I asked Google Gemini to illustrate this Daily Dharma:

The Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones,
Say only expediently [that some are not Bodhisattvas]
To tell the truth,
All living beings taught by them are Bodhisattvas.

This verse comes from Chapter Three of the Lotus Sūtra. In Chapter Two, the Buddha declared that he only teaches Bodhisattvas. If we believe that we are not Bodhisattvas, we could conclude that the Buddha does not teach us. Part of what the Buddha is explaining here is that we are all Bodhisattvas. The way to reach the Buddha’s enlightenment is by living as Bodhisattvas: beings whose every breath is intended to improve our world.

I got this response:

I checked the Kanji text in Google Lens:

That didn’t make any sense so I asked Nano Banana, the image editor in Google’s Gemini, to translate the text. Nano Banana said:

The text on the scroll is in traditional Chinese/Japanese characters.

Reading from right to left, the large characters are: 佛感天和跡聖帝 (Fó gǎn tiān hé jī shèng dì)

The smaller characters on the left are: 千年廣繪画 (Qiān nián guǎng huì huà)

A direct translation is roughly:

佛感天和跡聖帝: Buddha feels Heaven, Harmony, and the Traces of the Sacred Emperors.

千年廣繪画: Thousand-Year Vast Painting (likely the artist’s signature or title).

That didn’t make any sense either, so I told Nano Banana to remove the text and the scroll.

The Nano Banana shows its thinking as it works:

Erasing and Replacing

I’m focusing on removing the scroll and text from the image. The aim is to seamlessly integrate traditional Japanese cloud and wave patterns in their place. Right now, I’m working with the original and figuring out the best way to extract the patterns needed.

Defining the Edits

I’m now zeroing in on the specific elements to remove: the scroll and all text. I’ve pinpointed the exact content that needs erasure, including the wooden components and the characters. The main focus is reconstructing the area where the scroll was to flawlessly incorporate the surrounding stylistic elements. The figures above must remain untouched.

Analyzing Image Accuracy

I’m currently verifying the image against the initial user instructions. My focus is on ensuring the complete removal of the scroll and its calligraphy as specified in the prompt. I’m carefully reviewing the background reconstruction to ensure it’s consistent with the original art style and meets the requirements.

Reviewing Background Elements

I’m now carefully examining the background reconstruction to confirm the consistency of the wave patterns and cloud formations with the original style. The prompt’s requirement for complete scroll removal has also been fulfilled; the text and scroll are entirely absent. I’m focusing on ensuring every detail meets the specified criteria.

The product of this work:

I really didn’t understand the illustration, so, hoping for something different, I asked Nano Banana:

Focus the illustration on showing that all people who follow the Buddha are Bodhisattvas

As Nano Banana worked, it said:

Modifying the Bodhisattvas

I’m working on transforming the original illustration by depicting all the figures, including the men, women, and children, as luminous Bodhisattvas. The goal is to evolve the initial image into a representation of enlightened beings.

Enhancing Divine Aura

I’m now focusing on transforming the human figures at the ground level into Bodhisattvas. They will wear robes, crowns, and have halos, floating on lotus clouds. Animals will also receive glowing symbols. The goal is to enhance the overall golden light and divine energy to emphasize the transformation, while keeping the Ukiyo-e style and aged paper texture.

Evaluating Abstract Symbolism

I’m currently focused on the image’s symbolic representation. The model successfully conveyed the abstract notion of Bodhisattvas through the use of lotus thrones, signifying enlightenment. This visual element aligns well with the user’s intent. The interpretation of ‘showing that all people who follow the Buddha are Bodhisattvas’ is clear.

Analyzing Symbolic Placement

I’ve examined how the model has visualized the user’s intent to represent the idea that all followers of the Buddha are Bodhisattvas. The placement of all figures on lotus thrones is key. This directly addresses the prompt, conveying the abstract concept through strong symbolism. The alignment of the visual elements with the intended message is very good.

The result:

I gave up and published this version of the illustration.

In dealing with Google’s Gemini it is important to get the “prompt’ – the instructions – right. After publishing the day’s illustration, I went back to see if I could write a prompt that would generate a better illustration.

After starting a new session of my Illustrated Daily Dharma gem on Gemini, I submitted this prompt.

Special instruction: Focus this image on the line ” Part of what the Buddha is explaining here is that we are all Bodhisattvas. The way to reach the Buddha’s enlightenment is by living as Bodhisattvas: beings whose every breath is intended to improve our world.”

Source text: The Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones,
Say only expediently [that some are not Bodhisattvas]
To tell the truth,
All living beings taught by them are Bodhisattvas.

This verse comes from Chapter Three of the Lotus Sūtra. In Chapter Two, the Buddha declared that he only teaches Bodhisattvas. If we believe that we are not Bodhisattvas, we could conclude that the Buddha does not teach us. Part of what the Buddha is explaining here is that we are all Bodhisattvas. The way to reach the Buddha’s enlightenment is by living as Bodhisattvas: beings whose every breath is intended to improve our world.

As Nano Banana worked, it explained:

Considering Theme & Scope

I’m currently focused on the overarching theme and scope for this illustration. I’ve distilled the core message down to the concept of universal Bodhisattvahood and compassionate action as the path to enlightenment. Now I’m working on specific imagery elements.

Formulating the Visuals

My current focus is on the visual details. I’m exploring how to represent the concept of “all beings as Bodhisattvas” through diverse figures in a Japanese Buddhist art style, maybe ukiyo-e. I’m also considering how to depict the “breath” of compassionate action flowing into a central, glowing world. I’m trying to figure out how to best integrate the text and quote.

Evaluating Visual Fidelity

I’m checking the image against the user’s instructions. The square format seems fitting for Instagram. It incorporates the “Bodhisattvas” message and the source text. There’s an effort to depict people breathing intention, though this needs further refinement.

Confirming Image Integration

I’m confirming the image’s alignment with the user’s intent. The square dimension is ideal for the intended platform. The graphic successfully conveys the “Bodhisattvas” message alongside the cited text. The visualization of people breathing intention is a strong element that enhances the central concept. It appears to meet all the criteria.

And the result:

This was worse than the original. I asked Nano Banana to explain the central figure in the image.

With pleasure. Here is an explanation of the central figure in this illustration.

The Embodiment of Compassion: The Bodhisattva

The radiant, multi-armed figure at the heart of this illustration is a Bodhisattva (known in Japanese as a Bosatsu).

In Mahayana Buddhism, a Bodhisattva is an awakened being who, motivated by great compassion (bodhicitta), vows to attain supreme enlightenment not just for themselves, but for the sake of liberating all sentient beings from suffering.

While they share many attributes with a Buddha, Bodhisattvas in Japanese iconography are typically depicted wearing crowns, jewelry, and flowing celestial scarves—resembling Indian royalty—rather than the simple monastic robes of a Buddha. This signifies that they remain connected to the world to help us, rather than having departed into final Nirvana.

Specific Iconography in this Image:

Given the theme of universal compassion and the visual cues, this figure is highly likely a representation of Kannon Bosatsu (Avalokiteśvara in Sanskrit), the Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion, who is one of the most beloved figures in East Asian Buddhism.

The Multiple Arms: Kannon is often depicted with many arms (sometimes eleven, sometimes a thousand). In this eight-armed form, the multitude of limbs symbolizes their immense capacity and “skillful means” to reach out and assist countless suffering beings simultaneously, using the appropriate tool or method for each situation.

The Lotus Pedestal: The figure stands upon a blooming lotus. The lotus is a paramount symbol in Buddhism; it roots in the mud at the bottom of a pond but rises to bloom, pristine and untouched, above the water. This symbolizes the Bodhisattva remaining in the “mud” of samsara (the cycle of suffering) to help others, while their mind remains pure and undefiled.

The Halo and Position: The golden halo and their elevated position above the globe establish them as an enlightened archetype. They are the ideal model of compassion that the text encourages us to emulate.

The Figure’s Role in the Composition:

This central Bodhisattva acts as the visual anchor for the text excerpt from the Lotus Sūtra.

The illustration suggests that this magnificent, divine being is not fundamentally different from the ordinary monks, villagers, and children standing below. The central figure is the realization of the potential that lies within the people below.

