Tag: Lotus Sutra

• The Doctrine of Hōbō (Slander of the Law) in Nichiren Buddhism

  

  Date: August 27, 2025 Subject: An In-Depth Analysis of Hōbō: The Doctrine of Slander of the Law in the Thought of Nichiren Daishonin I. Executive Summary This briefing document provides a detailed review of Hōbō, or “slander of the Law,” a foundational and controversial doctrine in Nichiren Buddhism. Originating with Nichiren Daishonin (1222–1282) during Japan’s…

  William Altig

  August 27, 2025

  Nichiren

  art, Buddha-nature, Buddhism of true cause, Changing karma into mission, Changing Poison into Medicine, Chanting Daimoku, compassion., Denying Buddhist teaching, esoteric Buddhism, External Actions, Four Criticisms (Shika Kakugen), Fourteen Slanders (Jūshi-hōbō), Fragmentation, Hell of Incessant Suffering, Hōbō (Slander of the Law), Inspiration, Internal Attitudes, Internalization of slander, Kamakura period, Karmic Retribution, kosen-rufu, Lotus Sutra, Low status, Mappō (Latter Day of the Law), Miao-lo, Mystic Law, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nichiren Daishonin, Nichiren Shoshu, Nichiren Shu, Opposing Buddhist teaching, Poverty, Psychological consequences, Pure Land Buddhism, relationships, Religion, Risshō Ankoku Ron, Ritsu Buddhism, Sectarian interpretations, Self-harm, Self-Reflection, Soka Gakkai International (SGI), Spiritual consequences, T’ien-t’ai Chih-che, Vilifying Buddhist teaching, White leprosy, writing, Zen Buddhism

• Nichiren’s Path to Enlightenment

  

  This briefing document provides a comprehensive review of key themes and essential facts from the provided source, “Nichiren’s Path to Enlightenment,” focusing on the transformative power of consistent individual action within a collective context. I. Introduction: The Transformative Power of Persistent Individual and Collective Action The core message of Nichiren’s philosophy, particularly as articulated in…

  William Altig

  August 22, 2025

  Nichiren

  13th century Japan, Adversity, and delusion, Buddhahood, Buddhism, Buddhist Philosophy, collective action, collective spiritual unity, cosmic axis, daily spiritual actions, drops of water, Enlightenment, Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land, faith, faith like fire, faith like water, fires of greed, Gohonzon, hardship, hatred, human revolution, Ichinen Sanzen, individual action, inseparability of life and environment, Kamakura period, kosen-rufu, Latter Day of the Law, Lotus Sutra, many in body, Mappō, Meditation, Merit, Mongol invasion, Mt. Sumeru, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, natural disasters, Nichiren, Nirvāṇa, On Selecting the Right Time, one in mind, particles of dust, perfect enlightenment, Persecution, perseverance, personal revolution, Philosophy, political instability, Pure Land on earth, pure Law, Religion, Rissho Ankoku Ron, rivers of hardship, roots of goodness, sangha, sea of the Lotus Sutra, Senji-shō, Shakyamuni Buddha, single element of mind, social unrest, societal peace, spiritual attainment, spiritual crisis, Spiritual Development, spiritual grit, Spirituality, three thousand realms in a single moment of life, transformation of the land, transforming karma into mission, unshakeable life state, votary of the Lotus Sutra, widespread propagation of the Mystic Law

• Limitless Opportunities for Enlightenment in the Lotus Sūtra

  

  I. Introduction: The “Ink-Powder” Parable Chapter 7 of the Lotus Sūtra, “The Parable of the Phantom City,” opens with the Buddha illustrating an “inconceivably long span of time” through a vivid analogy known as the “ink-powder” parable. This parable serves as a foundational element for understanding the cosmic scope of the Buddha’s teachings and the…

  William Altig

  August 16, 2025

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

  Boundless Opportunities, Buddha’s Cosmic Perspective, Buddhahood, Chapter 7, Continuous Journey, Cosmic Analogy, cosmic time, Delusion and Attachment, Dharma, Enlightenment Timeline, Great-Universal-Wisdom-Excellence Buddha, Illusory Nature of Time, Immeasurable Kalpas, Infinite Scale, Ink-powder parable, Karmic Connections, Long Cultivation to Enlightenment, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana sutras, Mentor-Disciple Bond, Non-dual Perspective, Parable of Immeasurable Time, Past Lives, Patience, perseverance, Phantom City Parable, Shakyamuni Buddha, Spiritual Development, Spiritual Relationships

• Arrogance vs. Faith in the Lotus Sutra

  

