Sinification of BuddhismSinification of Buddhism

Pure Land and Chan (or ChPure Land and Chan (or Ch’’an) are an) are two schools of Buddhism that best two schools of Buddhism that best represent the represent the sinification/sinicization of Buddhismsinification/sinicization of Buddhism

The sinification finds its expression The sinification finds its expression in scriptures and practicesin scriptures and practices

Scriptures:Scriptures:Pure Land: the Pure Land sutrasPure Land: the Pure Land sutrasChan (ChChan (Ch’’an): an): The Platform Sutra The Platform Sutra

of the Six Patriarchof the Six Patriarch

Practices: Practices: Both are called devotional/practicing Both are called devotional/practicing BuddhismBuddhism– Devotion and practice take different formsDevotion and practice take different forms– Pure Land: Pure Land:

calling name of Amitabha; calling name of Amitabha;

taking vows and following Amitabha’s instruction, taking vows and following Amitabha’s instruction,

putting trust and faith in Him; putting trust and faith in Him;

be mindful of Him; be mindful of Him;

cultivate three merits and undertake 16 forms of cultivate three merits and undertake 16 forms of meditation, meditation,

repentancerepentance

– Chan: meditation Chan: meditation On Gong’an (or KOn Gong’an (or Kōōan) an)

On master’s wordsOn master’s words

Formation of Chan Formation of Chan History and TraditionHistory and Tradition

Chan scholars and historians in the 10Chan scholars and historians in the 10thth--1111thth centuries claimed: centuries claimed: A special transmission outside the A special transmission outside the

teachings/scripturesteachings/scriptures With no dependence upon words and lettersWith no dependence upon words and letters A direct pointing into the mindA direct pointing into the mind Seeing there oneSeeing there one’’s own nature, and attaining s own nature, and attaining

BuddhahoodBuddhahood

Chan, Flower, and Mahakashapa’s smile

Special transmission:

The First PatriarchBodhidharma

The Second PatriarchHuike

The Third PatriarchSengcan

The Fourth PatriarchDaoxin

The Fifth Patriarch The Sixth Patriarch

Three Learnings in BuddhismThree learnings:

Wisdom, Morality, Mediation• Right view, right resolve; right speech, right action, right

livelihood; right effort, right mindfulness, right meditation

Traditional ideal Buddhists practiced three learningsChan Buddhists were taught to stress meditation

Three baskets: (Tripitaka)Vinaya pitaka (basket of discipline)Sutra pitaka (basket of discourses)Abidharma pitaka (basket of higher philosophy)Traditional ideal Buddhists mastered three basketsChan Buddhists were taught to forsake three baskets

Buddhist Buddhist HagiographiesHagiographies

Biographies and hagiographiesBiographies and hagiographiesCharacteristics of hagiographiesCharacteristics of hagiographies

Based on writings of Based on writings of disciples/followers of the saintsdisciples/followers of the saints

Glorify the saintsGlorify the saintsShrouded with legendsShrouded with legendsMythical, inflated, eulogizingMythical, inflated, eulogizingPseudo-history or non-historyPseudo-history or non-history

In the Pure Land TraditionThe First Patriarch Huiyuan

The Second PatriarchShandao

Special TransmissionSpecial Transmission

Chan’s patriarchate tradition:Chan’s patriarchate tradition:– (Mahā)kaśyapa designated as the 1(Mahā)kaśyapa designated as the 1stst patriarch of the patriarch of the

Chan traditionChan tradition– In India, from Mahakasyapa to Bodhidharma, a history of In India, from Mahakasyapa to Bodhidharma, a history of

unbroken lineageunbroken lineageBodhidharma came to China (ca.516-526) and became the 1Bodhidharma came to China (ca.516-526) and became the 1stst Chan patriarchChan patriarch

– in China, an unbroken Chan lineage continuedin China, an unbroken Chan lineage continuedFifth patriarch—Hongren (Hung Jen)Fifth patriarch—Hongren (Hung Jen)

Sixth patriarch—Huineng (Hui-neng, 638-713) [Shenxiu, Shen-Sixth patriarch—Huineng (Hui-neng, 638-713) [Shenxiu, Shen-hsiu (606-706)hsiu (606-706)

Huineng’s tradition: Southern Chan schoolHuineng’s tradition: Southern Chan school

Shenxiu’s tradition: Northern Chan schoolShenxiu’s tradition: Northern Chan school

Other lesser Chan traditionsOther lesser Chan traditions

– The Southern Chan tradition expanded, branched out, and spread to Vietnam, Korea, Japan and Tibet

