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Buddhism in China

Buddhism in China. Madyamica and Yogacara influence Schemes of intellectualization of Buddhist achievement Realize something = enlightenment –usually not speakable Madyamika positive to Yogacara Negative Buddha nature (Nirvana) as substantive nothing Merge into Major Chinese Schools

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Buddhism in China

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  1. Buddhism in China • Madyamica and Yogacara influence • Schemes of intellectualization of Buddhist achievement • Realize something = enlightenment –usually not speakable • Madyamika positive to Yogacara Negative • Buddha nature (Nirvana) as substantive nothing • Merge into Major Chinese Schools • 天台 Tiantai and 華嚴 Huayan for theory • 禪 chan/sim/zen for practice • Meditation school without meditation (and lots!)

  2. Internal & External Stories • Hui Neng symbolizes the simplicity • Activity and enlightenment • No “dust” (no illusions) only pure Buddha-nature • Paradox of desire final conclusion • External story of rebellion • Intellectualized (metaphysical), impractical • Shift of culture to the South • Rejects authority (official recognition) • Politics and taxes • Daoist painter/poet as author

  3. Questions Last Quiz Final test in prep—question to Cathy

  4. Daoism and Desires • Desires caused by distinctions • Like Nietzsche—give up the contrast together • Reject other contrasts (meditation, enlightenment) • Positive about life & skill-transcendence goals • Reject distinction of these and the metaphysical other—transcending world • Not quite “this is nirvana;” more like do not conclude “there is only the apparent world” • Just stop talking that way and get back to savoring your sandwich

  5. Great Liberation • Rush to claim descent from Hui Neng • Wide variety but Feng's 5 common doctrines: • No (expressible) highest truth • Spiritual cultivation cannot be cultivated • In the last resort nothing is gained • There is nothing much in Buddhist teaching • In carrying water and chopping wood lies the wonderful dao

  6. Iconoclastic Stories • Function: like koans? • Burning or spitting on the Buddha • Just wood (everything is Buddha) • No temples, praying, bowing, shaving, begging, ritual, chanting • Chan as Buddhist atheism • Survival in persecutions

  7. Umbrella to left or right of clogs? Every Moment Zen

  8. Begs release from fear of death A Koan– meaningless Absorbed in care for patients and lost fear of death Zen is care for patients Doctor Story

  9. Values of eating, drinking, sleeping Tiger and strawberry The Strawberry

  10. Teaching Techniques • Interview time—anti-metaphysical • Spit, beat, shout, awaken! • Koan—give up • Walking Zen • Never tell too plainly • Envy of Confucians

  11. Final Jump • Modern scientific philosophy • With a social model of language • Social cooperation rather than picturing the world • Closer to Chinese/Nietzsche conception • Reality in the back door • Science as a dao

  12. Evolution and Utility • Some ways of talking dominate, others die out • Science with the Nietzsche twist • A social way to survive and thrive • Science: a system of "useful" beliefs • Natural framework—also anti-Plato and anti-Descartes

  13. Belief Analysis • Habits of action • not internal pictures • Practical (practice) focus • Successful or not: utility and survival • Different interpretations of “success” • Peirce, Dewey, James

  14. First Formulation: Peirce • Hard time finding a job and publisher • Popular mechanics for “The Fixation of Belief" and “How to Make Our Ideas Clear." • Radical new analysis of belief/doubt • An "irritation," • Belief as a comfortable "habit of action" • Not a picture of a fact!

  15. Practical Problem • How to achieve that comfort? • Fixed beliefs allow smooth, efficient action • Stability and "constancy" • Requires less of the "disruption" of doubt • Four candidates: tenacity, authority, a priori, science/reality

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