  Overview This briefing document reviews the central role of arrogance and its antitheses—faith and respect—as crucial factors in understanding and benefiting from the profound teachings of the Lotus Sutra, particularly as highlighted in Chapter 2 (“Expedient Means”) and elaborated upon by Nichiren Daishonin. The sources emphasize that the Buddha’s “wonderful and inconceivable” Dharma requires an…

  William Altig

  August 14, 2025

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

  arrogance, Bodhisattva Never Disparaging, Buddha-nature, Buddhist practice, Chapter 2 Expedient Means, Dharma, Enlightenment, faith, Five Thousand Arrogant People, Fourteen Slanders, humility, karma, Lotus Sutra, Miao-lo, Nichiren Daishonin, Obstacles to Dharma, One Buddha Vehicle, Persecution, Receptivity, respect, Shakyamuni Buddha, Slander, Spiritual Growth, Three Powerful Enemies, Śraddhā, Śāriputra

• Buddhas Live in the Lotus Sutra

  

  This briefing document reviews the core themes and essential ideas presented in “Buddhas Live in the Lotus Sutra: A Reflective Essay,” focusing on Nichiren Daishonin’s profound insights into the unique status of the Lotus Sutra. Main Themes and Most Important Ideas/Facts: 1. The Lotus Sutra as the Essential “Environment” for Buddhas Core Idea: Nichiren Daishonin…

  William Altig

  August 12, 2025

  Nichiren

  Anicca, Attain Buddhahood, Birds, Buddha-nature, Buddha’s robe of compassion, Buddha’s true heirs, Buddhahood, Buddhism, Call to action, Chapter 16, Compassion, Constant guidance, Dependent existence, Devadatta, Dragon King’s daughter, Dukkha, Enlightenment, Essential environment, Eternal Buddha, Everlasting Dharma, faith, Fish, Frogs, Full enlightenment, Good karma, Gosho, Impermanence, Indian lizard, Inner stability, joy, kṛkalāsa, King Rinda, King Wonderful Adornment, Letter from Sado, Life Span Chapter, Living presence of Buddhahood, Lotus Jewels, Lotus Sutra, Medium for Buddhahood, Nam-myōhō-renge-kyō, Nichiren, Nichiren Daishonin, Nichiren Shu News, On Practicing the Buddha’s Teachings, One Vehicle, One-eyed turtle parable, peaceful practices, Persecution, perseverance, Philosophy, Provisional sutras, Rare opportunity, Religion, Reply to the Mother of Lord Ueno, Riches of the Law, Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra, Scaffolding metaphor, Shakyamuni Buddha, Slander, Spirituality, Supreme teaching, The One-eyed Turtle and the Floating Log, The Selection of the Time, The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Transitory attachments, True Dharma, Udumbara flower, Ultimate reality, Ultimate Teaching, votary of the Lotus Sutra, wisdom, Wonderful Dharma

• Slander of the True Dharma (Hōbō) in Nichiren Buddhism

  

  This briefing document analyzes the concept of “slander of the True Dharma” (hōbō) as a cornerstone of Nichiren’s teachings, drawing on the provided source material. It explores the multifaceted nature of slander, its historical and doctrinal context, karmic consequences, the paradox of compassionate condemnation, and its modern interpretations. Executive Summary The doctrine of hōbō is…

  William Altig

  August 11, 2025

  Nichiren

  Avici Hell, Bodhisattva Never Disparaging, Buddha-nature, Buddhist Doctrine, compassionate condemnation, expiation of past slander, faith, Fourteen Slanders, Hell of Incessant Suffering, hobo, Hōnen, interpersonal ethics, Japanese Buddhism, Karmic Retribution, lack of faith, Latter Day of the Law, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana sutras, Mappo, Mystic Law, nenbutsu, Nichiren, Nichiren’s teachings, Nichiren’s thought, Persecution, personal faith, Pure Land Buddhism, Shingon Buddhism, Slander of the True Dharma, spiritual enlightenment, Three Jewels, Zen Buddhism

• Nichiren Buddhist Practice: A Detailed Briefing

  

  This briefing document reviews the core tenets and essential practices of Nichiren Buddhism as outlined in the provided sources, focusing on Nichiren’s specific directions for practitioners in the Latter Day of the Law. I. Main Themes and Most Important Ideas The central theme running through Nichiren’s instructions is the primacy of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo as the sole…

