Tag: Shakubuku
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The Art of Refuting Ideas Without Attacking People
Introduction: The Challenge of Meaningful Disagreement In our modern world, it often feels impossible to disagree on important topics without the conversation descending into personal attacks. We encounter ideas we believe are genuinely harmful, yet we are urged to be tolerant. This leaves us with a piercing question: How can we challenge ideas we find…
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The 13th-Century Monk Who Said ‘Ignore Everyone’—And Why It’s the Secret to Deeper Listening
Introduction: The Practitioner’s Paradox In any spiritual path, a fundamental tension exists between two essential guides: the wisdom of others and the truth of our own experience. On one hand, we have sacred texts, traditions, and teachers—a map charted by those who have already walked the path. To ignore this map is to risk getting…
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What a 13th-Century Monk, Exiled and Sentenced to Die, Knew About Resilience That We’re Just Rediscovering
We all know the feeling. Life is moving along, and then, without warning, a challenge appears that knocks us off our feet. It could be a professional setback, a personal crisis, or a wave of obstacles that leaves us feeling powerless and wondering what we did wrong. We strive, we hope, we pray, but sometimes…
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Nichiren’s Identity and the Role of His Disciples
Date: August 31, 2025 Subject: Analysis of Nichiren’s Treatise “The True Aspect of All Phenomena” and its Implications for the Identity and Role of His Disciples Key Sources: Excerpts from “Nichiren’s Identity and Disciples’ Role: The Votary and the Vow: An Analysis of Nichiren’s Treatise on the True Aspect of All Phenomena” I. Executive Summary…
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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…
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Navigating Adversity in Nichiren Buddhism – Persecution, Purification, and the Path to Buddhahood
This briefing examines the core themes within Nichiren’s teachings, particularly his understanding of persecution, the role of the “three poisons,” and the transformative power of the Lotus Sutra in the “Latter Day of the Law.” It highlights how adversity is not merely an obstacle but a crucial catalyst for spiritual growth and internal purification, ultimately…
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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…
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Shakubuku Heart: The Way of Lotus Fire
Through the mist of provisional truths, The Lotus stands eternal, pure and bright. Like diamond cutting stone, the teaching soothes While challenging what dims the perfect light. To challenge falsehood with a steady hand, Yet hold compassion for the searching heart— This tension forms the practice, understand: To separate the teaching, not to part The…
Mr. Altig’s Overview of the Wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Sutra 