Buddhist Schools of Thought and Tradition
Table of Contents
Eight Buddhist schools in China:
- Tiantai 天臺宗
- Huayan 華嚴宗
- Pure Land 淨土宗
- Chan 禪宗
- Sanlun 三論宗
- Yogacara 唯識宗
- Mizong/Tantrayana 密宗
- Luzong 律宗
Among the first 4 schools, Tiantai and Huayan are theoritical and philosophical while Chan and Pure Land are emphasized practice.
After Wuzong’s presecution of Buddhism in 845, philosophical schools declined sharply while Chan and Pure Land became prominent and developed further.
Exegetic tradition (釋經傳統). Started with Kumarajiva 鸠摩罗什 who had introduced many Madhyamaka treaties and commentaries together with Mahayana sutras. Kumarajiva also attracted many students, like Sengzhao 僧肇.
This tradition is culminated with formulation of Sanlun school by Jizang 吉藏, who extended traditional “Two Truths” into 3 levels.
1. Sanlun
Main doctrine. Because all phenomena appear and disappear solely by virtue of their relationship with other phenomena (dependent arising), they have no existence of their own, or self-nature, and are without substance.
1.1. Yogacara Tradition
- Paramartha 真諦 introduced early Indian Yogacara school of thought to China
- Xuanzang 玄奘 completed the introduction of Yogacara texts and tradition
- Yogacara, aka Faxiang 法相 or Weishi 唯識.
2. Pure Land 淨土宗
ALthough the school traced back to Huiyuan (慧遠) as its founder, it was actually established by Tanluan (曇鸞), Daozhuo (道綽), Shandao (善導).
Tanluan created the practice of chanting the name of Amita Buddha; Daozhuo and Shandao further developed and popularized the school in Tang dynasty.
2.1. Main Practice
Recitation. The main practice of recitation is based on the 18th vow in the Infinite Life Scripture (無量壽經) that one will be reborn in the Pure Land created by Amitabha if one recites his name for 10 times with a concentrated mind.
2.2. Pure Land Thought
Chan masters inclined to interpret Pure Land as a mental creation as the Scripture on the Visualization of Amitā says
“this mind is the Buddha and this mind becomes a Buddha as the ocean like true wisdom of all Buddhas come from the mind
3. Tiantai 天台宗
Master Zhiyi (智顗) resided on Mt. Tiantai and developed his interpretation of Buddhist doctrines and practices from the perspective of the popular Lotus Sutra 《法華經》.
Develop three truths on the basis of two truths found in Nagarjuna’s treaties: ultimate, provisional, and middle. He used the theory of three truths to explain reality.
4. Huayan 華嚴宗
This school is based on Huayan Jing 《華嚴經》. Its religious philosophy is complex, which merges emptiness, mere consciousness, and Buddha nature. Philosophy: One principle and many manifestations.
Also a product of the encounter of Indian Buddhism and Chinese philosophy of world view. Fazang (法藏) first formulated the doctrines of Hanyan school.
5. Chan School 禪宗
Influence people in ways of thinking and life and their thought. Originally as meditation.
Bodhidharma 菩提達摩 is credited as the person who introduced Chan tradition. Daoxin (道信) and Hongren (弘忍) attracted crowd in Hubei.
Shenxiu 神秀 teaching prospered in the 2 capitals of Tang, and amongst elites; Huineng 惠能 went back to Guangdong and influenced South China.
5.1. Huineng Meditation
- not need to sit still; but as long as concentrate his mind whether walking, sitting, or even laying down
- The mind is the dharmakāya which is unlimited like a space;
- The wisdom is the self nature of the prajñā which is possessed by everyone;
- so one can realize it in a moment if one so concentrates
advocates sudden enlightenment.
5.2. Chan in Song Dynasty
Yanshou 延壽 advocated combination of Chan practice with recitation of Amitabha. 禪淨合流
Yulu 語錄, which are records of simultaneous or instant speeches with enlightening stories and dialogues, called Gongan 公案.
5.2.1. Huatou Chan 話頭禪
Zonggao 宗杲 worried about degeneration of Chan with playing of word game, and created a method of meditation by pondering over a critical phrase.