  William Altig

  August 10, 2025

  Nichiren

  “Expedient Means” chapter, chanting, daimoku, Dharanis, Dharmaparyāya, discard other teachings, Enlightenment, faith, filial piety, Gohonzon, Gratitude, intellectual understanding, karma cleansing, Latter Day of the Law, Life Span Chapter, Lotus Sutra, Myoho-renge-kyo, Mystic Law, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nembutsu, Nichiren, Nichiren Buddhism, persecutions, Provisional Teachings, reading Lotus Sutra, recitation Lotus Sutra, Refutation, Sanskrit, Shakubuku, Sino-Japanese pronunciation, study of Lotus Sutra, sutra translation, time and capacity, True Word, votary of the Lotus Sutra, Zen schools

• Maitreya’s Questions and the Revelation of Eternal Buddhahood in the Lotus Sūtra

  

  Date: August 9, 2025 Subject: An analysis of Maitreya’s questions in Chapter 15 of the Lotus Sūtra, Shakyamuni Buddha’s response, and subsequent interpretations across various Buddhist traditions (Tiantai, Nichiren, Zen). 1. Executive Summary Maitreya’s profound questions in Chapter 15 (“Emerging from the Earth”) of the Lotus Sūtra serve as a pivotal narrative device, prompting Shakyamuni…

  William Altig

  August 9, 2025

  Chapter 15, Chapter 16, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Bodhisattvas of the Earth, Buddha, Buddha-nature, Buddhism, Chapter 15 “Emerging from the Earth”, Chapter 16 “The Life Span of the Tathāgata”, Compassionate Pedagogy, Dharma-nature, Dōgen, Essential Teaching, Eternal Buddhahood, Faith and Inquiry, Immeasurable Lifespan, Innate Enlightenment, Latter Day of the Law, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana Buddhism, Maitreya, Meditation, Mentor-Disciple Bond, middle way, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nichiren Buddhism, Nichiren Daishonin, Nirvana, Original Buddha, Philosophy, Religion, Shakyamuni Buddha, Spiritual Practice, The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Tiantai, Trace Teaching, universal salvation, zen, Zhiyi

• Devadatta’s Enlightenment in the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren’s Philosophy

  

  1. Executive Summary This briefing examines the paradoxical concept of Devadatta’s enlightenment, a central tenet in the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren’s philosophy. Devadatta, cousin and notorious adversary of Shakyamuni Buddha, committed two of the five “Anantarika-karma” (grave offenses) and was traditionally condemned to the Avīci Hell, a realm of incessant suffering. However, the Lotus Sutra,…

  William Altig

  August 7, 2025

  Chapter 12, Nichiren, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Adversaries as Teachers, Arhatship, Avici Hell, Bodhisattva Ideal, Buddha, Buddhahood, Buddhism, Changing Poison into Medicine, compassion., Devadatta, Dharma, Dragon King’s Daughter, Enlightenment, Ethical Implications, Final Dharma Age, Five Anantarika-karma, Grave Offenses, Heavenly King Buddha, Hell of Incessant Suffering, Ichinen Sanzen, Inherent Buddha-nature, Instantaneous Enlightenment, karma, Karmic Retribution, Kitō-shō, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana Buddhism, Mappo, Meditation, Nichiren, Non-dualistic Perspective, Philosophy, Religion, Schism in Sangha, Shakyamuni Buddha, Soteriology, Spiritual Growth, Theravada Buddhism, Treatise on Prayers, Universal Buddhahood, universal salvation

• The Perfume of Wisdom: Discerning Reality Through Purified Senses on the Bodhisattva Path

  

  I. Executive Summary This briefing summarizes the core themes and key insights from “Lotus Sūtra Sensory Perception” and its accuracy check, “The Perfume of Wisdom: An Accuracy Check.” The documents explore the profound concept of purified sensory perception, particularly the sense of smell, within the framework of the Bodhisattva path as presented in Chapter Nineteen…

  William Altig

  August 4, 2025

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

  Attachment, Avidyā, Bodhicitta, Bodhisattva Path, Bodhisattva vow, Buddha’s Eye, Buddhism, Chapter Nineteen, Compassion Meditation, compassionate action, Death Meditation, Delusion, Discerning Moral Qualities through Scent, Enlightened Perception, External Objects, Focused Attention, Ignorance, Internal Sensory Organs, Lotus Sutra, Loving-kindness, Mahayana Buddhism, Meditation, Merits of the Dharma Teachers, Mind as Sixth Sense, Mindfulness, Moral Purity, Nirvana, Non-attachment, Non-Deluded Perception, Olfactory Capacity, Open Monitoring, Philosophy, Purification of the Six Roots of Perception, Purified Senses, Religion, Rokkonshoujou, Samsara, Sati, Sensory Transformation, Shakyamuni Buddha, Skillful Means, Spiritual Development, Spirituality, Taṇhā, Universal Liberation, upāya, wisdom, Āyatana