Tag: Zen Buddhism

• 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…

  William Altig

  October 23, 2025

  Nichiren

  Buddha’s gaze, Buddha-nature, daimoku, Expedient Means (Upāya), experiential insight, fundamental darkness (ganpon no mumyō), Gohonzon, golden words of the Buddha, guru (lama), Guru Yoga, Ichinen Sanzen, insight meditation, Kaidan, kalyāṇa-mitta (spiritual friend), Kamakura period, Kangyur, kenshō, kōans, Kālāma Sūtta, Latter Day of the Law, Lotus Sūtra, Mahayana philosophy, Mappō, Mutual Inclusion of the Ten Realms (jikkai gogu), Namu Myōhō-renge-kyō, Nichiren, Nichiren Buddhism, Nyosetsu Shugyō-shō, One Vehicle (Ekayāna), Pali Canon (Tipiṭaka), practitioner’s paradox, provisional doctrines, satori, scriptural authority, scriptural literalism, Shakubuku, shōju, spiritual bypassing, Tathāgatagarbha, Ten Realms, Tengyur, Theravada Buddhism, Three Great Hidden Dharmas, Three Thousand Realms, Tiantai School, transmission outside the scriptures, Vajrayana Buddhism, vipassanā, zazen, Zen Buddhism

• This 2,000-Year-Old Text Is a Recipe for Life—Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Just Read It

  

  Introduction: The Gap Between Knowing and Doing There’s a well-known gap between knowing something in theory and understanding it through experience. An old metaphor captures this perfectly: you can read a recipe for a meal, memorize every ingredient, and understand the chemistry of cooking, but you will remain completely ignorant of the food’s taste. True…

  William Altig

  October 8, 2025

  Chapter 5, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Arhat, Bodhicitta, Bodhisattva, Bodhisattvas of the Earth, Buddha-nature, Burning House Parable, Chapter Two, Compassion, dṛṣṭi, Ekayāna, Engaged Buddhism, expedient means, insight, Insight of the Buddha, kosen-rufu, kōans, Lotus Sūtra, One Vehicle, Pedagogy, practice, prajñā, Pratyekabuddhas, Prodigal Son Parable, Pāramitās, realization, Recipe analogy, Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra, Samsara, Six Perfections, Skillful Means, Tathāgata, Tathāgatagarbha, Theravada Buddhism, three vehicles, upāya, vipassanā, wisdom, zazen, Zen Buddhism, śrāvakas

• Nichiren’s Philosophy of Language in the Lotus Sutra

  

  I. Introduction: The Living Words of the Buddha Nichiren, the 13th-century Japanese Buddhist priest, fundamentally re-envisioned the relationship between the practitioner, the Buddha, and the sacred text. His philosophy centers on the assertion that the written word of the Lotus Sutra is not merely a metaphor or a historical record, but a “dynamic, living manifestation…

  William Altig

  August 31, 2025

  Nichiren

  Amida Buddha, and study, Buddha’s thirty-two physical features, Changing karma into mission, chanting, enlightenment in this lifetime, expedient means, faith, Flower Garland Sutra, gakushu, Gohonzon, gyo, Hinayana sutra, jiriki, koans, Latter Day of the Law, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana Buddhism, mind of the Buddha, moji soku jissō, Mystic Law, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nembutsu, Nichiren, Nichiren Buddhism, nonduality of form and mind, One Vehicle, Opening the Eyes of Wooden and Painted Images, practice, pure and far-reaching voice, Pure Land Buddhism, Sado Island exile, Shakyamuni, Shikishin Funi, shinjin, Simultaneity of Cause and Effect, skillful means (zuitai’i), tariki, Tatsunokuchi, True Intent (Zuiji’i), True Word rituals, Western Paradise, words are the true aspect of reality, zazen, Zen Buddhism

• 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

• 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

• The Parable of the Burning House

  

  1. Executive Summary The Parable of the Burning House, found in Chapter Three of the Lotus Sūtra, is a central Mahayana Buddhist allegory illustrating the nature of suffering, the Buddha’s compassionate “skillful means” (upaya), and the doctrine of universal liberation. It depicts samsara (the world of suffering) as a decaying, fire-engulfed mansion, where sentient beings,…

  William Altig

  August 6, 2025

  Chapter 3, The Great Teachings of the Lotus of the True Law

  Attachment, Buddha, Buddha-nature, Buddhism, Children (Sentient Beings), Climate Crisis, Compassion, Digital Age, Distraction, faith, Four Noble Truths, Ignorance, Impermanence (Anicca), Lotus Sūtra, Mahayana Buddhism, Meditation, Modern Relevance, Nichiren Buddhism, One Vehicle (Ekayāna), Parable of the Burning House, personal transformation, Philosophy, Religion, Samsara, Skillful Means (Upaya), Spirituality, Suffering (Dukkha), Three Vehicles (Triyana), Universal Buddhahood, Zen Buddhism

• The Lotus Sutra’s Enduring Call in the Latter Day of the Law

  

  This briefing document summarizes the core themes and most important concepts presented in the provided sources, focusing on the Lotus Sutra’s significance, particularly through Nichiren’s interpretation, and its role in personal and societal transformation. 1. The Lotus Sutra: A Foundation for Universal Enlightenment The Lotus Sutra, or Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra, is a foundational text in…

  William Altig

  July 29, 2025

  Nichiren

  Bodily Reading, Buddha-nature, Buddhism, Chapter 16 Lotus Sutra, Chapter 28 Lotus Sutra, compassionate action, Copying), daimoku, Dōgen Zenji, Ekayāna, Enlightenment, Eternal Buddha, Five Practices of Lotus Sutra (Seeking, Gohonzon, human revolution, Ichinen Sanzen, Kamakura period, Keeping, Latter Day of the Law, Lotus Sutra, Mappō, Meditation, Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō, Nichiren Buddhism, One Vehicle, Philosophy, Propagation., Pure Land (in this world), Pure Land Buddhism, Reading, Reciting, Religion, Samantabhadra, Skillful Means, Societal Transformation, Spirituality, Tendai, Three Great Secret Laws, Three Thousand Realms in a Single Thought-Moment, Tiantai, Transformation, Universal-Sage Bodhisattva, upāya, vow of protection, Zen Buddhism

• The Illusory Oasis: An Analysis of the Parable of the Magic City in the Lotus Sutra

  

  The Lotus Sutra, a cornerstone of Mahayana Buddhism, holds a prominent position in East Asian Buddhist traditions.1 Revered as the final and complete teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha by many, it presents profound concepts such as the One Vehicle (Ekayana) and skillful means (Upaya).1 These doctrines underscore the Mahayana understanding that all Buddhist paths ultimately converge…

  William Altig

  May 10, 2025

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

  Buddhahood, Buddhist Symbolism, Buddhist teachings, Chapter Seven Lotus Sutra, Conjured City Parable, Lotus Sutra, Magic City Parable, Mahayana Buddhism, Nichiren Buddhism, Nirvana, One Vehicle (Ekayana), Phantom City Parable, Skillful Means (Upaya), Tiantai School, Zen Buddhism

• 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 Profound Significance of Respecting the Keeper of the Lotus Sutra: An Analysis of the Buddha’s Instruction to Universal-Sage Bodhisattva

  

  The Lotus Sutra, revered as the “king of sutras” within Mahayana Buddhism 1, holds a central position due to its revolutionary teaching that all beings, without exception, possess the inherent potential to attain Buddhahood.2 This profound scripture culminates in Chapter 28, titled “The Encouragement of Bodhisattva Universally Worthy,” where the Buddha imparts crucial instructions regarding…

  William Altig

  April 16, 2025

  Chapter 28

  Bodhisattva Ideal, Buddha-nature, Buddhahood, Chapter 28, Compassion, Dharma, Enlightenment, ethics, karma, keeper of the sutra, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana Buddhism, Merit, Nichiren Buddhism, non-violence, parinirvana, respect, Shakyamuni Buddha, spiritual community, teachings, Theravada Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Universal-Sage Bodhisattva, virtue, vows, Zen Buddhism