Tag: Nichiren Daishonin

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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 Lotus Sutra as the Buddha’s True Mind: An Analysis of Nichiren’s Interpretation in the Zui-jii Gosho

  

  I. Introduction: Setting the Context – The Lotus Sutra, Nichiren, and the Zui-jii Gosho A. Overview The Saddharma Puṇḍarıˉka Suˉtra, or Lotus Sutra, stands as a cornerstone scripture within the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, revered for its profound doctrines and expansive vision of salvation. Its influence has permeated Buddhist thought, practice, and culture across Asia for centuries. Among…

  William Altig

  April 28, 2025

  Nichiren

  Buddhist Scripture, daimoku, Ekayaˉna, Enlightenment, expedient means, Gohonzon, Hokkegyoja, Japanese Buddhism, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana Buddhism, Mappo, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, Nichiren Daishonin, One Vehicle, Pure Land Buddhism, San Dai Hiho, Shingon Buddhism, Tendai Buddhism, Three Great Secret Laws, upaˉya, Zen Buddhism, Zui-jii Gosho

• Steadfast Faith Amidst Adversity: An Analysis of Nichiren Daishonin’s Counsel to Lord Ueno

  

  I. Introduction: Faith Forged in Adversity Nichiren Daishonin (1222–1282) stands as a pivotal, influential, yet often controversial figure in the rich tapestry of Japanese Buddhist history.1 His teachings, centered on the supreme authority of the Lotus Sutra, sparked both fervent devotion and fierce opposition during the tumultuous Kamakura period (c. 1185–1333). This report undertakes a…

  William Altig

  April 21, 2025

  Nichiren

  Atsuhara Persecution, Bodhisattva, Buddhism, Gohonzon, Gosho, Japanese history, Kamakura period, Lord Ueno, Lotus Sutra, Mappō, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nanjo Tokimitsu, Nichiren Daishonin, religious persecution, Shakubuku

• The Enduring Promise: Finding Enlightenment Amidst Hardship in Nichiren Daishonin’s Letter to Myoichi Ama

  

  Nichiren Daishonin (1222-1282) stands as a transformative figure in the history of Japanese Buddhism, renowned for his unwavering devotion to the Lotus Sutra and the establishment of a distinct school of Buddhist thought.1 His life unfolded during the tumultuous Kamakura period in Japan, an era marked by social and political upheaval.6 Amidst this backdrop, Nichiren…

  William Altig

  April 7, 2025

  Nichiren

  13th-century Japan, Atsuhara Persecution, Buddhahood, Buddhist persecution, Compassionate Guidance, daimoku, Eternal Buddha, exile to Izu, Faith and Perseverance, Gohonzon, hardship and enlightenment, human revolution, Komatsubara Persecution, Latter Day of the Law, Lotus Sutra, Mappo, Myoichi Ama, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nichiren, Nichiren Buddhism, Nichiren Daishonin, Nichiren’s letters, Nichiren’s persecutions, One Vehicle, personal transformation, Sado exile, Skillful Means, Tatsunokuchi incident, Three Great Secret Laws, universal salvation, winter and spring analogy