Huineng’s mummified body

Hagiographical Accounts of the Sixth Patriarch of the Chan Buddhism

The Platform SutraA hagiography of Huineng

Family background

A reader of the Diamond Sutra

Searched for the truth in Mt. Huang-mei

Began first sermon in south China

Ordained and began to preach

Baolin temple, Caoxi, Canton

Monastery of extraordinary quality

Capable of subduing monstrous dragon

Earlier Portrayals of Earlier Portrayals of HuinengHuineng

Taught Taught ““serenityserenity”” Was the source of the Southern Chan Was the source of the Southern Chan

traditiontradition Chan teaching spread all over the Chan teaching spread all over the

empire 106 years after Huinengempire 106 years after Huineng’’s deaths death Transmission of teaching not followed Transmission of teaching not followed

BodhidharmaBodhidharma’’s example s example – Robe (and Robe (and gathagatha, bowl) ceased with Huineng, bowl) ceased with Huineng– The Platform SutraThe Platform Sutra was used. was used.

HuinengHuineng’’s s stupastupa was violated, his was violated, his embalmed body almost stolenembalmed body almost stolen

HuinengHuineng’’ Sermon Sermon

Expounding Expounding Maha-Maha-prajna-paramitaprajna-paramita

WisdomWisdom Mind has tremendous Mind has tremendous

powerpower Sudden enlightenmentSudden enlightenment Non-thought: the Non-thought: the

samadhisamadhi of of prajnaprajna Correct meaning of Correct meaning of

effort/meriteffort/merit Pure land and purified Pure land and purified

mindmind

Guangxiao Temple, GuangzhouWhere Huineng was ordained

Chan and Pure LandChan and Pure Land HuinengHuineng’’s view on Amitayus view on Amitayu’’s Pure Lands Pure Land

– The text of the scripture is very clear [in saying that the Western The text of the scripture is very clear [in saying that the Western paradise] “is not far from here” (remember: Huineng was illiterate)paradise] “is not far from here” (remember: Huineng was illiterate)

Exactly what do Pure Land texts say?Exactly what do Pure Land texts say?– Larger/longer sutraLarger/longer sutra (p.40): “a hundred thousand (p.40): “a hundred thousand koţiskoţis of lands away of lands away

from here” (Buddha to Anada)from here” (Buddha to Anada)– Shorter/smaller sutra Shorter/smaller sutra (p.121): “if you travel westward from here, (p.121): “if you travel westward from here,

passing a hundred thousand kotis of Buddha lands, you will come to passing a hundred thousand kotis of Buddha lands, you will come to the land called Utmost Bliss where there is a Buddha named the land called Utmost Bliss where there is a Buddha named Amitayus (Buddha to Sariputra)Amitayus (Buddha to Sariputra)

– Contemplation sutra: Contemplation sutra: (p. 96)(p. 96) “Do you know“Do you know that Amitayu is not far that Amitayu is not far away?” (Buddha to Vaidehi)away?” (Buddha to Vaidehi)

One Dharma/two types of peopleOne Dharma/two types of people

Distance in physical terms, “ten-thousands and eight Distance in physical terms, “ten-thousands and eight thousands of thousands of lili [from here to the Pure Land] are the ten evils [from here to the Pure Land] are the ten evils and eight heterodoxies within the body.”and eight heterodoxies within the body.”

Two types of people:Two types of people:– Those with inferior capacities, the Pure Land is distant; Those of Those with inferior capacities, the Pure Land is distant; Those of

superior capacities, the Pure Land is closesuperior capacities, the Pure Land is close– Deluded person recites the Buddha’s name; enlightened person Deluded person recites the Buddha’s name; enlightened person

purifies his mindpurifies his mind– ““As the mind is purified so is the Buddha land purified.”As the mind is purified so is the Buddha land purified.”

The Western Paradise will not be far off only whenThe Western Paradise will not be far off only when– Keep your mind-ground purified, not harboring which is not goodKeep your mind-ground purified, not harboring which is not good

Scriptures, Words, and Letters

• A separate/special transmission outside scriptures/With no dependence upon words and letters”?• No textual, scriptural studies or philosophical discussion• Only intuitive approach to enlightenment

• Huineng: “meditation and wisdom are of one essence”• “meditation (lamp) is the essence of wisdom (light), and wisdom

(light) is the function of meditation (lamp)• Meditation to wisdom is like the lamp to the light; wisdom to

meditation is like the light to the lamp• Quoted Vimalakirti sutra regarding “the straightforward mind”• Don’t slander scriptures!