Tag: Buddhist art

• The Lotus Sūtra’s Ceremony in the Air and its Embodiment in Nichiren Buddhism

  

  Date: September 2, 2025 Purpose: This document provides a detailed review of the “Ceremony in the Air” as depicted in the Lotus Sūtra, its allegorical meanings, and its profound reinterpretation and practical application within Nichiren Buddhism. I. Overview of the Ceremony in the Air (Lotus Sūtra, Chapters 11-22) The “Ceremony in the Air” is a…

  William Altig

  September 4, 2025

  Chapter 11, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Bodhisattvas of the Earth, Buddhahood, Buddhism, Buddhist Allegory, Buddhist art, Buddhist Doctrine, Buddhist Philosophy, Buddhist practice, Ceremony in the Air, chanting, Enlightenment, Gohonzon, Heian Period, Human Potential, Ichinen Sanzen, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana Buddhism, Many Treasures Buddha, Mystic Law, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nichiren Buddhism, Reality and Wisdom, Shakyamuni Buddha, Spiritual Transformation, Spiritual Virtues, Sutra Commentary, Tendai, Tiantai, Treasure Stupa, Universal Enlightenment

• The Dragon Girl’s Enlightenment: A Briefing on Universal Buddhahood and the Challenge to Tradition in the Lotus Sūtra

  

  Date: August 8, 2024 Subject: Analysis of the Dragon Girl’s Narrative in the Lotus Sūtra‘s Chapter Twelve Purpose: This briefing provides a detailed review of the main themes and most important ideas presented in the provided sources regarding the Dragon Girl’s story in the Lotus Sūtra, highlighting its significance for Mahāyāna Buddhist doctrine, particularly concerning…

  William Altig

  August 8, 2025

  Chapter 12, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Avalokiteśvara, Bodhi, Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī, Buddhism, Buddhist art, Chapter Twelve, Devadatta, Dharma, Dragon Girl, Dragon King Sāgara, East Asian Buddhism, Emptiness (Śūnyatā), Enlightenment, Expedient Means (Upāya), Female Buddhahood, Five Obstacles, Gender Transformation, Guanyin, Henjō Nanshi, Instantaneous Enlightenment, Lotus Sūtra, Mahāyāna Buddhism, Meditation, Nichiren Buddhism, Nichiren Daishonin, Nāga, One Vehicle (Ekayāna), Patriarchal Prejudices, Philosophy, Precious Jewel, Religion, Sokushin Jōbutsu, Spiritual Equality, Spirituality, Spotless World of the South, Subitism, Sudden Enlightenment, Sudhana, Three Thousand Realms in a Single Moment of Life (Ichinen Sanzen), Tiantai School, universal salvation, Wisdom Accumulated, Zhiyi, Śāriputra

• Chapter 24a–The Infinite Mercy of Avalokitesvara

  

  Akshayamati stood before the Lord, whose name translates to Inexhaustible Awareness⁠. His upper robe draped over one shoulder, his hands joined in adoration, he posed a question filled with curiosity: “O Lord, why does this particular name know the great and compassionate Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokitesvara?” The Lord responded with a tone of profound wisdom: “Inexhaustible…

  William Altig

  February 5, 2024

  Chapter 24, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Akshayamati, Avalokitesvara, Avalokitesvara’s Transformations, Bodhisattva Mahāsattva, Breaking the Chains of Suffering, Buddhist art, Buddhist teachings, Chapter 25, Compassion in Buddhism, Crossing Spiritual Waters, Divine Intervention, Fearlessness in Dharma, Infinite Mercy, Lotus Sutra, Miracles of Faith, Overcoming Life’s Flames, Pearl Necklace Symbolism, Protective Power of Avalokitesvara, Rescue and Redemption, Sacred Narratives, Sakyamuni Buddha, Spiritual Liberation, Spiritual Power of Names, Stupa of Many Treasures, Symbolic Illustrations

• Chapter 20–The Unwavering Path of Always Reviled: A Journey Towards Universal Enlightenment

  

  The Lord then addressed the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Mahāsthāmaprāpta (Embodiment of Wisdom’s Might)⁠. Similarly, Mahāsthāmaprāpta, one may infer from what has been said that he who rejects such a Dharmaparyaya as this, who abuses monks, nuns, lay devotees male or female, keeping this Sutra⁠, insults them, treats them with false and harsh words, shall experience dire…

