Essay by John W. Teeter, Jr.
This Essay explicates the relevance of the Lotus Sutra to the prosaic world of legal pedagogy. As this sacred Buddhist text reveals, everyone has the potential for unlimited spiritual growth and each of us should aspire to be a bodhisattva, one who assists others on the road to enlightenment. This Essay applies these ancient tenets to the law school classroom, exhorting professors to challenge and befriend their students through the use of “expedient means” inspired by Buddhist thought. The poetic beauty and idealism of the Lotus Sutra transcend denominational differences to inspire the way we conceptualize legal education and the professorial mission.
About the Author
John W. Teeter, Jr. Professor, St. Mary's University School of Law. A.B. 1982, University of Illinois at Chicago Circle; J.D. 1985, Harvard Law School.
Citation
77 Tul. L. Rev. 443 (2002)