FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS – part 1, Duḥkha
- Duḥkha/Ku 苦 – “suffering”
- Samudaya/Jū 集 – “arising”
- Nirodha/Metsu 滅 – “cessation”
- Mārga/Dō 道 – “road/path/way”
…. see more
SAṂSĀRA & NIRVĀṆA – Rin’ne & Nehan 輪廻 & 涅槃
The root of the word is ‘sṛ’, meaning to flow or to run. Together with the prefix ‘saṃ’ (meaning ‘together’ or ‘complete’) we get a meaning of ‘to wander on’ or ‘continuous flowing’… see more
Chapter 25 of the Lotus Sūtra
(普門品 / “The Universal Gateway”)
Arguably, one of the most well known and most recited chapters of the Lotus Sūtra is Chapter 25, “The Universal Gateway” (Fumon-bon 普門品), aka “Universal Gateway of the Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World’s Sounds” (Kanzeon-bosatsu-fumon-hon 観世音菩薩普門品), aka the “Avalokiteśvara Sūtra” (Kannon Gyō (観音経)…. see more
Zhiyi’s ‘Words and Phrases of the Golden Light Sūtra’ (金光明經文句 T 1785)
Similar to the ‘Profound Meaning of the Golden Light Sūtra’, the ‘Words and Phrases of the Golden Light Sūtra’ follows the standard set by Zhiyi’s famous commentaries of the Lotus Sūtra…. see more
The Profound Meaning of the Golden Light Sutra (part 2)
The Profound Meaning of the Golden Light Sūtra 金光明經玄義 is one in a series of ‘Profound Meaning’ (玄義) texts attributed to Zhiyi, a model established by his famous ‘Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sūtra (法華玄義, T 1716)…. see more
The Golden Light Sūtra (part 1)
Highly influential Mahāyāna Buddhist scripture known for its emphasis on state protection, the power of confession and repentance, and the cosmic significance of the Dharma…. see more
二十五方便 Nijūgo Hōben – Twenty Five Expedients
The Nijūgo Hōben are a set of preparatory practices outlined by Tendai Daishi Zhiyi in his meditation text, Maka Shikan 摩訶止観 (Great Calming and Contemplation), and to a lesser extent in other texts, such as Sho Shikan 小止觀 (Small Calming and Contemplation). … see more
Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva saving (sentient beings) in the Six Realms
六道 Rokudō means the Six Realms of Rebirth (in Samsara)
能化 nōge invokes the ability or power to cause change
六道能化地藏 Rokudō nōge Jizō, therefore, gives us the impression that Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva (Jizō Bosatsu 地藏) is able to change the fate of those trapped in the realms of Samsara. … see more
27th May 2025
Five Views And Five Sounds of Avalokitesvara
This is a teaching stemming from the verse section of chapter 25 of the Lotus Sūtra, also known as the Avalokiteśvara Sūtra (Kannon Kyō). This verse/sūtra is popularly chanted in Tendai, Nichiren, Zen, Shingon, and many others….. see more
23rd May 2025
An introduction to Dependant Origination
Pratītyasamutpāda (縁起 ENGI)
因縁所生法、我説即是空、亦名爲假名、亦名中道義
“Whatever arises through causes and conditions, I describe as emptiness; it is also called provisional designation, and it also means the principle of the Middle Way” -Nāgārjuna …. see more
28th April 2025
On the origins of gongyō verses
Gongyō is the regular recitation of the Buddha’s teachings and other such practices. It is also known as O-tsutome お勤め, meaning ‘to carry out ones work/duty/business’. …. see more
25th April 2025
Tendai Buddhism UK 