Venerable Master Hsing Yun has claimed that traditional Chan Buddhism in China already encapsulated the rich and profound spirit of Humanistic Buddhism. Thus, he claims modern Buddhism must absorb the traditional thought of Chinese Chan Buddhism. The similarities between Ox-Head Chan and Humanistic Buddhism are also worthy of attention. This paper will explore the spirit of Humanistic Buddhism as found in Ox-Head Chan through analysis of six different versions of the Treatise on the Ceasing of Notions, an essential work of Ox-Head Chan. We will explore three key ideas from the school of Ox-Head Chan with the aim of providing references for a greater understanding of the development of modern Humanistic Buddhism. The three key ideas are: “Emptiness is the essence of the path,” “There is nothing more than seeing the foundation of the mind,” and “Travelling on no path, is to understand the path of the Buddha.”
