Search found 42 matches

by Noah
Sun Mar 18, 2012 5:33 am
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: The Lotus Sutra
Replies: 136
Views: 41333

Re: The Lotus Sutra

...nor it is to regurgitate or rehash historical or traditional understandings of the Sutra. We can only try to expound the Lotus Sutra as our direct, individual understanding of the Buddha's teaching (Dharma). Interesting...and the constant regurgitation of your ideas here is any better than repro...
by Noah
Sat Mar 17, 2012 7:57 pm
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Hi!
Replies: 5
Views: 1852

Re: Hi!

cool John! I am a practicing Buddhist in Georgia. I have been very interested in the works of the Korean zen monk Chinul. An amazing intellectual approach to zen. Welcome :)
by Noah
Sat Mar 17, 2012 6:21 am
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: The Lotus Sutra
Replies: 136
Views: 41333

Re: The Lotus Sutra

I came to understand the Buddha Abundant Treasures as an "eternal" Buddha. In the sutra, the stupa will manifest and Abundant Treasures will live an give testimony, the splendor was the unknowable abundance if the spiritual life. It is amazing to think of this Buddha as using a great devic...
by Noah
Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:20 am
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: The Lotus Sutra
Replies: 136
Views: 41333

Chapter 12-15 Teachings and Who can preach the Sutra?

The scene is truly incomprehensible- Sakyamuni Buddha is given a seat within the magnificent stupa along with Abundant Treasures. Both sharing the same lion throne within the stupa, the whole assembly rising up to the level of the two Buddhas, the whole earth and innumerable worlds around all purifi...
by Noah
Tue Mar 13, 2012 4:28 am
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: The Lotus Sutra
Replies: 136
Views: 41333

Chapter 11 Beholding the Precious Stupa- Imagery in Action

There is a chapter in which all other disciples are predicted to Buddhahood (Perfect Enlightenment). All are realizing their fate here, no matter their current attainment or realization, they are already bodhi-beings on the Bodhisattva path to Buddhahood! It is revealed that Sakyamuni Buddha and the...
by Noah
Mon Mar 12, 2012 3:56 am
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: The Lotus Sutra
Replies: 136
Views: 41333

Re: The Lotus Sutra

On reading and reflections in preparation for a post on the appearance within the Sutra of the Abundant Treasure stupa (tower), I think that the relation of the White Lotus Sutra to our understanding of cosmic evolution is significant. The teaching thus far is one of the process of Enlightenment ene...
by Noah
Sun Mar 11, 2012 1:16 am
Forum: Zen
Topic: Sutra's
Replies: 5
Views: 2057

Re: Sutra's

I love the Sutras and any you choose will give you enough "food for thought" if you are trying to give your practice some more "content." A few I believe you may like (because they rock) are: Lankavatara Sutra, Diamond Sutra, Platform Sutra and most def- the White Lotus Sutra!! T...
by Noah
Sat Mar 10, 2012 10:42 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Finished the Lotus Sutra
Replies: 11
Views: 3328

Re: Finished the Lotus Sutra

When I say that the Dharma is an individual affair I mean that- one must come to an understanding of the Dharma for oneself. Not that the practice should be solitary. In fact, in the context of the Lotus Sutra, it is impossible! Since there is no separate self, all Dharma practice, even that of &quo...
by Noah
Sat Mar 10, 2012 8:13 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Finished the Lotus Sutra
Replies: 11
Views: 3328

Re: Finished the Lotus Sutra

I think you are right, the definitions in the glossary are very simplified and the true meanings of these terms can only be understood in the light of the Dharma. It's meaning within the content of the teaching. These terms are used in the Sutra to show the natural cycle of the Wheel of the Law. Aft...
by Noah
Sat Mar 10, 2012 4:35 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: The Lotus Sutra
Replies: 136
Views: 41333

Re: The Lotus Sutra

Hey, dsaly! Very great, I have the Kato translation. It is wonderful :)
by Noah
Sat Mar 10, 2012 4:31 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: The Lotus Sutra
Replies: 136
Views: 41333

