Chinese Buddhism

Chinese Buddhism conflates Buddhism with Taoism, fusing into one the Indian concern with liberation of the self and Chinese focus on nature. Confucianism and Taoism were philosphies for the governing classes. Mahayana Buddhism was for everyone. Chinese Buddhism keeps everything of significance that is most characteristic of Taoism, only the place of the Tao is occupied by the Buddha.

Ch'an Buddhism

"Ch'an" is Chinese for Sanskrit "dhyana," meaning "meditation." Ch'an meditation has an importance that it has for no other form of Buddhism: it is in effect sole means to attainment of Enlightenment. Ch'an Buddhism discards all other props of spiritual life. Aim of Ch'an Buddhism: experince Buddha experience. Story: Ch'an tradition brought to China around 520 C.E. by an Indian monk, Bodhi-Dharma. Is said to have encountered Emperor Wu, who said to him, "Since my enthronement I have built many monasteries, had many scriptures copied and had many monks and nuns invested. How great is the merit thus achieved?" Bodhi-Dharma replied, "None at all." Special Features:
  1. A special transmission outside the scriptures
  2. No dependence on words or letters
  3. Direct pointing at the soul of man
  4. Seeing into one's nature and attainment of Buddhahood
Ch'an or Zen Buddhist seeks Buddha not by devotion but in depths of\ his own heart. Must say: "Before I began to practice medittion, a tree was just a tree, and a river was just a river. When I started to practice meditation, a tree was no longer a tree and a river was no longer a river. But now a tree is just a tree and a river is just a river. This means: When I first started to practice meditation, I began to focus on the Buddha nature of the tree rather than the tree, and so the tree was no longer a tree. But when I arrived at enlightenment, I see that the tree is the Buddha nature just by being a tree. And all I need to do is focus on the tree. Earth, mountains, rivers -- hidden in this nothingness, In this nothingness -- the earth, mountains, rivers revealed. Spring flowers, winter snows; There's no being nor non-being, nor denial itself. It is not possible to practice Ch'an alone; one must have a master. Meditational Buddhism can be practiced by only a few, since it is a full- time undertaking. Devotional Buddhism (worship of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas as divine saviors) is carried out in temples and administered by priests. Devotional Buddhism seeks rebirth in the Pure Land of the Buddha A Mi T'o. Bodhisattva Kuan Yin ( a female figure derived from the male Indian Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara) plays a role in Chinese Pure Land Buddhism analogous to that of the Virgin Mary in Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity.