Cha'an+Buddhism+CKSY

Cha'an Buddhism

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__Basic Info__ Cha’an Buddhism is a school of Mahaynaa Buddhism, or the “Greater Vehicle” and it was established during the 6th century by Bodhidarma, a South Indian Pallava prince-turned-monk who came to China to teach a “special transmission outside scriptures that are not founded on words or letters.” As Chan Buddhism was developed in China, it is influenced by Chinese Taoism.

__Ways to Reach Enlightenment__ Unlike many other schools of buddhism such as Tibetan Buddhism which taught that individuals must exhibit love, compassion and good deeds and thoughts to reach enlightenment, Chan Buddhism says that enlightenment cannot be reached simply through good deeds and thoughts. Followers believe that all thoughts, including the study of sutras, cultivation of morality, and avoidance of evil are illusory and fake. Therefore, they steer clear of the common mainstream Buddhist practices such as ritualism, dogma, and the three baskets of Tripitaka, which include discipline, discourses, and higher philosophy. Instead, Chan Buddhism focuses on meditation as a way to achieve enlightenment.

__Absence of Scriptural Authority__ Chan Buddhism was a reaction to the imbalance in Chinese Buddhism at the time in which there was a blind pursuit of textual scholarship and neglect of mediation, the original essence of Buddhism. Therefore, unlike most other Buddhist schools such as the Pure Land Sect and Tibetan Buddhism, Chan Budhism does not endorse a scriptural authority as followers believe that it does not adequately express religious truth, which can only be sought through the mind and meditation.

__Sutra__ However, like most other schools of Buddhism, Chan Buddhism uses a sutra, the Lankavatara Sutra. It tells of the teaching between the Buddha and a bodhisattva named Mahamati and also emphasizes consciousness and the teaching of consciousness as the only reality.

__Shaolin Monastery__ Chan Buddhism is probably most well known through the Shaolin Monastery, a Chan a famous Buddhist temple associated with Chinese martial arts, located in Song Shan, China. The monastery has been the center of Chan Buddhism for many years to current day and Bodhidarma, the founder of Chan Buddhism is the patron saint of the Monastery.

__Growth & Current Day__ For many centuries after Buddhism was introduced to China, with its new method to reach enlightenment through meditation which differed from what the Chinese were used to, Chan grew to be one of the largest sects in Chinese Buddhism. Later, It was severly repressed in the early years of the People’s Republic of China but recently, it is gradually regaining its position in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong kong, and overseas Chinese.

Works Cited "Chan Buddhism." Mahalo. Mahalo. Web. 20 Feb. 2011. . "Chan Buddhism." Thai Exotic Treasures. Thai Exotic Treasures. Web. 20 Feb. 2011. . Pictures Cited Temple. Liu Institute. Web. 19 Feb. 2011. http://www.musashi.nl/philosophy.htm http://edelen.bengalenglish.org/?page_id=35 http://www.ussaram.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=us_money&wr_id=370&sca=%EB%A8%B8%EB%8B%88&page=4 http://www.mmiweb.org.uk/gcsere/revision/buddhism/keybeliefs/4_dharma.html Meditation. Clouds and Water. Web. 19 Feb. 2011. Bodhidharma and Second Patriarch. Bodhidharma and Second Patriarch. Sacred Sites. Web. 19 Feb. 2011. http://www.kyukoku.or.jp/topics/detail.php?id=00000194 http://parallelwelt5.s3ra.com/lankavatara-sutra-pdf.html Shaolin Kungfu. Top China Travel. Web. 18 Feb. 2011. Shaolin Monks. China Pictures. Web. 20 Feb. 2011. Bodhidharma. The Chan Tradition. Web. 19 Feb. 2011. Shaolin Temple. Chicago Shaolin Temple. Web. 19 Feb. 2011.

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