Chapter 7 Parable of the Magic City

The Buddha is speaking- the fact that his Disciples by use of the 3 Vehicles will gain attainment of "what they think of as nirvana" but the Buddha will be eternally teaching them over many lifetimes and other world systems to gradually bring all to the One Vehicle- Perfect Enlightenment (...
by Noah
Sat Mar 10, 2012 3:34 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: The Lotus Sutra
Replies: 136
Views: 41333

Re: The Lotus Sutra

Hey Aemilius! Vajayana Buddhism and Tibetan are systematic methods of practice that use deep understanding of Dharma and individualized mind training to develop insights and liberation. I heard it put like this from a Rinpoche (paraphrased)- A serious Tantric practitioner first must study the Hinaya...
by Noah
Sat Mar 10, 2012 3:35 am
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: The Lotus Sutra
Replies: 136
Views: 41333

Chapter 7 Parable of the Magic City

This chapter starts off with an introduction. Buddha Universal Surpassing Wisdom! Buddha Sakyamuni describes the length of time since that Buddha's passing as an inconceivable number multiplied by an inconceivable number. Multiply it by yet ANOTHER inconceivably large number and the amount of ages p...
by Noah
Wed Mar 07, 2012 3:57 am
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: The Lotus Sutra
Replies: 136
Views: 41333

Re: The Lotus Sutra

This is totally amazing. I have never heard the Lotus Sutra put in this way, ram's insightful expressions and your "matter of fact" statements hold truth. The other Sutras indeed need to be understood fully to light the way for the Lotus Sutra. Emptiness and Non-duality pervade the Sutra, ...
by Noah
Tue Mar 06, 2012 6:45 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: What is Mahayana Buddhism?
Replies: 8
Views: 2148

Re: What is Mahayana Buddhism?

Mayahana Buddhism is the natural growth and progression of the Dharma through the writing down of the teachings of Sakyamuni Buddha. The buddha gave many teachings and those who dwelt in mental states of Enlightenment wrote down text and teachings from the Buddha. As such, many of these texts take p...
by Noah
Tue Mar 06, 2012 6:18 am
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: The Lotus Sutra
Replies: 136
Views: 41333

Re: The Lotus Sutra

Very great, Rory. You seem like a true spiritual friend to all. I love the Lotus Sutra but, I do not hold is above other Buddhist Sutras. I believe it is truth that there are Innumerable meanings of the Dharma and there are many Discourses from Sakyamuni Buddha that would qualify as "complete t...
by Noah
Tue Mar 06, 2012 4:38 am
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: The Lotus Sutra
Replies: 136
Views: 41333

Re: The Lotus Sutra

Hey Leo! I have a translation from the Rissho-kosei-kai titled the Threefold Lotus Sutra. The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings and the Sutra of Meditation on the Bodhisattva Universal Virtue are included in the collection. It is great and also the only translation I can speak for. :) I believe that, wi...
by Noah
Tue Mar 06, 2012 12:12 am
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: The Lotus Sutra
Replies: 136
Views: 41333

Chapter 6 Prediction

I believe it is profitable to take this chapter in stride. It is truly the beginning of the entire assembly being given prediction to Perfect Enlightenment as future Buddhas. Thus, the entire assembly eventually takes up the Bodhisattva path (the One Vehicle). The Buddha has revealed the highest Ide...
by Noah
Mon Mar 05, 2012 11:15 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: The Lotus Sutra
Replies: 136
Views: 41333

Re: The Lotus Sutra

That is totally amazing, reading that has me interested in thinking about what kind of training is out there, even for a lay follower who is devoted. I feel that, no matter what, I will spend the rest of my life oriented toward the Dharma, loving it and practicing. Very inspirational :)
by Noah
Mon Mar 05, 2012 6:39 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: The Lotus Sutra
Replies: 136
Views: 41333

Re: The Lotus Sutra

Jikan- thanks! I have read and mindfully read the Sutra many times now. I also allow myself to contemplate the meanings of specific passages in my meditation sessions, sometimes. Speaking the Sutra out loud and copying the text in the way shown on the link you posted seems like a great idea. Do you ...

Go to advanced search