Buddhist Four Major Schools' Doctrinal Exposition (Volumes 1 and 2)

Author: Rev. Ri Hui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-08-01
Features: This Compendium of Doctrines was written by the author while teaching, with explanations provided alongside. The outline and structure of the Compendium of Doctrines are detailed in the preface, explaining its basis. The sects covered are limited to the Inner Sect or the four schools of Buddhism, as clearly explained in the introduction. There are difficulties in reading the Compendium of Doctrines, and it is not suitable for someone who lacks even a basic understanding of Buddhist principles. At least, one should read some introductory materials on correct Buddhist concepts and reflect deeply while reading, otherwise, it will still be challenging! The Compendium of Doctrines primarily focuses on the two schools of the Scriptures and the Consciousness-Only school. The Consciousness-Only school is one of the four major schools of Buddhism, and this is not in dispute. The Tiantai, Sanlun, and Huayan schools were created by the three great masters of China—Tiantai, Jizang, and Xianshou—on their own. Since they do not follow the Three Dharma Wheels of the Buddha’s teachings (i.e., the Four Blasphemes of the Agamas, the Emptiness of the Perfection of Wisdom, and the Skillful Discernment of the Deeply Abstruse), they do not align with the lineage of the four major schools of Buddhism. Apart from discussing them separately, there is no way to include them within the four major schools. Special issues like this should also be clarified here.