Tag: Buddha-nature
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The Secret to Deeper Relationships Is an Ancient Act of ‘Summoning’
We’ve all said it, or at least thought it, about someone we know: “They live in their own world.” It’s a common phrase, a shorthand to describe someone who seems distant, preoccupied, or tuned into a different frequency than our own. We usually mean it as a casual observation, a way to explain a gap…
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4 Shocking Lessons on Devotion from a Bodhisattva Who Set Himself on Fire
Introduction: The Outer Limits of Devotion What is the greatest sacrifice you could imagine making for something you truly believe in? For an idea, a truth, or a sense of gratitude so profound that no ordinary gift would suffice? The ancient Buddhist text, the Lotus Sutra, contains one of history’s most extreme and startling tales…
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The 13th-Century Monk Who Said ‘Ignore Everyone’—And Why It’s the Secret to Deeper Listening
Introduction: The Practitioner’s Paradox In any spiritual path, a fundamental tension exists between two essential guides: the wisdom of others and the truth of our own experience. On one hand, we have sacred texts, traditions, and teachers—a map charted by those who have already walked the path. To ignore this map is to risk getting…
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The Treasure Tower: Unpacking a 2,000-Year-Old Vision of Your Untapped Potential
In our modern lives, the search for meaning can feel like a trek through a vast and confusing landscape. We look for purpose in our careers, our relationships, and our personal growth, often feeling that the profound answers we seek are somewhere “out there,” just beyond our reach. We read, we strive, we search, hoping…
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A 13th-Century Monk’s Paradox That Reimagines Enlightenment
We often picture spiritual wisdom as a distant peak, accessible only to the most dedicated climbers. The common cultural image suggests that the deepest truths are complex, abstract, and reserved for an elite few—monks, scholars, or gurus who have spent decades in seclusion and study. We assume that the path to enlightenment is an arduous…
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More Than a Reward: 5 Radical Ideas Hidden in a 2,000-Year-Old Buddhist Text
For many, religious or spiritual practice is often seen through a transactional lens: perform specific actions, say the right words, do good deeds, and you will receive a reward—a better life, good fortune, or a favorable place in the hereafter. This view presents spiritual development as a kind of karmic accounting, where we steadily accumulate…
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The Parable of the Physician’s Ultimate Prescription
In a city plagued by chronic illness, there lived a wise Physician whose knowledge contained “the store of the hidden core of all the Buddhas”. This Physician possessed a single, ultimate Prescription that promised a cure for all suffering and revealed that the inherent nature of every resident was perfect health—a supreme state of “boundless…
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4 Surprising Truths About Why the Buddha’s Most Important Teaching Is Also His Most Hated
Imagine discovering a medicine that could cure every ailment, a universal remedy for all suffering. You would expect it to be met with universal joy and gratitude. Yet, what if the creator of this medicine prophesied that it would attract immense “hatred and jealousy”? This is the profound paradox at the heart of the Lotus…
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The Light You Already Got
A bluesy folk tale about a man who burned for a thousand years and a girl who smiled just once—and how they both found the same light. This song weaves an ancient Buddhist paradox into American roots music tradition. It’s the story of Strong-Heart, who gave everything—even setting himself ablaze for centuries—trying to reach enlightenment…
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5 Ancient Buddhist Ideas That Turn the Path to Enlightenment on Its Head
Introduction: The Long Road to Enlightenment Just Got Shorter For many, the word “enlightenment” conjures images of an arduous spiritual quest. We picture a path demanding decades, if not lifetimes, of disciplined meditation, extreme self-denial, and unwavering effort. It’s a goal reserved for the most dedicated ascetics, a distant peak at the end of a…
Mr. Altig’s Overview of the Wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Sutra 