Tag: Enlightenment
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Chapter 9–Prophecies of Enlightenment: The Destined Path of Ānanda, Rāhula, and the Two Thousand
At that moment, the venerable Ānanda (Joy/Bliss) was filled with anticipation, wondering if he and the others would receive a similar prophecy. Driven by this thought, he stood, bowed at the Lord’s feet, and spoke these heartfelt words. The venerable Rāhula (Fetter/Bond) also, feeling the same stirrings of hope, bowed before the Lord and pleaded,…
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Chapter 8–The Parable of the Hidden Gem: Awakening to the Supreme Path
Upon hearing the Lord’s proclamation of their future destiny, the five hundred enlightened disciples (Arhats) were filled with contentment, joy, and delight. They approached the Lord’s place of sitting, humbly bowed to his feet, and confessed:”We acknowledge our mistake, O Lord. We believed we had reached the ultimate state of Nirvana, but we were mistaken.…
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Chapter 7–The Singular Path to Nirvana: The Tathagata’s Guiding Illusion in the Forest of Delusion
When the Tathagata perceives that the moment for his total extinction is near and observes that the assembly is pure, faithful, immersed in the law of emptiness, devoted to meditation and profound contemplation, then the Tathagata, recognizing the appropriate time, gathers all Bodhisattvas and disciples to instruct them thus: In this world, monks, there is…
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Chapter 7–The Cosmic Assembly of Tathagatas: A Pantheon of Perfect Enlightenment
I proclaim to you, monks, with utmost certainty, that the sixteen youthful princes who served as novices and interpreters of the law under the Lord’s guidance have all reached the pinnacle of supreme, perfect enlightenment. They now reside in various Buddha-lands across the vastness of space, each one preaching the law to countless disciples and…
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Chapter 7–Journey of Devotion: A Visual Exploration
Then, monks, the great Brahma angels from fifty hundred thousand myriads of universes gathered together, each one mounting their own divine aerial car. They carried with them divine bags filled with celestial flowers, each bag as large as Mount Sumeru. They journeyed through all four quarters of the universe, finally arriving at the zenith. At…
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Chapter 7–Divine Convocation: A Visualization of the Lotus Sutra’s Celestial Grandeur
Thereupon, monks, the great Brahma angels in the fifty hundred thousand myriads of kotis of spheres, mounted their own divine aerial cars, took with them divine bags filled with celestial flowers, and followed the trail of splendor and glory through the quarters until they arrived at the destined location. There, they beheld the Lord Mahabhignagnanabhibhu…
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Chapter 7–The Divine Petition and Cosmic Illumination
After offering their praises and celestial vehicles, the great Brahma angels, monks, stood before the Lord Mahabhignagnanabhibhu (Great-Knowledge-and-Dominance) , the Tathagata, with a heartfelt plea. Their voices rang out with a deep longing: “May the Lord set in motion the wheel of the law! May the Lord preach final rest! May the Lord release all…
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Chapter 6–The Glorious Destiny of Maha-Katyayana: Homage, Stupas, and Buddhahood
The Master once more addressed the gathered monks: I want to share with you, monks, that the senior Maha-Katyayana, my disciple here, will pay homage to eighty billion Buddhas. He will show them respect, honor, reverence, veneration, and devotion. After the passing of these enlightened ones, he will erect stupas—monumental towers that are a thousand…
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Chapter 6–Subhuti’s Cosmic Pilgrimage to Enlightenment
Understanding the thoughts burgeoning in the minds of his senior disciples, the Master once more spoke to the gathered monks: This eminent disciple of mine, monks, the senior Subhuti, will also embark on a spiritual journey. He will pay homage to countless Buddhas, numbering into the trillions; he will show them respect, honor, reverence, veneration,…
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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…
Mr. Altig’s Overview of the Wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Sutra 