In the early stages of Mahayana Buddhism, Hua-yuan Dharma developed a series of classic sutras. Chinese Masters began spreading the philosophy and established a new sect. The philosophy arose from the primal nature in contrast with secondary causes. However, the Chinese Masters’interpretation of the philosophy was different from the original Hua-yuan sutras. One Master of Tien-tai organized the sutras into what he believed to be chronological order. It was later found to be incorrect. In 1981, Yin Shun published “The Origin and Development of Early Mahayana Buddhism”. The book discusses the Wisdom, Pure Land, Manjusri and Hua-yuan Dharmas. It was then that Yin Shun found the Hua-yuan Dharma should appear later and the content was connected to the Pure Land Dharmas. Another phenomenon Yin Shun discovered was the difference in philosophies between the Hua-yuan sutra and sect. Yin Shun organized the Hua-yuan sutras into three categories. The first being two large collections, the second being the earliest eighteen smaller books of original sutras before they were compiled into larger volumes and the third were seven sutras that were related to Hua-yuan sutras. In these early sutras the Rwu Fa Jie Pin was important to the research of the relationship between the Hua-yuan sect and sutras. This research focuses on the Hua-yuan sutra in early Mahayana Buddhism and Yin Shun’s interpretation. This includes its development, morals, practice and teachings. It will explain Yin Shun interpretation of the sutra’s relationship with the Pure Land Dharma’s and the Rwu Fa Jie Pin. Finally it will explain Yin Shun’s interpretation of the relationship between the Hua-yuan sutras and sect and compare it with the findings of other modern scholars.
