Tag: Engaged Buddhism
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Empty the Ocean
What do you do when the world’s suffering feels too vast to bear? When your two hands seem powerless against an ocean of problems? This song was born from an ancient Buddhist teaching about Avalokitesvara—the Bodhisattva who listens to the cries of the world—and a very modern question: How do we stay engaged with compassion…
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Love Till Love’s the Only Sure
An old physician rolls into town with medicine that promises to cure any illness forever. But there’s a warning: “Many will hate this cure with jealousy.” Why? This 14-minute spiritual blues odyssey answers that question through the marriage of Buddhist philosophy and American roots music. It’s about three healers whose identities are threatened by ultimate…
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This 2,000-Year-Old Text Is a Recipe for Life—Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Just Read It
Introduction: The Gap Between Knowing and Doing There’s a well-known gap between knowing something in theory and understanding it through experience. An old metaphor captures this perfectly: you can read a recipe for a meal, memorize every ingredient, and understand the chemistry of cooking, but you will remain completely ignorant of the food’s taste. True…
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Samantabhadra’s Whisper
In the hush of the later age,where neon nights and headlines rage,a quiet vow crosses the sky:Keep the Sutra, let none deny. Copy each character, slow and true,one Buddha born in every blue.Ink becomes breath, breath becomes light,pages ignite the hidden sight. Read aloud till walls dissolve,recite until the heart resolves.Each sound a shrine, each…
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Avalokiteśvara’s Role and Transformation in Mahāyāna Buddhism
Executive Summary This document synthesizes a detailed analysis of Avalokiteśvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, as presented in Chapter Twenty-Five of the Lotus Sūtra, titled “The Universal Gateway.” The analysis reveals a complex figure whose significance extends far beyond that of a simple devotional deity. The central thesis is that the text presents a dual-layered understanding…
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The Allegory of “Wonders” in the Lotus Sūtra and Modern Buddhist Practice
This briefing document examines the allegorical interpretation of “wonders” in Chapter Twenty-Seven of the Lotus Sūtra, “The Former Deeds of King Wondrous Splendor,” and how these ancient narratives translate into meaningful modern Buddhist practice. It highlights the transformation of supernatural feats into metaphors for internal and social change, emphasizing compassion, self-control, resilience, and respect as…
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The Pedagogy of Awakening: Exploring Learning and Practice in Chapter Two of the Lotus Sutra
Introduction: Setting the Stage with the Lotus Sutra and Chapter Two The Lotus Sutra, formally known as the Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra or the “Scripture of the Lotus Blossom of the Fine Dharma,” stands as a cornerstone of Mahayana Buddhism, holding a position of profound reverence and influence, particularly within East Asian traditions . This revered…
Mr. Altig’s Overview of the Wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Sutra 