Tag: Myoho-renge-kyo

• A 13th-Century Monk’s Paradox That Reimagines Enlightenment

  

  We often picture spiritual wisdom as a distant peak, accessible only to the most dedicated climbers. The common cultural image suggests that the deepest truths are complex, abstract, and reserved for an elite few—monks, scholars, or gurus who have spent decades in seclusion and study. We assume that the path to enlightenment is an arduous…

  William Altig

  October 18, 2025

  Nichiren

  Buddha-nature, Common Teaching, daimoku, Democratization of Enlightenment, Doctrinal Classification, emptiness, faith, Five Periods and Eight Teachings, Great Concentration and Insight, Latter Day of the Law, Law-Power, Lotus Sutra, Mappo, middle way, Myoho-renge-kyo, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nichiren, One Buddha Vehicle, Other-Power (*tariki*), Paradox of Truth, Perfect Teaching, Provisional Existence, Provisional Teachings, Risshō Ankoku Ron, Self-Power (*jiriki*), Skillful Means, Specific Teaching, Spiritual Elitism, T’ien-t’ai Zhiyi, The truer the teaching the lower the stage, Threefold Truth, Tientai, Tripitaka Teaching, True Teachings, Upaya, Wonderful Dharma

• 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

• The Unveiling of Universal Wisdom in the Lotus Sūtra

  

  I. Introduction: The Lotus Sūtra and the Bodhisattva Ideal The Lotus Sūtra (Saddharmapundarika-sutra) is a foundational and highly influential text in East Asian Buddhism, composed between the 1st century BCE and 2nd century CE. It is widely considered the final and complete teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, aiming for the enlightenment of all sentient beings and…

  William Altig

  July 31, 2025

  Chapter 24

  Adorned with Pure Light, Bodhisattva, Buddha, Buddhism, Cloud Thunder Sound King, Compassion, Devadatta, Dragon King’s Daughter, Eagle Peak, Ekayāna, Enlightenment, God Narayana, Great Compassion, Humanism, Land of Eternally Tranquil Light, Lotus Sūtra, Mahayana Buddhism, Mahākaruṇā, Meditation, Mutual Possession of the Ten Worlds, Myoho-renge-kyo, Nichiren, Nirvana, One Vehicle, Philosophy, Pure Flower Constellation King Wisdom, Pāramitās, Religion, Sahā-World, Samadhi of Revelation of All Forms, Samadhi of Understanding the Speech of all Living Beings, Shakyamuni Buddha, Six Moral Perfections, Skillful Means, Spiritual Authority, Ten Worlds, Tendai, Tiantai, True Aspect of All Phenomena, Universal Buddhahood, Upaya, Wise King of Pure and Gorgeous Constellation Tathagata, Wonderful-Voice Bodhisattva, World of Endurance

• The Immeasurable Merits of Hearing and Transmitting the Lotus Sutra: An Analysis of Chapter Eighteen

  

  The Lotus Sutra stands as a cornerstone of Mahayana Buddhism, celebrated for its profound teachings on the universality of Buddhahood and the paramount importance of propagating the Dharma 1. Within this revered text, Chapter Eighteen, entitled “Rejoicing in Accord with Merit and Virtue,” occupies a significant position by elucidating the extraordinary rewards associated with engaging…

  William Altig

  April 3, 2025

  Chapter 18

  Buddhism, Buddhist Ethics, Chapter Eighteen, collective enlightenment, Dharma, Ekayana, interconnectedness, karmic benefits, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana Buddhism, Maitreya Bodhisattva, Merit, Myoho-renge-kyo, Mystic Law, oral transmission, propagation, rejoicing, Skillful Means, Spiritual Growth, spiritual merit, spiritual transmission, wholesome actions

• Understanding Reality: Perspectives from the Lotus Sutra and Modern Science

  

  1. Introduction: Seeking the Nature of Reality The fundamental nature of reality has captivated human curiosity for millennia. Across diverse cultures and throughout history, this profound inquiry has manifested in a multitude of forms, ranging from intricate philosophical systems and deeply held religious beliefs to rigorous scientific investigations. The desire to comprehend the underlying principles…

  William Altig

  March 29, 2025

  Uncategorized

  Buddhism, Comparison, Cosmology, emptiness, Inherent Buddhahood, interconnectedness, Lotus Sutra, Modern Science, Myoho-renge-kyo, Mystic Law, Nature of Reality, Philosophical Interpretations, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Sunyata