Practice of Chinese Buddhism in the Past
Eight schools of Buddhism in China: Esoteric, Chan (Zen), Pure Land, Consciousness-only, Tri-treatise school, Huayen, Vinaya, and Tientai
Characteristics of each school:
Rich Esoteric, poor Chan, convenient Pure Land
Patient in Mind-only, emptiness in Sanlun
Traditional Huayen and Vinaya's cultivation
Doctrine organizing of Tientai school
1. Wealthy Esoteric: the Esoteric School emphasizes sophisticated dharma functions, ritual practice, and offering to one's teachers. Thus, it is practiced amongst the wealthier.
2. Poor Chan: the Chan School characterizes simplicity, to keep a cultivator's mind pure and simple. The practitioner worries not his finances, but his path.
3. Convenient Pure Land: regardless of one's social status or identity, and regardless of neither time nor location, a cultivator needs only to recite the name of the Buddha all the way until the end.
4. Patient in Mind-Only: to study in the Yogacara school of the Consciousness-Only, one must be very patient in "seeking deep into one's consciousness" and understanding the diverse terminology and the many levels of teaching.
5. Emptiness in Sanlun: a.k.a. Jiaxiang school to commemorate the accomplished master Jiaxiang Jizang; this school teaches the doctrine of emptiness nad concepts such as "dependent origination which is empty in nature" and "Prajna wisdom that apprehends emptiness."
6. Traditional Huayen: emphasis on Mahayana thought, dependent origination of the Dharma realms and the doctrine of 'true emptiness gives rise to marvelous existence' - guidance into the Buddha vehicle.
7. Cultivation in Vinaya: the school of Vinaya emphasizes, "Cultivation via precepts to nurture our own virtues;" Buddha-hood is achieved when all human values are completed to perfection.
8. Doctrine organizing of the Tientai School: Focusing on the organization of doctrine and the systematic propagation of the Dharma.
The importance of these eight schools in the history of Chinese Buddhism
After the Buddha attained Nirvana, members of the sangha established different schools of thought according to their own interpretation and understanding of the Buddha's teachings; an indication that the content of Dharma is rich and diversified and is perfectly adequate in satisfying the needs of students in various backgrounds.
After Buddhism was transmitted eastward to China, it manifested into eight great schools of thought; to confirm that the Dharma transcends time and space and is able to evolve into the different schools that characterized the uniqueness and demography of local culture and traditions.
With the Eight Schools established, the patriarch in each school illustrated his own enlightenment from his school of practice. This unified achievement has served to enrich the content of Chinese Buddhism, just like the blooming of a hundred flowers, each lending their very own beauty to the world.
The Contemporary Trend in Buddhist Practice
Modern trend
The demand of the people in terms of practice: simplicity, quick-fix (swift success), economical
The most popular schools of practice: Chan, Pure Land, and Esoteric
Convenience of the Chan school
One can sit indoors or outdoors, anytime and anyplace, it doesn't matter if one is wealthy or poor.
With widowed words, one strives to experience via the counting of the breath and the observation of the breath
The body and mind are calm, Dharma joy arises at that moment, to clarify the mind and see one's true nature, one then achieves enlightenment.
It complies with the demand of the people in terms of practice: simplicity, quick-fixed (swift success), economical
The convenience of the Pure Land School
One can recite the Buddha's name indoors or outdoors, anytime and anyplace, it doesn't matter if one is wealthy or poor, or walking or sitting, one can always recite the Buddha's name.
Reciting the Buddha's name, counting the recitations, and reflecting on the Buddha is simple and convenient to purify one's defilements and obtain and open mind.
If one is reborn in the pure land, one enters the non-retractable state, obtains the vajra body and vows to be reborn back into the saha world.
The convenience of the Esoteric School
Based on Dharma affinity made in previous lives and enhanced to higher levels; with the empowerment from the higher master, then you can quickly achieve Samadhi.
Based on prayer and mantra recitations, one achieves joy in this life
Chan, Pure Land, and Esoteric school's comparison table
|
school |
any place any time |
Regardless of financial ability |
method |
result |
outcome |
difficulty |
|
Chan |
ü |
ü |
Folded legs in meditation |
Calm body and mind |
To clarify the mind and see one's true nature |
Self-powered |
|
Pure Land |
ü |
ü |
Reciting the Buddha's name wholeheartedly |
Samadhi of reciting the Buddha's name |
Rebirth in the Western Pure Land and no retreat to Buddhahood |
Concentration at the moment of passing |
|
Esoteric |
û |
û |
Ritual |
'Quick-fix' via empowerment |
Swift accomplishment of the three tantras |
Complicated rituals and heavy costs |
The future cultivation trend in Chinese Buddhism
? Trends in modern-day society
- a 'win-win' situation, pluralistic accomplishment
- sharing of resources, the strong helping the weak
? future trends
- Combination of all schools of thought—the vitamin for the wisdom-life
- Pluralistic practice, 'the relief from suffering' insurance plan
-Simplicity without having to take on the traditional style of learning and it can deduct the time to be plainly sitting—for example, if you implant a microchip into someone's head you can store the entire canon plus different important works of great modern day Buddhist masters. This then enhances the spiritual growth of the members in today's society.
- New age trend of Buddhist practitioners—familiarizing oneself with Buddhism?getting in touch with Buddhism?application of Buddhist teachings?practice of Buddhist teachings?and then…
Accomplishing what the Buddha taught: individual?family?community?country?world = Pure Land on Earth