Essentials of Chinese Buddhist Philosophy (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Fang Lifu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-12-01
Features: Compared to the theoretical creation of Chinese Buddhist scholars in cosmogony, they tend to focus more on explaining the structure and phenomena of the universe, and place greater emphasis on seeking the metaphysical essence of the universe. They also transform some epistemological issues of Buddhism into metaphysical ones. Buddhism starts from defining the world, emphasizing its characteristics of being infinitely vast in space and endless in time. Ancient India depicted its world structure with the central axis of Mount Meru, surrounded by nine mountains, eight seas, four continents, the sun, and the moon, collectively referred to as a "world." Chinese Buddhist philosophy reflects the views and propositions of Chinese Buddhist scholars on the universe, life, and cultivation practices. This book interprets and explains the ideas of Chinese Buddhist philosophy by tracing the development of Chinese philosophical history, and employs a problem-solving approach to present the content of Chinese Buddhist philosophy. Through thematic discussions in five sections—General Theory, Theory of Life, Theory of Mind and Nature, Cosmology, and Practical Theory—the book clarifies the historical trajectory of the emergence, debates, evolution, and development of Chinese Buddhist philosophical issues, showcasing the interactive processes between different viewpoints. It further summarizes the fundamental characteristics and developmental patterns of its philosophical thinking.