As the text states, “We are all Bodhisattvas.” The central figure shows us the perfection of that state—a being whose entire existence, whose “every breath,” is dedicated to healing the world depicted beneath their feet.

For years I worked with illustrators – actual people who drew artwork – to illustrate opinion pieces on the Opinion Pages of The Sacramento Bee. Looking back, I realize I didn’t have any more luck with the real people then than I did today with an AI agent named  Nano Banana. There’s just no forcing art.

Each morning for the past six days I’ve asked Google’s Gemini to create an illustration based on the text of the Daily Dharma sent by zenzaizenzai.com. I’ve been refining the workflow, but in general it has become a simple task.

Until this morning.

I asked Gemini to illustrate this text:

What does the doctrine of spiritual contemplation mean? It means the way of practicing the teaching of the Buddha according to the intent of the Buddha, not necessarily according to what is literally said in the sutra. Suppose there is a man during the time of a famine who offers to the Buddha the only food he has to stay alive for a day. This is the same as offering his life to the Buddha.

Nichiren wrote this passage in his Treatise on Phenomenal and Noumenal Offering (Jiri Kuyō Gosho). The Lotus Sūtra is the highest teaching because it encompasses all beings in all worlds, assuring everyone that they can rid themselves of delusion and reach the Buddha’s enlightenment. The Buddha showed that the universe is constantly changing, even from one moment to the next. When we read the Lotus Sūtra, and allow our minds to become more like the Buddha mind, we learn the meaning behind the words and put that into practice. We do not merely go through the motions mechanically. We understand that calamities are opportunities for us to bring the Buddha’s teaching to life, and that whatever prosperity we gain does not belong to us alone. Whatever we have is for the benefit of all beings.

The illustration I received from Gemini:

I have decades of experience selecting artwork to illustrate articles. That was one of my jobs during my career as a newspaper editor. This illustration puzzled me.

Using the Google Lens app on my phone I translated the text as saying, “Protect the Unique.” I then asked Google Lens to explain the statue, only to learn this was a representation of Amida Buddha. The app said, “The standing posture often represents the Buddha descending from the heavens to welcome devotees to his paradise. The hand gesture, or mudra, with the right hand raised and the palm facing outward, is known as the abhayada-mudra, which bestows fearlessness. The left hand, with the palm facing outward and downwards, forms the varada-mudra, representing compassion.

As a Nichiren Buddhist I’m not going to use a statue of Amida Buddha to illustrate the Daily Dharma, let alone a quote that doesn’t appear to relate. I went back to Gemini and told it to focus the illustration on the line: The Lotus Sūtra is the highest teaching because it encompasses all beings in all worlds, assuring everyone that they can rid themselves of delusion and reach the Buddha’s enlightenment.

That prompt produced the image I used today:

As an editor, I don’t like this image as much as earlier ones. It relies too heavily on words to explain its meaning. A good illustration shouldn’t need words.

I expect to have this happen again in the future and I’ll handle it the same way. But the story doesn’t end here. I went back to Google Gemini to see if it could explain why it produced that original illustration.

I uploaded the illustration to Gemini and asked:

Explain the symbolism of this image in detail and explain the story the illustrator was trying to tell.

Gemini responded:

This image is a rich tapestry of Buddhist iconography and ethical teaching. It illustrates a core tenet of Mahayana Buddhism: that the “sincerity and sacrifice” behind an act are far more spiritually significant than the material value of the gift itself.

The illustrator is telling a story of “ultimate devotion,” specifically highlighting the concept of Dana (generosity) practiced to its highest degree.

1. Key Symbols and Their Meanings

The image uses several classical Buddhist symbols to ground the story in spiritual tradition:

The Bodhi Tree: The monk sits beneath a tree with heart-shaped leaves, representing the tree under which Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment. This signifies that the scene is one of high spiritual realization and truth.

The Lotus Flowers: Emerging from clouds and water, the lotus symbolizes “purity and rebirth.” Even in the “mud” of a famine or suffering, a beautiful, pure act of devotion can bloom.

The Golden Buddha: The glowing figure in the background represents the “Triple Gem” (the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha). The rays of light (auras) signify the boundless compassion and wisdom that witness the man’s sacrifice.

The Scroll and the Monk: The monk represents the preservation of the teachings. He is a witness to the man’s karma.