  William Altig

  January 24, 2024

  Chapter 20, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  ancient Tathagatas, Avîki hell, Bodhisattva Journey, Buddhist art, Buddhist Philosophy, Buddhist Scripture, Buddhist teachings, Chapter 20, Compassion and Wisdom, Lotus Sutra, Mahāsthāmaprāpta, Path to Enlightenment, profound realization, Sadaparibhuta, Shakyamuni Buddha, spiritual enlightenment, spiritual redemption, temple garden, transformative power, ultimate awakening

• Chapter 12–The Ocean’s Wisdom: Mañjuśrī’s Enlightenment Teachings

  

  At that moment, a spiritual seeker named Peak of Wisdom, who came from the realm of enlightenment, spoke to the Enlightened One, Prabhūtaratna: “My Lord, shall we return to our realm of enlightenment?” But the Buddha Sākyamuni replied, “Wait a moment, young seeker. First, speak with my disciple, Mañjuśrī, to discuss a matter of spiritual…

  William Altig

  December 21, 2023

  Chapter 12, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Buddhist art, Buddhist teachings, Celestial Imagery, Divine Wisdom, enlightenment path, Lotus Sutra, Mañjuśrī, Mahayana Buddhism, Meditation and Enlightenment, Mystical Teachings, Mythical Interpretations, Ocean King’s Daughter, Peak of Wisdom, Religious Artwork, Sakyamuni Buddha, spiritual enlightenment, spiritual narratives, Spiritual Seekers, Transcendent Wisdom, Vulture Peak

• Chapter 12–The Future Enlightenment of Devadatta

  

  So, monks, what do you think? Was it someone else who was the king at that time? You must not believe that, for I was the King then. And what about the Seer? Do you think it was someone else who was the Seer at that time? No, you must not believe that either, for…

  William Altig

  December 20, 2023

  Chapter 12, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Buddhist art, Buddhist Philosophy, Buddhist teachings, Compassion, Devadatta, Dharma Teachings, Enlightenment, enlightenment path, Ethereal Realms, Ethical Living, Kalpas, Lotus Sutra, Meditation, Mindfulness, Pāramitās, Rebirth, Sacred Texts, Serene Illustrations, Six Perfect Virtues, Spiritual Aspiration, spiritual awakening, Spiritual Journey, Spiritual Purity, Spiritual Transformation, Stairs of the Gods, Stūpa, Sutra Study, Tathāgata Devarāja, Universal Truths, wisdom

• Chapter 9–The Prophesy of the Enlightenment of the Two Thousand Disciples

  

  The Lord looked once more at those two thousand disciples, some still on their journey and others fully realized, all gazing up at him with calm, gentle, and peaceful minds. Then he spoke to the venerable Ānanda: “Do you see, Ānanda, these two thousand monks, some still learning and some who have arrived?” “I do,…

  William Altig

  December 8, 2023

  Chapter 9, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Bodhi Tree, Bodhisattva Path, Buddha Nature, Buddha-lands, Buddhist art, Buddhist disciples, Buddhist Prophecy, Celestial Scenes, Cosmic Imagery, Enlightenment, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana Buddhism, Mahayana Concepts, Meditation, Serene Landscapes, Simultaneous Enlightenment, Spiritual Teachings, Universal Enlightenment, Venerable Ānanda, Visual Representation

• Chapter 6–The Glorious Destiny of Maha-Katyayana: Homage, Stupas, and Buddhahood

  

  The Master once more addressed the gathered monks: I want to share with you, monks, that the senior Maha-Katyayana, my disciple here, will pay homage to eighty billion Buddhas. He will show them respect, honor, reverence, veneration, and devotion. After the passing of these enlightened ones, he will erect stupas—monumental towers that are a thousand…

  William Altig

  November 14, 2023

  Chapter 6, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Bodhisattvas, Buddha, Buddha realm, Buddha’s Disciples, Buddha’s teachings lifespan, Buddhist art, Buddhist ceremonies, Buddhist chants, Buddhist cosmology, Buddhist disciples, Buddhist enlightenment, Buddhist history, Buddhist homage ceremonies, Buddhist iconography, Buddhist practice, Buddhist scripture translation, Buddhist teachings, Buddhist visual culture., devotional practices, Dharma, Enlightenment, epoch, ethical conduct, Gambunada-prabhasa, gold threads, homage to Buddhas, jewel trees, knowledge, Lotus Sutra, Maha-Katyayana, Mahayana Buddhism, precious materials in Buddhism, prophetic Buddhism, pure lands, reverence in Buddhism, ritual offerings, sacred architecture, scripture study, spiritual destiny, spiritual exaltation, stupa, sutra verses, Tathagata, teaching of the Buddha, veneration, visual storyboard