipāta Sūtra
• Karuṇāpuṇḍarīka Sūtra (The White Lotus of Compassion)
1. 般若经(Prajñāpāramitā Sūtras,般若波罗蜜多经)
这些经典强调空性(śūnyatā)和智慧(prajñā):
• 《八千颂般若经》(Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra)
• 《二万五千颂般若经》(Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra)
• 《十万颂般若经》(Śatasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra)
• 《金刚经》(Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra)
• 《心经》(Hridaya Sūtra)
• 《宝积经》(Ratnaguṇasaṃcaya Gāthā)
2. 如来藏经典(Tathāgatagarbha Sūtras)
这些经典讨论一切众生皆具佛性:
• 《如来藏经》(Tathāgatagarbha Sūtra)
• 《胜鬘狮子吼经》(Śrīmālādevī Siṃhanāda Sūtra)
• 《大般涅槃经》(Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra)
• 《不增不减经》(Anūnatvāpūrṇatva-nirdeśa Sūtra)
• 《指鬘经》(Aṅgulimālīya Sūtra)
• 《大鼓音声经》(Mahābherīhāraka Sūtra)
3. 净土经典(Pure Land Sūtras)
这些经典描述阿弥陀佛的极乐世界:
• 《无量寿经》(Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra)
• 《阿弥陀经》(Amitābha Sūtra)
• 《观无量寿经》(Amitāyurdhyāna Sūtra)
• 《菩提王子经》(Bodhirājakumāra Sūtra)
4. 法华经及相关经典
强调一乘法门、方便善巧:
• 《妙法莲华经》(Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra,简称《法华经》)
• 《普贤观经》(Samantabhadra Meditation Sūtra)
• 《贤劫千佛经》(Bhadrakalpika Sūtra)
5. 华严经(Avataṃsaka Sūtras,花严经典)
展现佛陀的广大境界:
• 《华严经》(Avataṃsaka Sūtra)
• 《入法界品》(Gaṇḍavyūha Sūtra)
• 《十地经》(Daśabhūmika Sūtra)
• 《梵网经》(Brahmaviśeṣacintīparipṛcchā Sūtra)
6. 维摩诘经及在家修行经典
强调在家众的智慧与解脱:
• 《维摩诘所说经》(Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra)
• 《楞严经》(Śūraṅgama Sūtra)
7. 楞伽经及唯识经典(Lankāvatāra and Yogācāra Sūtras)
探讨唯识(cittamātra)与如来藏思想:
• 《楞伽经》(Lankāvatāra Sūtra)
• 《解深密经》(Samdhinirmocana Sūtra)
• 《大乘庄严经论》(Mahāyānasūtrālaṅkāra)
8. 菩萨道经典(Bodhisattva Sūtras)
探讨菩萨行与大乘精神:
• 《菩萨藏经》(Bodhisattvapiṭaka Sūtra)
• 《优波离所问经》(Upāliparipṛcchā Sūtra)
• 《宝积经》(Ratnakūṭa Sūtra)
• 《迦叶品》(Kāśyapa-parivarta Sūtra)
9. 密教经典(Tantric and Esoteric Sūtras)
部分密宗经典源自大乘佛教:
• 《大日经》(Mahāvairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sūtra)
• 《金刚顶经》(Vajraśekhara Sūtra)
• 《苏悉地经》(Susiddhikara Sūtra)
10. 其他大乘经典(Miscellaneous Mahayana Sūtras)
• 《如来秘密经》(Tathāgata Guhya Sūtra)
• 《优陀那经》(Udānavarga)
• 《乌刍瑟摩经》(Ugra-Paripṛcchā Sūtra)
• 《大集经》(Mahāsamnipāta Sūtra)
• 《悲华经》(Karuṇāpuṇḍarīka Sūtra)