1. Sinification of Buddhism Pure Land and Chan (or Ch ’ an) are two schools of Buddhism that best represent the sinification/sinicization of Buddhism Pure Land and Chan (or Ch ’ an) are two schools of Buddhism that best represent the sinification/sinicization of Buddhism The sinification finds its expression in scriptures and practices The sinification finds its expression in scriptures and practices Scriptures: Scriptures: Pure Land: the Pure Land sutras Pure Land: the Pure Land sutras Chan (Ch ’ an): The Platform Sutra of the Six Patriarch Chan (Ch ’ an): The Platform Sutra of the Six Patriarch

2. Practices: Both are called devotional/practicing Buddhism –Devotion and practice take different forms –Pure Land: calling name of Amitabha; taking vows and following Amitabha’s instruction, putting trust and faith in Him; be mindful of Him; cultivate three merits and undertake 16 forms of meditation, repentance –Chan: meditation On Gong’an (or Kōan) On master’s words

3. Formation of Chan History and Tradition Chan scholars and historians in the 10 th -11 th centuries claimed: Chan scholars and historians in the 10 th -11 th centuries claimed: A special transmission outside the teachings/scriptures A special transmission outside the teachings/scriptures With no dependence upon words and letters With no dependence upon words and letters A direct pointing into the mind A direct pointing into the mind Seeing there one ’ s own nature, and attaining Buddhahood Seeing there one ’ s own nature, and attaining Buddhahood

4. Chan, Flower, and Mahakashapa’s smile Special transmission:

6. The First Patriarch Bodhidharma The Second Patriarch Huike

7. The Third Patriarch Sengcan The Fourth Patriarch Daoxin

8. The Fifth PatriarchThe Sixth Patriarch

9. Three Learnings in Buddhism Three 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 learnings Chan 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 baskets Chan Buddhists were taught to forsake three baskets

10. Buddhist Hagiographies Biographies and hagiographies Biographies and hagiographies Characteristics of hagiographies Characteristics of hagiographies Based on writings of disciples/followers of the saints Based on writings of disciples/followers of the saints Glorify the saints Glorify the saints Shrouded with legends Shrouded with legends Mythical, inflated, eulogizing Mythical, inflated, eulogizing Pseudo-history or non-history Pseudo-history or non-history

11. In the Pure Land Tradition The First Patriarch Huiyuan The Second Patriarch Shandao

12. Special Transmission Chan’s patriarchate tradition: –(Mahā)kaśyapa designated as the 1 st patriarch of the Chan tradition –In India, from Mahakasyapa to Bodhidharma, a history of unbroken lineage Bodhidharma came to China (ca.516-526) and became the 1 st Chan patriarch –in China, an unbroken Chan lineage continued Fifth patriarch—Hongren (Hung Jen) Sixth patriarch—Huineng (Hui-neng, 638-713) [Shenxiu, Shen- hsiu (606-706) Huineng’s tradition: Southern Chan school Shenxiu’s tradition: Northern Chan school Other lesser Chan traditions

13. – The Southern Chan tradition expanded, branched out, and spread to Vietnam, Korea, Japan and Tibet Huineng’s mummified body

14. Hagiographical Accounts of the Sixth Patriarch of the Chan Buddhism The Platform Sutra A 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

15. Earlier Portrayals of Huineng Taught “ serenity ” Taught “ serenity ” Was the source of the Southern Chan tradition Was the source of the Southern Chan tradition Chan teaching spread all over the empire 106 years after Huineng ’ s death Chan teaching spread all over the empire 106 years after Huineng ’ s death Transmission of teaching not followed Bodhidharma ’ s example Transmission of teaching not followed Bodhidharma ’ s example –Robe (and gatha, bowl) ceased with Huineng –The Platform Sutra was used. Huineng ’ s stupa was violated, his embalmed body almost stolen Huineng ’ s stupa was violated, his embalmed body almost stolen

16. Huineng ’ Sermon Expounding Maha-prajna- paramita Expounding Maha-prajna- paramita Wisdom Wisdom Mind has tremendous power Mind has tremendous power Sudden enlightenment Sudden enlightenment Non-thought: the samadhi of prajna Non-thought: the samadhi of prajna Correct meaning of effort/merit Correct meaning of effort/merit Pure land and purified mind Pure land and purified mind

17. Guangxiao Temple, Guangzhou Where Huineng was ordained

18. Chan and Pure Land Chan and Pure Land Huineng ’ s view on Amitayu ’ s Pure Land Huineng ’ s view on Amitayu ’ s Pure Land –The text of the scripture is very clear [in saying that the Western 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 sutra (p.40): “a hundred thousand koţis of lands away from here” (Buddha to Anada) – Shorter/smaller sutra (p.121): “if you travel westward from here, passing a hundred thousand kotis of Buddha lands, you will come to the land called Utmost Bliss where there is a Buddha named Amitayus (Buddha to Sariputra) – Contemplation sutra: (p. 96) “Do you know that Amitayu is not far away?” (Buddha to Vaidehi)

19. One Dharma/two types of people Distance in physical terms, “ten-thousands and eight thousands of li [from here to the Pure Land] are the ten evils and eight heterodoxies within the body.” Distance in physical terms, “ten-thousands and eight thousands of li [from here to the Pure Land] are the ten evils 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 superior capacities, the Pure Land is close –Deluded person recites the Buddha’s name; enlightened person purifies his mind –“As the mind is purified so is the Buddha land purified.” The Western Paradise will not be far off only when The Western Paradise will not be far off only when –Keep your mind-ground purified, not harboring which is not good

20. 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!