Enlightenment In China Research Paper

China was affected tremendously by the spread of Buddhism from 300 to 900 C.E. Buddhism itself was spread to China around 100 C.E by Indian missionaries, and after taking hold during the Era of Division (300s-500s), it became a household religion (particularly the Mahayana and Chan variations . Buddhism’s popularity rose consistently from the late Han dynasty through it’s peak during Empress Wu’s rule in the late 600s and early 700s. But, the religion’s popularity fell sharply during Emperor Wuzong’s reign as the persecution of Buddhism grew common (CONTEXT). The spread of Buddhism affected all classes and people of China in different ways; Chinese peasants were able to worship this religion regardless of education or social position (though

Pure Land Buddhism offers a way to enlightenment for people who can’t handle the subtleties of meditation, endure long rituals, or just live especially good lives. The essential practice in Pure Land Buddhism is the chanting of the name Amitabha Buddha with total concentration, trusting that one will reborn in Pure Land, where it is much easier for a being to work towards enlightenment. Pure Land Buddhism is particularly popular in China and Japan.

However, it is far from being the only links that one can make between Zen and Pure Land Buddhism. Indeed, most features of the path and the characteristics of enlightenment in Zen have a similar counterpart in Pure Land Buddhism. First of all, and perhaps most flagrantly, conventional teachings are also eschewed in favor of less conventional means in Pure Land Buddhism. Just like Zen, in order to attain spiritual realizations (in Pure Land’s case, shinjin), mind training is necessary. The practice prescribed is extremely similar to Zen. Instead of a “live word”, Pure Land practitioners constantly repeat a phrase (this practice is called nembutsu) for months, years or even decades. Eventually, the repetition becomes automatic, going as far as doing “nembutsu while yawning” (Li, Apr 4., 2016). Just like Zen’s kensho, it is at this point that the Pure Land practitioner can reach shinjin. In Pure Land Buddhism, the realizations also transcend simple logic and reason: “it is not merely belief as intellectual assent, but strong, inner conviction” (Bloom 1999, 230). Because realizations transcend conventional thinking, conventional knowledge is also seen as detrimental in Pure Land Buddhism: “Recognition of our ignorance is connected with our becoming truthful. Since we can become united with each other in truthfulness, ‘genuine trust’ or spiritual oneness is actually truthfulness” (Maida 1989, 32). Also like Zen, spiritual realizations are sudden and not gradual: “Shinran’s teaching is absolute Other Power and transcending or immediate (ocho)” (Bloom 1999, 231). Finally, the traditional monastic practices and rules are also disregarded in favor of a lay life. This is due to another inversion from Shinran. Traditionally, Pure Land Buddhism was regarded as the easy and inferior way for people who couldn’t engage in more serious and demanding practice. However, Shinran, because

Zen Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism are considered as two popular schools in Mahayana Buddhism. The two are regarded as polar opposites. In this paper, I argue that Zen Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism are not entirely different, they still have underlying similarities instead.

experience. The enlightenment is the moment of understanding Om and gaining unity with it. This cannot be

The aspiration of all sentient beings is to reach enlightenment; to realize their Buddha-nature and ascend to Buddhahood. The path and method to reach enlightenment, however, differs depending on the perspective from which one views Buddhism. Dogen, in his teachings on Zen Buddhism, promotes the practice of zazen to reach enlightenment. Shinran and the Pure Land sect are devoted to Amida Buddha, who they believe will bring them to the Pure Land, and enlightenment. The ways espoused by Dogen and Shinran are similar in some aspects, but differing enough in others to warrant the separate sects of Buddhism in Japan. For the purposes of this examination, the two sects can be summarized by how they look at reaching enlightenment: Zen Buddhism focuses inwardly, while Pure Land focuses outwardly. By examining their own words on how one is to reach enlightenment, the similarities and differences in their methods can be seen, allowing a better understanding of the teachings of their respective sects.

Buddhism arrived in China by the first century C.E. by way of the Silk Road. Initially, the spread of Buddhism was met with positivity, but as the centuries passed, the Chinese began to view it in a negative light. Additionally, during a period of disunity and political instability, the Chinese peasants welcomed Buddhism, but as Buddhism became more popular, Chinese aristocracy and government saw it as a threat to their power and moved to discredit its movement. Documents 1, 2, and 5 positively supported the spread of Buddhism, and Documents 4 and 6 negatively viewed the spread of Buddhism. The change in attitude corresponding to the spread of Buddhism is presented with Documents 1, 2, and 3, which initially support Buddhism, and Documents 4, 5, and 6, which shows the changing opinions on Buddhism. It would be beneficial to see additional documents written by a peasant in order to show the contrast between elite responses and their motives for choosing a foreign religion over the traditional Confucianism. Another helpful document would be a response from a woman because it would be useful to know the reasons a woman in Chinese society would choose Buddhism and their perspective as opposed to the point of view of men.

The method of obtaining enlightenment differs lightly between Dogen and the Sixth Patriarch. While both sources see the transition of enlightenment to be a search for the inner self to find the inner mind Dogen sees views the less of a transition a more of journey. The Sixth Patriarch believes enlightenment can occur here and now through self-nature, “one’s real self immediately appears” (Olson Buddhist Sources, p.339). While enlightenment cannot be physically obtained it can be realized and show the true conscious self.

The comparison of Hisamatsu’s “The record of Linji” and Suzuki’s “Zen Mind, Beginner Mind” illuminates a variety of similarities and differences concerning the path of enlightenment. We will exam some of these points, to further illustrate the process in which each individual may pursue this path to enlightenment. Each chosen passage will also help identify themes of awakening, which may be relevant in today’s society.

Budhha is within all of us, no matter one’s nationality, sexual preference, or background. Without fully practicing, even just a clear understanding of the teachings can do wonders in our everyday life. Buddhism originated in remote northeastern India, where it has kept a message of peaceful spiritual awakening. Buddhism now has more than 300 million followers and its teachings have inspired many more. Following the exile of the Dali Lama, there became a boom of interest in the Western world. Many say the source of Buddhism is from the life and teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, the man commonly known as Buddha. Siddhartha taught his followers to look within for spiritual growth and self liberation, he offered a simple, though rigorous, path to enlightenment. Enlightenment is man’s emergence from his self-imposed nonage. To

Enlightenment, according to Emmanuel Kant is the rise of the human beings from the inability to use their own understanding without relying on other people’s guidance. It is the emergence of a person from his/her immaturity or minority in terms of making decisions for him/herself. If this immaturity is self imposed if cause lies not because the person lacks understanding, but because he/she lacks courage and resolve to use his/her own understanding without the help from another person. A person is said to be enlightened is he/she has the courage to use his/her own understanding to make a decision without the help of another person. Enlightenment is having the courage to use one’s understanding in making a decision that is at hand (Kant & Rauch,

The basic characteristics of Buddhism are meditating, prayer, rest, exercise, lecture and small group discussion with other Buddhists in Zen centers and temples around the world. Buddhists believe that “Siddhartha Gautama discovered the “Middle Path” out of suffering, reaching the full enlightenment that rescued him from constant reincarnation into this world (Voorst, R., 2013)”. They also believe in karma and rebirth until they reach the point of enlightenment. Enlightenment is reached once they have strived and reached for nirvana.

In this paper I will be talking about the article “What is Enlightenment” by Immanuel Kant. In this paper I will be answering the question that was given at the end of the article. I will talk about what enlightenment and what it entails. What tutelage is according to Kant? Also explain what Kant thought about the subject. What are the conditions for the gradual spread of enlightenment in the community? These are some of the questions that I will be answering in the essay and also give my opinion of the article.

Confucianism is a time enduring philosophy that has stood up to invading clans, war, resentment, enforcement and infringement of new philosophies, and eventually, revival. For almost 80 years, up until the late 1970’s, Confucianism and its ideas and values have been all but wiped away from China. Though effort was made to remove Confucianism for good from China by the Communist leader Mao Zedong in 1949, the ideas and values were so deeply embedded into peoples mind and the culture that even suppression could not keep it out of the culture and practices. The main factor that has brought Confucianism back into the limelight in China and other East Asian countries is the recent

"Enlightenment is man's release from his self-incurred tutelage. Tutelage is man's inability to make use of his understanding without direction from another. Self-incurred is this tutelage when its cause lies not in lack of reason but in lack of resolution and courage to use it without direction from another. Dare to Know! Have courage to use your own reason!- that is the motto of enlightenment."