Tag: Lotus Sūtra

• The Lotus Sutra, the One Vehicle, and Nichiren’s Embodiment of Buddha’s Mind

  

  I. Executive Summary This briefing document examines the profound doctrinal shift introduced by the Lotus Sūtra within Mahayana Buddhism, particularly its declaration of the “One Vehicle” (Ekayāna) as the ultimate path to universal enlightenment, transcending prior teachings as “expedient means” (upāya). It highlights the pivotal narrative in Chapter Six where the Buddha’s foremost disciples, representing…

  William Altig

  September 1, 2025

  Chapter 6, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Arhatship, Bodhisattva, Bodily Reading, Buddha’s Mind, Buddhahood, chanting, Diamond Sūtra, emptiness (śūnyatā), Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land, Expedient Means (Upāya), Hinayana, inner transformation, Latter Day of the Law, Lotus Sūtra, Lotus Sūtra Chapter Six, mahayana, Mahā-Kātyāyana, Mahā-Kāśyapa, Maudgalyāyana, Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō (Daimoku), Nichiren, Omniscience, One Vehicle (Ekayāna), Prajñāpāramitā, Pratyekabuddha, Prophecy of Buddhahood, Provisional Teachings, pure and far-reaching voice, Socially Engaged Buddhism, Societal Responsibility, Subhūti, Three Thousand Realms in a Single Thought-Moment, Transcendent Buddha, Treatise on Opening the Eyes of Buddhist Images, Unsurpassed Wisdom, Voidness, Wonderful Dharma, Śrāvaka

• Lotus Sūtra: Karma and Power

  

  Date: August 27, 2025 Source: Excerpts from “Lotus Sūtra: Karma and Power” (various linked sources) I. Executive Summary This briefing document summarizes key themes from an analysis of Chapter Nineteen, “The Merits of the Teacher of the Dharma,” of the Lotus Sūtra. It highlights the Sūtra’s core message of universal enlightenment, emphasizing that Buddhahood is…

  William Altig

  August 29, 2025

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

  Avici Hells, body, Buddha Nature, Buddhahood, Chapter Nineteen, Cosmic Humanism, Cutting Off Afflictions, Dharma Teacher, Dharma Transmission, Ears, Embodied Enlightenment, Eyes, Greed, happiness, Heavenly Eye, Insight (Prajna), Internal Happiness, karma, Karmic Consequences, Karmic Transformation, Lotus Sūtra, Love and Compassion, Mahayana Buddhism, Merits of the Teacher of the Dharma, mind, Nose, Patience, Perceptual Transformation, Purification of Six Senses, Rokkonshoujou, Saddharma-puṇḍarīka Sūtra, Spiritual Power, Spiritual Practice, Sumeru-worlds, The Buddha Speaks the Sutra About Karma., Tongue, Universal Enlightenment, Violence, Worldly Power

• The Eternal Buddha, Skillful Means, and Ultimate Reality in the Lotus Sūtra

  

  This briefing document provides a comprehensive review of the main themes and crucial ideas presented in the provided source, “The Eternal Buddha: Lifespan, Skillful Means, and Ultimate Reality.” It focuses on the re-conceptualization of the Buddha, the pedagogical role of skillful means (upāya), and the implications for practitioners and the understanding of reality within the…

  William Altig

  August 26, 2025

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

  Buddha-nature, Buddhism, Chapter 16 (The Life Span of the Thus Come One), Compassion (Karuṇā), Cosmic Scale of Buddhahood, Dharma-kāya (Pure Dharma Body), Eternal Buddha, Expedient Nirvāṇa, Faith and Practice, Historical Buddha, Lotus Sūtra, Mahāyāna Buddhism, Meditation, Nichiren, Nirmāna-kāya (Transformation Bodies), Nonduality, One Vehicle (Ekayāna), Ontology, Parable of the Burning House, Parable of the Skilled Physician, Pedagogy, Philosophy, Religion, Sambhoga-kāya (Perfect Reward Body), Skillful means (Upāya), Spirituality, Tiantai School, Time (Linear vs. Unconditioned), Tri-kāya (Three Bodies), Wisdom (Prajñā), Zhiyi, Śākyamuni Buddha

• The Lotus Sūtra: Bridging Faith and Reason through Embodied Practice

  Date: August 25, 2025 Subject: An analysis of “The Lotus Sūtra’s Paradox: Faith, Reason, and Embodied Dharma” Purpose: To summarize the core arguments, key themes, and essential concepts presented in the provided text concerning the teachings of the Lotus Sūtra.—–Executive Summary “The Lotus Sūtra’s Paradox: Faith, Reason, and Embodied Dharma” examines the perceived contradiction within…

