Tag: ethical conduct
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The Counter-Intuitive Path to Peace: A 2,000-Year-Old Guide to Not Judging the World

When we think of peace, we often imagine a quiet room, a tranquil landscape, or a life free from conflict. We see it as an external condition—something to be found by arranging the world around us in a pleasing way. But what if this entire understanding is a misconception? A profound teaching from the ancient…
William Altig
Anārambha-vihāra, Anātman, Aparigraha, Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī, Bodhisattva Practices, Brahmavihāras, Chapter 14, Craving, Curiosity, dependent origination, Doctrinal Hierarchy, Dogma, Domination, Egolessness, Ekayāna, emptiness, Equanimity, ethical conduct, Grasping, Happily Dwelling Conduct, Lotus Sūtra, Meditative Discipline, Metaphysical Status, Nirvāṇa, Non-Classification, Non-Clinging, Non-Dual Perception, peaceful practices, Phenomenal Classification, prajñā, Pratītyasamutpāda, Provisional Teachings, Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra, Samsāra, Samādhi, Single Vehicle, Skillful Means, Spiritual Pride, Taṇhā, three vehicles, triyāna, Understanding, Upekkhā, upāya, Vedanā, Vihāra of Practice, wisdom, Śūnyatā, Śīla -
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…
William Altig
“Wonders” allegory, #Resilience, abhijna, ṛddhi, bodhisattva way, Brahmanism, Buddha’s ambivalent view, Buddha-nature, Chapter 27, Cloud Thunder Sound Constellation King Flower Wisdom, collective liberation, compassionate propagation, Divine Ear, Divine Eye, Engaged Buddhism, enlightenment (bodhi), Equanimity, ethical conduct, Freedom by Undefiled Wisdom, fundamental ignorance, human revolution, Internal Transformation, karma, King Wonderful Adornment, Knowledge of Others’ Minds, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana Buddhism, modern Buddhist practice, Nichiren’s teaching, non-duality of person and environment (Eshō Funi), Patanjali’s Yoga-sūtra, personal transformation, Pure Eye, Pure Storehouse, Pure Virtue, purification of mind, Recollection of Past Lives, respect for all beings, self-belittling attitudes, sharing the Dharma, siddhis, six abhijñā interpretation, Six Paramitas, Skillful Means (Upaya), social engagement, social peace, spiritual powers, supernatural feats, Supernatural Powers (ṛddhi), Tathagata, Teachers of the Law chapter, Theravada tradition, Tiantai patriarch Zhanran -
The Quest for Enlightenment: An Analysis of the Brahma King’s Verses in the Lotus Sūtra

I. Introduction The Lotus Sūtra, revered as one of the most influential texts in Mahayana Buddhism, is celebrated for its profound teachings on the inherent potential for Buddhahood in all beings and its skillful use of parables to illuminate complex Buddhist principles.1 Central to its message is the concept of expedient means (upaya), where the…
William Altig
arhats, Avalokiteśvara, Bodhi, Brahma King Great Compassion, Brahma Kings, Brahma Sahampati, Brahmaloka, Buddha, Buddha Dharma, Buddha Great-Penetrating-Wisdom-Victory, Buddhism, Buddhist cosmology, Buddhist deities, Buddhist meditation, buddhist parables, Buddhist Philosophy, Buddhist Symbolism, Chapter Seven, Compassion, Dharma, Dharmapala, Eightfold Path, Enlightenment, ethical conduct, expedient means, Four Noble Truths, Great Compassion, Guanshiyin, hinduism, Ichinen Sanzen, Jhanas, Lotus Sutra, Lotus Sūtra, Magic City Parable, Mahayana Buddhism, Nichiren Buddhism, Nirvana, one-eyed turtle analogy, Parable of the Magic City, Pratyekabuddhas, rare encounter with Buddha, religious study, Samsara, Samyaksambuddhas, Spiritual Journey, Spiritual Liberation, three thousand worlds, trichiliocosm, Upaya -
Chapter 6–The Epoch of Tamalapatrakandanagandha: Maha-Maudgalyayana’s Journey to Buddhahood

The Master once again addressed the gathered monks: I want to share with you, monks, that the senior Maha-Maudgalyayana, my disciple here, will pay homage to twenty-eight thousand Buddhas. He will show them various kinds of respect, honor, reverence, veneration, and devotion. After passing these enlightened ones, he will erect stupas—monumental towers made from seven…
William Altig
ancient prophecies., Bodhisattvas, Buddha, Buddha law, Buddha realm, Buddhist ceremonies, Buddhist cosmology, Buddhist disciples, Buddhist monks, Buddhist ritual, Buddhist stupas, Buddhist teachings, devotional flowers, Dharma, enlightenment path, epoch, ethical conduct, homage, incense offerings, Jina, knowledge, Lotus Sutra, magical powers, Maha-Maudgalyayana, Mahayana Buddhism, Meditation, perfumed garlands, philosophical discourse, precious materials, Sandalwood fragrance, spiritual enlightenment, Spiritual Journey, stupa, Sugata, Tathagata, Timeless Teachings, transcendent faculties, victory banners, visual storyboard -
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…
William Altig
Bodhisattvas, Buddha, Buddha realm, Buddha’s Disciples, Buddha’s teachings lifespan, Buddhist art, Buddhist ceremonies, Buddhist chants, Buddhist cosmology, Buddhist disciples, Buddhist enlightenment, Buddhist history, Buddhist homage ceremonies, Buddhist iconography, Buddhist practice, Buddhist scripture translation, Buddhist teachings, Buddhist visual culture., devotional practices, Dharma, Enlightenment, epoch, ethical conduct, Gambunada-prabhasa, gold threads, homage to Buddhas, jewel trees, knowledge, Lotus Sutra, Maha-Katyayana, Mahayana Buddhism, precious materials in Buddhism, prophetic Buddhism, pure lands, reverence in Buddhism, ritual offerings, sacred architecture, scripture study, spiritual destiny, spiritual exaltation, stupa, sutra verses, Tathagata, teaching of the Buddha, veneration, visual storyboard