Category: Uncategorized
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Twigs and Leaves
A stark, bluesy folk ballad that tells a heavy story. Inspired by the dramatic schism in Chapter Two of the Lotus Sūtra, “Twigs and Leaves” is a song about one of the most subtle dangers on the spiritual path: arrogance (māna). It recounts the moment when 5,000 practitioners, believing they had already achieved enlightenment, walked…
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Lotus Sutra Inspired: Awaken the Hero Within You
“Welling Up from the Ground” is a powerful gospel-blues folk anthem inspired by Chapter Fifteen of the Lotus Sutra—the moment when the earth itself trembles, and countless Bodhisattvas rise from the soil of suffering to bring light to the age of darkness. The song blends sacred soul with modern storytelling, featuring rich harmonies, Hammond organ…
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The Bodhisattva in Apartment 4B
Part I: The Three Poisons Maya was drowning, and nobody knew it. Her Instagram feed was a carefully curated highlight reel of someone else’s life—someone confident, popular, unbothered. But at 3 AM, she lay awake scrolling through other people’s posts, that familiar ache in her chest: Why do they have what I don’t? Why isn’t…
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The Mirror in Cell Block D
Part I: The Storm Maya Chen sat in the county jail common room, staring at nothing. Eighteen months for embezzlement. Her legal career: destroyed. Her marriage: dissolved. Her reputation: ash. The other inmates called her “the Ice Queen” because she never spoke, never cried, just sat there like a statue made of shame. Until the…
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The Bodhi Tree Within
In an age of dust and noise,where old roads crack and kings forget,the Eternal Voice whispers—You are not small, nor late. The Buddha is not a fading star,but a sun without horizon,rising through the marrowof those who keep the wondrous law. Sit, friend, beneath the tree already grown inside you.The place you stand is holy…
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The Lotus Sutra’s Paradox: Rarity vs. Eternal Buddha
1. Introduction: The Dynamic Revelations of Truth in the Lotus Sūtra The Lotus Sūtra (Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtram) is a foundational and highly influential text in Mahāyāna Buddhism, particularly in East Asia. It presents key Mahāyāna tenets such as the One Vehicle (ekayāna), the distinction between expedient and ultimate teachings, and the revolutionary concept of the…
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The Universal Vow: Merit, Enlightenment, and the Legacy of the Brahma Kings in the Lotus Sutra
I. Introduction: The Universal Aspiration for Enlightenment The human spirit often harbors a profound yearning for its endeavors to resonate beyond the personal sphere, contributing to a larger, universal good. The verses presented— May the merits we have accumulated by this offeringBe distributed among all living beings,And may we and all other living beingsAttain the…
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Cosmic Cycles and the Path of Awakening: A Comparative Study of the I Ching and the Lotus Sutra
I. Introduction: Bridging Ancient Wisdom Streams A. Overview of the I Ching and Lotus Sutra Two monumental texts stand as pillars within the vast landscape of East Asian thought: the I Ching (易經, Yijing) or Classic of Changes, and the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra, commonly known as the Lotus Sutra. The I Ching, originating in ancient China, began…
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Journal Reflection: The Feeling of Dharma
Today, I’m reflecting on a moment that left a quiet, resonant imprint on me. My Chan teacher recently completed teachings on the Eightfold Path and the Twelvefold Chain of Causation. After class, I asked him a sincere question—not from the mind, but from the marrow: “If I were to truly practice the Eightfold Path, what…
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The Profound Significance of the Lotus Sutra: An Analysis of the Buddha’s Declarations
Introduction The Lotus Sutra, formally known as the Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra or the Sutra of the White Lotus of the Wonderful Dharma, stands as a cornerstone of Mahayana Buddhism, particularly revered across East Asian traditions 1. Its central tenet, the inherent potential for Buddhahood in all beings without exception—regardless of gender, social standing, or past…
Mr. Altig’s Overview of the Wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Sutra 