  William Altig

  August 25, 2025

  Chapter 2, Chapter 21, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Active, Bodhisattvas, Bodhisattvas of the Earth, Boundless Wisdom and Courage, Buddhism, Burning House Parable, Chapter 16: The Life Span of the Thus Come One, Compassion, Confident Prayer, Cosmic Tableau, Democratic and Empowering Ideal, Dramatic and Narrative Framework, Dynamic, Embodied Dharma, Engaged Practice, Engaging with Mundane Life, Eternal Buddha, Eternal Dharma, Ethical and Philosophical Foundation, expedient means, Explicit Revelation of Teachings, Faith-Based Practice, Global Citizens, Grassroots Compassionate Action, Here and Now Manifestation, Humanitarian Competition, Immortal, Infininitely Profound and Immeasurable Wisdom, Infinite Potential and Dignity, Inherent Transcendental Essence, Innate Buddhahood, Inner Determination, Liberating Others, Living Beings of the Dharma Realm, Living Text, Lotus Sūtra, Meditation, Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō, Nichiren, Non-Conceptual Realization, Non-Dualistic Worldview, One Vehicle (Ekayāna), Paradox of Revelation and Incomprehensibility, Performative Vehicle for Enlightenment, Philosophy, Prodigal Son Parable, Pure Buddha-Land, Religion, Saha World of Suffering, Self-Benefit, Self-Realization and Empowerment, Shakyamuni Buddha, Skillful means (Upāya), Soka Gakkai, Solitary Buddhas, Spirituality, Superior-Practice Bodhisattva (Jōgyo), Supernatural Powers of the Tathāgata, Tathāgatagarbha (Buddha-Nature), Ten Life-States, Textual Container, three thousand realms in a single moment of life, three vehicles, Tiantai, Tiered Understanding of Dharma, Transformative Faith, Transforming Environment into Pure Land, Transforming Society, Transforming Suffering into Happiness, Treasury of the Hidden Core of the Tathāgata, True Self of the Buddha, Unattainable by Reasoning Alone, Voice-Hearers

• Merit and Wisdom in the Lotus Sūtra

  

  Date: August 23, 2025 Subject: An Exegetical Analysis of Chapter Seventeen of the Lotus Sūtra: The Accumulation of Merit and the Path to Clarity Key Sources: Excerpts from “Lotus Sūtra: Merit and Wisdom” 1. Executive Summary This briefing document provides a detailed review of Chapter Seventeen of the Lotus Sūtra, “Discrimination of Merit and Virtue,”…

  William Altig

  August 23, 2025

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

  bhikṣu, bhāvanā, Buddha, Buddhism, Buddhist practices, Chapter Seventeen, clarity, Dharma, dāna, ego-clinging, emptiness (śūnyatā), Internal Transformation, Kṣānti, Lotus Sūtra, Maitreya Bodhisattva, maitrī, Meditation, mental purification, Merit (Puṇya), Nirvana, non-self (anātman), One Vehicle (Ekayāna), Philosophy, Religion, Saṃsāra, sangha, self-conceit (māna), Skillful means (Upāya), Spiritual Development, Spirituality, stūpa-mausoleum, Two Accumulations, virtuous actions, Wisdom (Prajñā), śīla

• “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

• 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

• 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

• The Parable of the Burning House

  

  1. Executive Summary The Parable of the Burning House, found in Chapter Three of the Lotus Sūtra, is a central Mahayana Buddhist allegory illustrating the nature of suffering, the Buddha’s compassionate “skillful means” (upaya), and the doctrine of universal liberation. It depicts samsara (the world of suffering) as a decaying, fire-engulfed mansion, where sentient beings,…

  William Altig

  August 6, 2025

  Chapter 3, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Attachment, Buddha, Buddha-nature, Buddhism, Children (Sentient Beings), Climate Crisis, Compassion, Digital Age, Distraction, faith, Four Noble Truths, Ignorance, Impermanence (Anicca), Lotus Sūtra, Mahayana Buddhism, Meditation, Modern Relevance, Nichiren Buddhism, One Vehicle (Ekayāna), Parable of the Burning House, personal transformation, Philosophy, Religion, Samsara, Skillful Means (Upaya), Spirituality, Suffering (Dukkha), Three Vehicles (Triyana), Universal Buddhahood, Zen Buddhism