Tag: Buddhist cosmology
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Beyond the Halo: 5 Surprising Truths About the Buddha’s Mystical Light
When we picture the Buddha, a common image comes to mind: a serene figure with a radiant halo or a glowing dot between his eyebrows. But on ancient Vulture Peak, this was no simple sign of divinity. The audience for this light wasn’t just human; it was a cosmic convergence of monks, kings, and a…
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Why a Buddhist Demon’s Violent Threat is Really a Lesson in Compassion
We often turn to sacred texts expecting to find words of peace and solace. It can be jarring, then, to encounter a passage that sounds like a violent threat, especially when it comes from beings vowing to protect a sacred teaching. How can a demon’s harsh vow to split someone’s head into seven pieces become…
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5 Mind-Bending Concepts from an Ancient Buddhist Text That Will Change How You See Time
Introduction: Are You a Prisoner of Time? Do you ever feel like you’re in a battle with the clock? Some days, time drags on endlessly. On others, it flies by, leaving you wondering where the hours went. We live by schedules and deadlines, constantly feeling that we are running out of time. It’s a universal…
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The Auspicious Dawn of Wisdom: An Analysis of Great-Universal-Wisdom-Excellence Buddha’s Enlightenment in the Lotus Sutra
The Lotus Sutra stands as a cornerstone of Mahayana Buddhism, deeply revered across various East Asian Buddhist traditions. Many consider it to encapsulate the ultimate and complete teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, offering a path to salvation for all. Its narratives and parables present a transformative perspective on the Buddhist path and the very essence of…
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The Needle on Sumeru’s Peak: An Analysis of Rarity and Merit in Nichiren Daishonin’s Shō Hokke Daimoku-shō
I. Introduction: The Rarity of Encountering the Mystic Law A. Presentation of the Core Passage Within the corpus of writings attributed to the 13th-century Japanese Buddhist reformer Nichiren Daishonin, a particularly striking passage appears in his Treatise on Chanting the Great Title of the Lotus Sūtra (Shō Hokke Daimoku-shō). It presents a vivid, almost fantastical…
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The Quest for Enlightenment: An Analysis of the Brahma King’s Verses in the Lotus Sūtra
I. Introduction The Lotus Sūtra, revered as one of the most influential texts in Mahayana Buddhism, is celebrated for its profound teachings on the inherent potential for Buddhahood in all beings and its skillful use of parables to illuminate complex Buddhist principles.1 Central to its message is the concept of expedient means (upaya), where the…
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The Profound Implications of Hearing the Dharma: An Analysis of Lotus Sūtra Chapter Seven Verses
The Lotus Sūtra, revered as one of the most significant scriptures in Mahayana Buddhism, holds a central place in the spiritual lives of countless practitioners across East Asia. Its teachings, often considered the final and most complete exposition of Shakyamuni Buddha’s wisdom, articulate the profound principle of universal Buddhahood, asserting that all beings possess the…
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Daily Dharma Study
He will be able to recognize All the sounds and voices Inside and outside the one thousand million Sumeru-worlds, [Each being composed of the six regions] Down to the Avīci Hell and up to the Highest Heaven. And yet his organ of hearing will not be destroyed. He will be able to recognize everything by…
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Sharing Boundless Merit: A Deep Dive into the Lotus Sutra’s Teachings on Compassion and Generosity
I. Introduction: The Profound Principle of Shared Merit in the Lotus Sutra The Lotus Sutra, revered as a cornerstone of Mahayana Buddhism, presents a comprehensive vision of the path to enlightenment, emphasizing the inherent potential for Buddhahood within all beings and advocating the compassionate path of the Bodhisattva 1. This scripture, which has profoundly influenced…
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Chapter 25d–Virudhaka’s Spell of Unyielding Guardianship
Another ruler of the cardinal directions, Virudhaka, was present at the gathering. Surrounded by countless legions of Kumbhandas, he stood up, draped his robe over one shoulder, and with clasped hands, spoke to the Lord: “I, too, will offer protective spells to benefit all people and especially safeguard those qualified preachers who uphold these teachings.…
Mr. Altig’s Overview of the Wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Sutra 