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Introduction to The Treasure of Tathāgata: A Research of Master Sheng Yen’s Thought on Tathāgatagarbha |
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| Author |
Yit, Kin-tung (著)
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Shih, Chung-hui (著)
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Huang, Yu-Chen (著)
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| Source |
2018 第七屆漢傳佛教與聖嚴思想國際學術研討會
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| Date | 2018.06.29 |
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| Publisher | 財團法人聖嚴教育基金會 |
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| Publisher Url |
https://www.shengyen.org.tw/index.aspx?lang=cht
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| Location | 臺北, 臺灣 [Taipei, Taiwan] |
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| Content type | 會議論文=Proceeding Article |
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| Language | 英文=English |
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| Keyword | Master Sheng Yen; Buddha-nature; Tathāgatagarbha; Dharma Drum Mountain |
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| Abstract | Master Sheng Yen believed that the faith in Buddha-nature and Tathāgatagarbha is significant in promoting the endeavors for building a pure land on earth. Moreover, in order to speak to various Buddhist traditions as practiced in different parts of the world in the future, it is still necessary to put emphasis on the thought of Tathāgatagarbha, which the Master highly valued. However, there have continuously been varying arguments and viewpoints regarding the thought of Tathāgatagarbha in the Buddhist communities across the world. For instance, Master Yin Shun presented his criticism of the idea of Tathāgatagarbha in his book, Research on Tathāgatagarbha《如來藏之研究》. Master Sheng Yen once said that his thought in Buddhist study and research had been deeply influenced by the thinking of Master Yin Shun. Nevertheless, the two masters have both their shared and different views regarding their perspectives of Tathāgatagarbha. What they shared in common is that their thoughts were both based on the Buddhist doctrine of emptiness, whereas Master Sheng Yen showed both affirmation and criticism of how Master Yin Shun identified the stages of development in Indian Buddhism, as shown in his threesystem theory, and how he approached the history of Chan Buddhism in China. He affirmed and recognized the objectivity and correctness of Master Yin Shun’s research on Tathāgatagarbha, particularly in presenting the factual materials. With his long-time personal practice and realization, as well as his experience in teaching and guiding Chan practice, Master Sheng Yen proposed clarifications on doctrinal teachings by citing Buddhist texts. Regarding the idea of virtuous function of Tathāgatagarbha, the Master proposed a rather different personal realization and interpretation, in responding to Master Yin Shun’s criticism of Tathāgatagarbha. In addition, he also proposed a solution by presenting a unique approach to teach about the concept of Tathāgatagarbha, serving as a transformation and promotion of the faith in Tathāgatagarbha. Despite their different views on Tathāgatagarbha, the two masters both showed a compassionate aspiration in trying to provide antidotes to society’s ills of their times.
In his teachings on Tathāgatagarbha and Chan practice, Master Sheng Yen established a set of systematic and sequential methods, which require practitioners to cultivate their mind, progressing from a scattered mind to a concentrated mind, then to a united mind, and eventually to no-mind, by practicing the methods that help them to realize the idea of noself in the thought of Tathāgatagarbha, which is not apart from the doctrines of dependent co-arising and emptiness, with which one can release and resolve one’s attachment to Tathāgatagarbha as a bigger self, by applying the skill of no-self to realize the truth of noself. This illustrates why Master Sheng Yen had devoted his life to sharing and promoting Chinese Buddhism, especially the Chan tradition, and why he went on to establish the Dharma Drum Lineage of Chan Buddhism, with an aim to help people better understand the unobstructed wisdom mind and immovable emptiness when realizing that all beings originally possess the pure Buddha-mind, instead of trying to set up yet another Buddhist school or sect. In addition to the realization of no-self Tathāgatagarbha through Chan meditation practice, the Master further infused the philosophy of Tathāgatagarbha into the Protecting the Spiritual Environment campaign he launched, to enable more people practice the teaching of Tathāgatagarbha, helping to realize the ideal of building a pure land on earth.
This book presents a systematic investigation of Master Sheng Yen’s insight on Buddha-nature, exploring how he interpreted the concept of Buddha-nature in the contemporary context, and how he incorporated the philosophy of Buddha-nature into his teaching of building a pure land on earth. The research result of this book serves as an explanation of |
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| Hits | 514 |
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| Created date | 2021.03.16 |
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| Modified date | 2022.06.01 |
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