Tag: One Vehicle

• The Lotus Sutra’s Paradox: Rarity vs. Eternal Buddha

  

  1. Introduction: The Dynamic Revelations of Truth in the Lotus Sūtra The Lotus Sūtra (Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtram) is a foundational and highly influential text in Mahāyāna Buddhism, particularly in East Asia. It presents key Mahāyāna tenets such as the One Vehicle (ekayāna), the distinction between expedient and ultimate teachings, and the revolutionary concept of the…

  William Altig

  July 26, 2025

  Chapter 16, Chapter 2, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law, Uncategorized

  air analogy, antithesis, apparent Nirvāṇa, apparent paradox, arrogance, aspiration for enlightenment, Bodhicitta, Buddha wisdom, Buddha’s immeasurable lifespan, Buddhism, casting off the transient and revealing the true, Chapter Sixteen, Chapter Two, complacency, cultivating recognition, Devadatta, Dharmakāya, dialectical framework, difficulty of encounter, dust particle kalpas, Ekayāna, equality, Eternal Lifespan of the Tathāgata, expedient teachings, faith, false views, far distant past, feigned death, five thousand Bhikshus, Great Vehicle Dharma, historical Shakyamuni Buddha, human inability, immanence of Dharma, inconceivable Dharma, infrequent appearance, Inherent Buddhahood, interconnectedness, Lotus Sūtra, Mahāyāna Buddhism, Meditation, Nirmāṇakāya, Nishyanda Buddha, non-dualistic realization, non-judgmental compassion, objective reality, obstruction of sense organs, One Vehicle, original enlightenment, Parable of the Plants, Parable of the Skilled Physician, pedagogical strategy., pervasive Dharma, Philosophy, potential for Buddhahood, practice, preciousness, prejudice, profound Dharma, Provisional Teachings, provisional to the real, rarity vs. eternal presence, Religion, reverence, Sambhogakāya, shallow merits, Skillful Means, Small Vehicle Dharma, spiritual readiness, spiritual truths, Spirituality, subjective experience, synthesis, thesis, Three Bodies of the Buddha, three vehicles, Trikāya, true entity of all phenomena, Udumbara flower, ultimate teachings, Universal Buddhahood, unsurpassed Way, upāya, urgency, Vairochana Buddha, virtuous roots, Wonderful Dharma

• The Profound Encouragement of Universal-Sage Bodhisattva in Chapter 28 of the Lotus Sutra

  

  The Lotus Sutra, revered as a cornerstone of Mahayana Buddhism, presents a comprehensive vision of the path to Buddhahood, asserting that this supreme state is attainable by all beings without exception.1 Central to its teachings is the doctrine of the One Vehicle (Ekayana), which posits that all Buddhist paths ultimately converge on Buddhahood, and the…

  William Altig

  May 11, 2025

  Chapter 28, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Avatamsaka Sutra, Bodhisattva Path, Buddhahood, Buddhist practice, Buddhist Scripture, Chapter 28, Dharma, Ekayana, Latter Day of the Law, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana Buddhism, One Vehicle, paramitas, Samantabhadra, Shakyamuni Buddha, Six Perfections, Skillful Means, Ten Great Vows, Universal-Sage Bodhisattva, Upaya

• The Merits of Practice and Understanding in Lotus Sūtra Chapter Seventeen

  

  The Lotus Sūtra, a foundational text within Mahayana Buddhism, articulates the doctrine of the One Vehicle, asserting that all paths ultimately lead to Buddhahood.1 This influential scripture, revered across various East Asian Buddhist traditions, is considered by many to encapsulate the complete and final teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, sufficient for attaining salvation.2 Chapter Seventeen of…

  William Altig

  May 6, 2025

  Chapter 17, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Bodhisattva, Buddha’s Teachings, Buddhahood, Buddhist practices, Chapter Seventeen, commentaries, dana, Dharma, dhyana, dhyana-concentrations, Distinction of Benefits, Enlightenment, giving alms, ksanti, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana Buddhism, Merit, observing precepts, One Vehicle, practicing patience, Pāramitās, sila, Six Perfections, Spiritual Development, translations

• The Power of Faith and Patient Practice: Unlocking the Ultimate Dharma in the Lotus Sūtra’s Chapter Fifteen

  

  I. Introduction: The Lotus Sūtra and the Call to Engaged Faith A. The Apex of Mahayana Teachings The Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra, commonly known as the Lotus Sūtra, occupies a position of paramount importance within the vast corpus of Mahayana Buddhist scriptures. Revered across East Asia and beyond, it is often hailed as the “King of…

  William Altig

  May 2, 2025

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

  Bodhisattvas of the Earth, Buddha Nature, Chapter 15, compassionate action, Dharma, Ekayana, Emerging from the Earth, emptiness, faith, five balas, Gohonzon, Honmon, Ichinen Sanzen, karuṇā, kṣānti-pāramitā, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana Buddhism, Mappō, Mystic Law, Myōhō-renge-kyo, Nichiren, One Vehicle, patient practice, prajñā, Prajnaparamita, Shakumon, Skillful Means, spiritual powers, Tendai, Three Truths, Tiantai, Upaya, wisdom, śraddhā-bala, śūnyatā

