Tag: Dharma

• “Lotus Sutra Bodhisattva Study” – Main Themes and Key Insights

  

  This briefing document provides a comprehensive review of the provided excerpts from “Lotus Sutra Bodhisattva Study,” focusing on Chapter Twenty-Seven, “The Former Affairs of King Wonderful Adornment,” and the Bodhisattvas Medicine-King and Medicine-Superior. It highlights the main themes, most important ideas, and significant facts, incorporating direct quotes from the source material. I. Overview of the…

  William Altig

  August 20, 2025

  Chapter 27, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Buddhism, Dharma, Enlightenment, Eradicating misfortune, Good roots, healing, Karmic well-being, liberation, Lotus Sūtra, Medicine-King Bodhisattva, Medicine-Superior Bodhisattva, Meditation, Mental diseases, Merit, Philosophy, Physical diseases, Religion, Skillful Means (Upaya), Spiritual well-being, Spirituality, Suffering, Sūtra Spoken by the Buddha on Visualizing the Two Bodhisattvas Bhaisajyarāja and Bhaisajyasamudgata, Universal Buddhahood, Visualization meditations

• Limitless Opportunities for Enlightenment in the Lotus Sūtra

  

  I. Introduction: The “Ink-Powder” Parable Chapter 7 of the Lotus Sūtra, “The Parable of the Phantom City,” opens with the Buddha illustrating an “inconceivably long span of time” through a vivid analogy known as the “ink-powder” parable. This parable serves as a foundational element for understanding the cosmic scope of the Buddha’s teachings and the…

  William Altig

  August 16, 2025

  Chapter 7, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Boundless Opportunities, Buddha’s Cosmic Perspective, Buddhahood, Chapter 7, Continuous Journey, Cosmic Analogy, cosmic time, Delusion and Attachment, Dharma, Enlightenment Timeline, Great-Universal-Wisdom-Excellence Buddha, Illusory Nature of Time, Immeasurable Kalpas, Infinite Scale, Ink-powder parable, Karmic Connections, Long Cultivation to Enlightenment, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana sutras, Mentor-Disciple Bond, Non-dual Perspective, Parable of Immeasurable Time, Past Lives, Patience, perseverance, Phantom City Parable, Shakyamuni Buddha, Spiritual Development, Spiritual Relationships

• The Lotus Sūtra and Universal Buddha-Nature

  

  Core Thesis: The “Lotus Sūtra” deeply emphasizes the universal potential for enlightenment (Buddha-nature) inherent in all beings. The Sūtra’s profound praise for those who uphold and propagate its teachings signifies the Buddha’s recognition and encouragement of this latent Buddha-nature, effectively entrusting practitioners with the fulfillment of his original vow to lead all beings to the…

  William Altig

  August 15, 2025

  Chapter 16, Chapter 21, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Bodhisattva Never Disparaging, Bodhisattvas of the Earth, Buddha-nature, Chapter 21, Dharma, Enlightenment, Entrustment, Latter Day of the Law, Lotus Sūtra, Mahāyāna Buddhism, Miao-lo, Nam-myōhō-renge-kyō, Nichiren Daishonin, Odaimoku, Praise for Sutra Keepers, Repaying Gratitude, Samantabhadra, Shakyamuni Buddha, Superior Practices, Three Treasures, Universal Buddhahood

• Arrogance vs. Faith in the Lotus Sutra

  

  Overview This briefing document reviews the central role of arrogance and its antitheses—faith and respect—as crucial factors in understanding and benefiting from the profound teachings of the Lotus Sutra, particularly as highlighted in Chapter 2 (“Expedient Means”) and elaborated upon by Nichiren Daishonin. The sources emphasize that the Buddha’s “wonderful and inconceivable” Dharma requires an…

  William Altig

  August 14, 2025

  Chapter 2, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  arrogance, Bodhisattva Never Disparaging, Buddha-nature, Buddhist practice, Chapter 2 Expedient Means, Dharma, Enlightenment, faith, Five Thousand Arrogant People, Fourteen Slanders, humility, karma, Lotus Sutra, Miao-lo, Nichiren Daishonin, Obstacles to Dharma, One Buddha Vehicle, Persecution, Receptivity, respect, Shakyamuni Buddha, Slander, Spiritual Growth, Three Powerful Enemies, Śraddhā, Śāriputra

• Embodying the Lotus Sūtra – The Buddha’s Voice in Our Words

  

  This briefing synthesizes key themes from the provided source, “Embodying the Lotus Sūtra: The Buddha’s Voice in Our Words,” focusing on the concept of how a practitioner’s actions and words, rooted in the Lotus Sūtra, can become a vehicle for the Buddha’s compassion and wisdom. It draws extensively from the Lotus Sūtra itself, Nichiren Daishonin’s…

