Tag: Abhaya
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5 Surprising Lessons from an Ancient Bodhisattva on How to Face an Overwhelming World

It is a deeply familiar weight in our modern age: we are confronted daily with a seemingly endless tide of global problems, and in the face of such overwhelming need, we feel crushingly inadequate. We look at the scale of what is necessary and, as one ancient text observes, come to “believe that we are…
William Altig
Abhaya, Amitabha Buddha, Anatta, Avalokitesvara, Bodhicitta, Bodhisattva, Bodhisattva vow, Buddhist Compassion, Buddhist deity, Buddhist Ethics, Buddhist iconography, Buddhist meditation, Buddhist Philosophy, Buddhist practice, Buddhist psychology, Buddhist Symbolism, Buddhist teachings, Buddhist vows, Buddhist Wisdom, Chapter 25 Lotus Sutra, Chenrezig, Chinese Buddhism, comparative religion, Compassion, compassionate action, dealing with suffering, dependent origination, East Asian Buddhism, emptiness, fearlessness, gender in Buddhism, Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin, helping others, interconnectedness, kannon, karuna, Kumarajiva, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana Buddhism, mindfulness practice, Non-self, oceanic vow, overcoming despair, prajna, pratityasamutpada, Pure Land Buddhism, religious studies, Shantideva, Skillful Means, spiritual hope, Spiritual Transformation, Sunyata, thousand-armed Avalokitesvara, Upaya, wisdom and compassion -
The Vow, The Foe, and The Final Crew

The Buddha spoke, “I’m leaving soon; the world will turn to night, Who will guard my teaching, and keep the truth alight?” A million bright disciples, from shining worlds afar, Stepped up and made a promise, reaching for a star. The Messenger’s Promise (Chapter 13): “We are your loyal messengers, so do not worry now! We’ll spread the sacred…
William Altig
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4 Shocking Lessons on Conviction from the Lotus Sutra

Introduction: More Than Just a Promise We’ve all made promises. Some are small, but others are profound vows that shape the course of our lives—a commitment to a person, a cause, or a belief. We tend to think of conviction as a straightforward matter of sincerity and willpower. If you believe strongly enough and are…
William Altig
Abhaya, Abhaya Mudra, arhats, Arrogant false sages, Arrogant lay people, Arrogant priests, Bhaiṣajyarāja, Bhikshunis, Bodhisattvas, Bodhisattvas of the Earth, Buddha’s extinction, Chapter 13, Chapter 15 (Emerging from the Earth), Delegated authority, ekayāna (one vehicle), Encouraging Devotion (Kan Ji), Essential Teaching (Honmon), Evil Age, Fearless Vow, Great Delight in Speaking, Karmic Purification, Kṣānti, kosen-rufu, Latter Day of the Law, Lotus Sūtra, Mahāprajāpatī, Mahāpratibhāna, Mappō, Medicine King, Miao-lo, Nichiren Buddhism, Nichiren Daishonin, Not sparing bodies and lives, perseverance, Predictions of Buddhahood (vyākaraṇa), Propagation of the Dharma, Saha world, Spiritual conflict, Superficial Connection, Theoretical Teaching (Shakumon), Three Powerful Enemies, Tiantai Buddhism, Votary of the Lotus Sūtra, Wonderful Dharma, Yaśodharā, Zhiyi, Śākyamuni Buddha