Tag: buddhist parables
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An Ancient Text’s Surprising Diagnosis for Modern Unhappiness

We are all engaged in a lifelong pursuit of happiness. It’s a fundamental human drive, yet for many, it remains an elusive goal, always just over the horizon. We follow the prescribed paths—career success, new experiences, material comfort—only to find ourselves back where we started, with the persistent feeling that we’re missing something obvious, as…
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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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The Enduring Example of the Never-Despising Bodhisattva in the Lotus Sūtra

I. Introduction: The Lotus Sūtra stands as a cornerstone of Mahayana Buddhism, revered for its profound teachings on the nature of enlightenment and the path to Buddhahood.1 This influential scripture utilizes a rich tapestry of parables and narratives to convey complex philosophical ideas in an accessible manner.2 A central theme within the Lotus Sūtra is…
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Chapter 5–The Parable of the Plants

“To further clarify this matter, the Enlightened One shared the following verses:” “Born from a passion for sacred truth,I break the bounded loop,to all I teach, discerning well,their hearts where different dispositions dwell. The wise protect these words divine,guard the mystery, keep it in line,revealing not to those alive,the understanding they might derive. This knowledge…