  William Altig

  August 13, 2025

  Chapter 19, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Bodhisattva Constant-Endeavor, Bodhisattva Never Disparaging, Bodily Reading, Buddha-nature, Buddha’s Voice, Chapter 10, Chapter 19, Chapter 20, Compassion, Constant Exertion, Daisaku Ikeda, Dharani Chapter, Dharma, Dharma propagation, Enlightenment, Integrating word and deed, Josei Toda, Lion’s Roar, Lotus Sūtra, Merits of the Tongue, Mystic Law, Nam-myōhō-renge-kyō, Nichiren Daishonin, Nichirō, open heart, Peaceful action, perseverance, Practicing the sutra with body and mind, Respect for Buddha-nature, Sadāparibhūta, Shakyamuni, Sharing Buddhism, Six Sense Faculties, Soka Gakkai, The Benefits of the Teacher of the Law, The Teacher of the Law, The Three Kinds of Treasure, Thich Nhat Hanh, Thus Come One, Twenty-four-character Lotus Sutra, universal salvation

• 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

• Devadatta’s Enlightenment in the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren’s Philosophy

  

  1. Executive Summary This briefing examines the paradoxical concept of Devadatta’s enlightenment, a central tenet in the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren’s philosophy. Devadatta, cousin and notorious adversary of Shakyamuni Buddha, committed two of the five “Anantarika-karma” (grave offenses) and was traditionally condemned to the Avīci Hell, a realm of incessant suffering. However, the Lotus Sutra,…

  William Altig

  August 7, 2025

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

  Adversaries as Teachers, Arhatship, Avici Hell, Bodhisattva Ideal, Buddha, Buddhahood, Buddhism, Changing Poison into Medicine, compassion., Devadatta, Dharma, Dragon King’s Daughter, Enlightenment, Ethical Implications, Final Dharma Age, Five Anantarika-karma, Grave Offenses, Heavenly King Buddha, Hell of Incessant Suffering, Ichinen Sanzen, Inherent Buddha-nature, Instantaneous Enlightenment, karma, Karmic Retribution, Kitō-shō, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana Buddhism, Mappo, Meditation, Nichiren, Non-dualistic Perspective, Philosophy, Religion, Schism in Sangha, Shakyamuni Buddha, Soteriology, Spiritual Growth, Theravada Buddhism, Treatise on Prayers, Universal Buddhahood, universal salvation

• Faith, Eternal Buddhahood, and the Attainment of Supreme Enlightenment in the Lotus Sūtra (Chapter Seventeen)

  

  Date: June 3, 2025 Subject: Analysis of Lotus Sūtra Chapter Seventeen, focusing on the declaration of the Buddha’s eternal lifespan and its implications for attaining supreme enlightenment. Sources: Excerpts from “Lotus Sūtra Chapter Seventeen Analysis,” with specific references to cited texts. Key Takeaways: This briefing document analyzes the profound teachings presented in Chapter Seventeen of…

  William Altig

  June 3, 2025

  Chapter 17, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, Avinivartaniya, Bodhisattva Path, Buddha’s Eternal Life, Buddhism, Buddhist Hope, Buddhist Merit, Buddhist Philosophy, Buddhist practice, Buddhānusmṛti, Chapter 16 Lotus Sutra, Chapter 17 Lotus Sutra, Dharma, faith, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana Buddhism, Maitreya, Non-Retrogression, Overcoming Forgetfulness, Saddharma Pundarika Sutra, sangha, Spiritual Certainty, Spiritual Development, spiritual enlightenment, Spiritual Transformation.

• The Conjured City Blues

  

  “The Conjured City Blues” is a soulful fusion of ancient Buddhist wisdom and the raw emotional power of the Blues. Inspired by Chapter Seven of the Lotus Sutra, the song journeys through the vastness of suffering, perseverance, and hope expressed by the Brahma Kings’ universal vow for enlightenment. With a slow, haunting melody rooted in…

  William Altig

  May 18, 2025

  Chapter 7, music, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  acoustic blues, Ancient Wisdom, Blues, Blues Guitar, Buddha, Buddhism, buddhist music, Cosmic Blues, Cosmic Journey, Deep Blues, Dharma, emotional music, Enlightenment, Folk Blues, Folk Music, hopeful blues, inspirational music, lotus flower, Lotus Sutra, Meditation, meditation music, mellow blues, Mindfulness, mystical blues, perseverance, reflective music, Religion, Soulful, soulful vocals, spiritual awakening, spiritual blues, Spiritual Journey, Suffering, universal vow

• Understanding Existence and Non-Existence in the Lotus Sutra: A Path to Inner Peace

  

  The Lotus Sutra, a revered scripture within Mahayana Buddhism, holds a significant place due to its teachings on the universal potential for enlightenment. It proclaims that Buddhahood, the highest state of wisdom and compassion, is inherent in all beings, irrespective of their social standing or personal history.1 This inclusive message forms the foundation for understanding…

  William Altig

  May 14, 2025

  Chapter 14, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Anatta, Anicca, Bodhisattva, Buddhism, despair, Dharma, Dualistic Perception, Dukkha, emptiness, Enlightenment, Impermanence, Inverted Discrimination, Judgement, Lotus Sutra, Madhyamaka, Meditation, middle way, Mindfulness, Nichiren, Non-attachment, Non-self, peaceful practices, Suffering, Sunyata