The Bowl of Rice: In the context of a famine, this is not just food; it is a “biological lifeline.” By offering it, the man is physically divesting himself of his means of survival.

2. The Narrative: Sacrifice and Sincerity

The story being told is a classic Buddhist parable (similar to the story of the “Poor Woman’s Lamp” or the “Offering of the Hare”).

The Contrast of Form

The illustrator creates a sharp visual contrast between the monk (who looks healthy, serene, and well-clothed) and the poor man (who is skeletal, wearing rags, and barefoot). This emphasizes that the man is giving from a place of “lack” rather than “abundance.”

The “Life” Offering

The text at the bottom is the key to the story: “This is the same as offering his life.” In Buddhist philosophy, the merit of an action is determined by the intention (cetana).

If a king gives a thousand gold coins, it is a great gift.
If a starving man gives his last bowl of rice, he has given everything.

The illustrator is showing that this man has transcended his fear of death and his attachment to his own body. By feeding the “Buddha” (or the Sangha) instead of himself, he has achieved a state of selflessness that is the precursor to Enlightenment.

3. Analysis of the Text

The vertical Japanese/Chinese text in the center reads 「唯道のを守る」 (roughly: “Only protecting/keeping the Way”). This reinforces the idea that the man’s act is not just charity, but a strict adherence to the spiritual path (the Way), even when faced with the ultimate personal cost.

Summary of the Illustrator’s Message
The illustrator is teaching the viewer that “true spirituality is found in the depth of one’s sacrifice.” The image serves as a “contemplation” piece to make the viewer ask: “What am I willing to let go of for the sake of what is holy?”

Note that, from Gemini’s perspective, none of this has anything to do with Pure Land teaching or Amida Buddha, which were my primary concern.

I went back to Gemini again. This time I asked:

The statement: “Suppose there is a man during the time of a famine who offers to the Buddha the only food he has to stay alive for a day. This is the same as offering his life to the Buddha.”

Where could I expect to find this statement — what teaching, whose teaching?

Gemini responded:

This statement is a central teaching of Nichiren Daishonin (1222–1282), the 13th-century Japanese Buddhist priest who founded Nichiren Buddhism.

Specifically, you can find this passage in one of his letters (known as Gosho) titled “The Gift of Rice” (Hakumai-ippo-sho).

The Source and Context
Nichiren wrote this letter while living in extreme poverty and isolation on Mount Minobu. During this time, he and his disciples often faced starvation and harsh winters. The letter was written as a thank-you note to a follower who had sent him a gift of polished rice, yams, and other food.

In the letter, Nichiren writes:

“…in a time of famine, offering the food that is the only means for sustaining one’s life that day to the Buddha is offering one’s life to the Buddha.” — The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, p. 1126

Key Concepts in This Teaching
Nichiren uses this statement to explain how ordinary people can attain enlightenment. He distinguishes between two types of offerings:

Offering in Actuality

This refers to the legendary stories of ancient sages and bodhisattvas who literally gave up their bodies or lives for the Law (e.g., the boy Snow Mountains who offered his life to a demon to hear a Buddhist verse).

Offering in Principle

This is the practice for ordinary people. Since most people cannot (and are not expected to) literally sacrifice their lives, Nichiren teaches that offering something vital to your own survival—like your last bit of food during a famine—is spiritually equivalent to offering your life.

The Philosophy of “Earnest Resolve”

The core message is that the sincerity of the heart (Japanese: kokorozashi) is what matters most in Buddhism.

Life is the Foremost Treasure

Nichiren explains that life is the most precious thing in the universe. Therefore, the food that sustains life is also a “treasure.”

The Spirit of Contribution

Giving from a place of abundance is easy, but giving from a place of personal lack (the “only food he has to stay alive”) represents the highest form of faith and “earnest resolve.”

Equality of Benefit

By making such a sincere offering, an ordinary person gains the same immense “fortune” or merit as the sages of old who performed literal physical sacrifices.

Note that I didn’t direct Gemini to focus on Nichiren or his teachings. This was its genuine view. This raises the question: Why didn’t the first illustration reflect this understanding?

Such is the peril of Using AI to Illustrate the Daily Dharma.