Zen Talk -- A Series of Small Books on the Various Schools of Buddhism

Author: Yingwu, Zhengxin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: Buddhism was introduced to China during the Han Dynasty. Through the transmission and inheritance during the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, it evolved to the Sui and Tang periods, where it long interacted and merged with Chinese culture, giving rise to numerous Buddhist schools with Chinese characteristics. These schools, like a variety of colorful flowers competing for attention, have made the Buddhist garden vibrant and diverse. The "" () refers to a group of practitioners who share the same views. Different schools each have their own practice systems established based on their fundamental beliefs. The "" (sub-school) refers to further branches that emerge from a school. After Buddhism entered China, its influence grew increasingly significant. However, it never formed a complete system. For thousands of years, the propagation of Buddhism has always followed the principle of being in harmony with reason and opportunity. Today, China has entered an extraordinary process of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. The governance of the country combines rule of law with rule of virtue, ushering in a peaceful era with exceptional opportunities. Alas, Zhao Pule, the respected elder, once wrote a poem: "A rare opportunity in a thousand years meets a prosperous era, may Buddhist affairs aid cultural governance." We hope that Buddhist scholars can better promote the Party's policy of religious freedom and the positive ideas and spirit in Buddhist teachings that contribute to national unity, social progress, people's happiness, and national unity to the religious community. By guiding them to actively participate in safeguarding the interests of the people, national unity, and national unity, they can make positive contributions to the development of the western regions and the comprehensive construction of a moderately prosperous society.