Master Sheng Yen’s Pedagogy on Tiantai School to be studied in this paper is based on his class-lectures on his work, The Essence of Tiantai: An Expository Commentary to Ouyi’s Jiaoguan Gangzong (Hereafter, the Commentary). Upon the publication of the Commentary in 2002, April, Master Sheng Yen gave two series of lectures to his disciples in 2002, August, and 2003 January. These lectures were intended to train the future lecturers on the Commentary. After these lectures, Master Sheng Yen encouraged the students to deliver what they learned regarding the content of the book, and demonstrate the meditation practice thereof. Apparently, Master Sheng Yen has a high regard to the teaching of the Commentary.
I have participated in the first series of the lectures abovementioned, and in my later research project, I have procured the “Flowchart of the transmission and development of Chinese Buddhist schools”, which was prepared by Master Sheng Yen for dialoguing with Dalai Lama in 1998 in New York, and in which I found that Master Sheng Yen pointed out that the theory “Four Types of Buddha’s Teachings” is essential to the Tiantai’ thought. Hence, the contents of Master Sheng Yen’s two series of lectures are essential for understanding of Tiantai’s thought in-depth. For this study, I have procured the lecturetranscipts and lecture-outlines from Dharma Drum Publication.
The topics for this study include Master Sheng Yen’s motivation for writing the Commentary, his pedagogy, objectives, and prospective. I hope to bring to light Master Sheng Yen’s vision of promoting this Tiantai’s thought by introducing his method of teaching, such as, lecturing, producing lecture outlines, class-discussions and so on. The content of his lectures can be devided into two aspects: 1. guidance for reading and learning the essential points of the Jiaoguan Gangzong, 2. key concepts related to the role of Tiantai in Chinese Buddhist thought and meditation, Tiantai’s interpretation of the thought of Tathāgatagarbha, pointing out the salient features of the Jiaoguan Gangzong and its spirit of “systematic and harmonious without obstruction”. Moreover, I will describe the contour and salient features of Tiantai school through its doctrinal classification, origin of its teaching and practice of meditation as well as analysis that tracing the key scripture that Tiantai drawing upon.
Through my thematic analysis mentioned above, I intend to explore and tease out Master Sheng Yen’s Tiantai pedagogy, and to show how to promote the Tiantai transmission as expected by Master Sheng Yen. Henceforth, is my response to the motivation and purpose of the Commentary written and lectured upon by Master Sheng Yen.
