Although it is known that there are differences between Chinese Buddhism and its Indian expression, yet the propcess and the pattern through which the Indian Ideas were transformed are ignored by most scholars. This paper will take Mo-ho chih-kuan 摩訶 止觀，an important text of T'ien-t'ai school as well as to Chinese Buddhist generally，as an example, thus to enquiry into how the Indian concept of `Samatha-vipasyana` became Mo-ho chih-kuan. The paper has, pointed out the significance of this work，then studies Ch'ih-i's systematization of the concept，his critiques of the traditional interpretation，his idea of absolute as well as the skillful chih (cessation) and kuan (insight). The last section concentrates on the pattern. The paper proposes that in the understanding，assimilation and transformation of '`samatha-vipasyana` 'the Chinese has accomplished the work through a syncretic pattern. This syncretic process is shown in the undifferentiation of practice and insight，in the selection of scriptures, in the resystematization of meditative techeniques and in the harmonization of conflicting philosophical ideas：the dialectic and Emptiness taught by Madhyamakas have harmonized with the ontology of Buddha-nature.
