Seshadri stratifications and Schubert varieties: a geometric construction of a standard monomial theory

A standard monomial theory for Schubert varieties is constructed exploiting (1) the geometry of the Seshadri stratifications of Schubert varieties by their Schubert subvarieties and (2) the combinatorial LS-path character formula for Demazure modules. The general theory of Seshadri stratifications is improved by using arbitrary linearization of the partial order and by weakening the definition of balanced stratification.