Tag: Dharmakāya

• Why a Single Moment of Belief Is Worth More Than a Lifetime of Good Deeds: 3 Radical Ideas from the Lotus Sutra

  

  Introduction: The Hidden Economy of Spiritual Practice Most of us share a common understanding of what it means to do good. Whether in a spiritual or secular context, we think of it as a process of accumulation—a long, steady effort of performing kind acts, maintaining ethical conduct, and contributing positively to the world. We imagine…

  William Altig

  October 25, 2025

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

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• What If the Buddha Faked His Own Death? 5 Mind-Bending Truths from the Lotus Sutra

  

  Introduction: The Buddha We Think We Know Most of us know the story: a young prince named Siddhartha Gautama, shielded from suffering, renounces his palace, seeks the truth of existence, and finally achieves supreme enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. This image of the historical Buddha—a man who found the path and taught it for several…

  William Altig

  October 20, 2025

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

  attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime, Chapter Sixteen, Dharmakāya, Ekayāna, Eternal Buddha, Honmon, Lotus Sutra, Mahāyāna Buddhism, Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, Nichiren Buddhism, Nirmāṇakāya, One Vehicle, Origin teaching, Parable of the Skillful Physician, Pure Land, Saṃsāra is Nirvāṇa, Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra, Shakumon, Skill in Means, Tathāgata Lifespan, Three Bodies of the Buddha, Tiāntái school, Trace Teaching, Trikāya, universal salvation, Upāya-kauśalya, Śākyamuni Buddha

• 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…

  William Altig

  October 17, 2025

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

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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…

  William Altig

  October 14, 2025

  Chapter 10, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi, Buddha-nature, Buddhahood, Chapter 10 (The Teacher of the Dharma), Dharmakāya, Ekayāna, Enlightenment, Gradual Path, Gāthā, Ichinen Sanzen, Instantaneous Assurance, Joyful Faith, Lotus Sutra, Medicine-King Bodhisattva, Moment’s Thought of Joy, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nichiren, One Vehicle, Parable of the Burning House, Phrase, Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra, Skillful Means, Strenuous Effort, Sudden Awakening, Tathāgatagarbha, Tiantai School, Transmission, upāya, Votary’s Mission, Wonderful Dharma

• The Spiritual Loophole: How a Single Moment of Joy Can Outweigh a Lifetime of Effort

  

  We often approach spiritual growth with a certain kind of economic mindset. We believe that to make a meaningful impact—on ourselves and on the world—we must invest heavily. This investment usually takes the form of immense, sustained effort: years of practice, countless hours of study, and profound personal sacrifice. It is natural to admire those…

  William Altig

  October 7, 2025

  Chapter 18, Chapter 2, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

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• Lotus Sūtra’s Hidden Enlightenment

  

  I. Executive Summary Chapter Eight of the Lotus Sūtra marks a profound turning point in Buddhist thought, where five hundred of the Buddha’s monks realize the limitations of their previous spiritual attainments. Their declaration, “The Nirvāṇa we attained was Only part of the immeasurable treasures of yours. We were like a foolish man with no…

  William Altig

  September 15, 2025

  Chapter 8, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

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• The Lotus Sutra’s Paradox: Rarity vs. Eternal Buddha

  

  1. Introduction: The Dynamic Revelations of Truth in the Lotus Sūtra The Lotus Sūtra (Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtram) is a foundational and highly influential text in Mahāyāna Buddhism, particularly in East Asia. It presents key Mahāyāna tenets such as the One Vehicle (ekayāna), the distinction between expedient and ultimate teachings, and the revolutionary concept of the…

  William Altig

  July 26, 2025

  Chapter 16, Chapter 2, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law, Uncategorized

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