• The Inconceivable Supernatural Powers of the Buddha in the Lotus Sūtra

  

  1. Introduction Overview This report undertakes a comprehensive analysis of the concept of “inconceivable supernatural powers” (acintya−ṛddhi) attributed to the Buddha, particularly as referenced in Chapter Six, “Bestowal of Prophecy,” of the Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra (Lotus Sūtra). The specific impetus for this investigation is the verse sung by Śākyamuni Buddha following his prophecy of future…

  William Altig

  April 30, 2025

  Chapter 6

  abhijna, acintya, asravaksaya, Buddha, Buddhahood, Buddhism, Dharma, Ekayana, Enlightenment, inconceivable, interpretation, jhana, karma, Kevatta Sutta, liberation, literal, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana Buddhism, Meditation, Miracles, One Vehicle, prajna, Prophecy, psychic powers, psychological, rddhi, Rebirth, samadhi, Skillful Means, Subhuti, supernatural powers, symbolic, Theravada Buddhism, Upaya, wisdom

• 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

• The Merits of Encouraging Others to Hear the Lotus Sutra: An Expert Analysis of Chapter Eighteen

  

  Key Phrase Translation from Buddhist Text Translation Society Translation from Nichiren Information Translation from 500 Yojanas Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma Dharma Flower Sutra sutra called the Lotus sūtra called the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma dhāraṇīs Dharani Bodhisattva dharani bodhisattvas Bodhisattvas who obtain dharanis living with the Bodhisattvas who obtain dhāraṇīs born…

  William Altig

  April 25, 2025

  Chapter 18

  Ajita, Bodhisattva, Buddhahood, Buddhist teachings, Chapter Eighteen, Dharanis, Dharma, Ekayana, Enlightenment, karma, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana Buddhism, Maitreya, Merit, One Vehicle, Pure Land, rejoicing, Samsara, Shakyamuni Buddha, Skillful Means, Upaya

• An Analysis of the Cosmic Assembly in Chapter Eleven of the Lotus Sūtra: Emanation Buddhas, the Treasure Stupa, and the Supreme Dharma

  

  1. Introduction: The Pivotal Eleventh Chapter of the Lotus Sūtra The Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra, or Lotus Sūtra, stands as a foundational text within Mahāyāna Buddhism, profoundly shaping the religious landscape of East Asia.1 Revered as containing the final and complete teachings of Śākyamuni Buddha, it is particularly central to the Tiāntāi (Tendai), Cheontae, and Nichiren…

  William Altig

  April 20, 2025

  Chapter 11

  Buddha-fields, Buddha-nature, Buddhist Scripture, Chapter Eleven, Cosmic Assembly, Cosmology, Dharma preservation, Ekayāna, Emanation Buddhas, Lotus Sūtra, Mahāyāna Buddhism, Nichiren, One Vehicle, Prabhūtaratna, Religious Text, Saddharma, Skillful Means, Tendai, Tiāntāi, Treasure Stupa, Trikāya, upāya, Wonderful Dharma

• The Enduring Example of the Never-Despising Bodhisattva in the Lotus Sūtra

  

  I. Introduction: The Lotus Sūtra stands as a cornerstone of Mahayana Buddhism, revered for its profound teachings on the nature of enlightenment and the path to Buddhahood.1 This influential scripture utilizes a rich tapestry of parables and narratives to convey complex philosophical ideas in an accessible manner.2 A central theme within the Lotus Sūtra is…

  William Altig

  April 13, 2025

  Chapter 20

  Bodhisattva Path, Buddha-nature, buddhist parables, Buddhist Philosophy, Buddhist practice, Buddhist psychology, Buddhist storytelling, Chapter 20, Compassion, contemporary Buddhism, Dharma teaching, Ekayana, Four Siddhantas, humility, impure mind, karma, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana Buddhism, Never-Despising Bodhisattva, Nichiren, non-discrimination, One Vehicle, respect, reverence, Sadāparibhūta, Shakyamuni Buddha, Spiritual Perseverance, Thich Nhat Hanh, three poisons, Universal Enlightenment, zen

• An Examination of Nichiren’s Assertions on Attaining Buddhahood and Societal Well-being in his Treatise on Prayers

  

  1. Introduction: Nichiren Buddhism, a significant school within the Mahayana tradition, centers its teachings and practices on the Lotus Sutra, revered as the culmination of Shakyamuni Buddha’s fifty years of teachings.1 Founded in 13th-century Japan by Nichiren Daishonin (1222-1282), this school emphasizes the inherent Buddha-nature within all individuals and the possibility of attaining enlightenment in…

  William Altig

  April 12, 2025

  Nichiren

  Buddhahood, Ekayana, Eternal Buddha, hobo, Kamakura period, Kitō-shō, kosen-rufu, Lotus Sutra, Mappo, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nichiren Buddhism, One Vehicle, Pure Land Buddhism, Risshō Ankoku Ron, Sairen-bo, Shingon Buddhism, slandering the Dharma, Ten Worlds, Tendai school, Treatise on Prayers, Universal Buddhahood, Zen Buddhism