Zen Three Classics Buddhist Canon Series

Author: Li Yingwu
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Publishing Date: 2005-03-01
Features: This book is composed of the Lengye Jing (Lankavatara Sutra), the Jiming Jing (Diamond Sutra), and the Weimojie Jing (Vimalakirti Nirde?a Sutra). The Lengye Jing takes the meaning of "transcending names and phenomena" as its essence, the nature of "illusions lacking inherent existence" as its purpose, and the Five Dharmas, Three Natures, Eight Consciousnesses, and Two Emptinesses as its teachings. It regards the self-realized wisdom of the sages as its essence and uses it to small errors and, laying a theoretical foundation for the Mahayana Yogācāra school. The Jiming Jing elucidates the principle of "no self in all phenomena," divided into two parts. Monk Zhaoguo (Chengguo) stated that the first half discusses the emptiness of sentient beings, while the second half discusses the emptiness of phenomena. Zhihui and Jizang (Gizang) argued that the first half was spoken to the audience of the first assembly, while the second half was for the audience of the second assembly; the first half was for those with sharp roots, while the second half was for those with dull roots. The Weimojie Jing promotes the Mahayana Praj?āpāramitā (Perfection of Wisdom) thought, criticizes the one-sidedness of the Hinayana (Theravada) school, and is therefore traditionally called "criticizing partiality and small errors" or "praising the great and round." If the Praj?ā Sutras reflect how one should return from the transcendent world to the mundane world, thereby promoting the spirit of ascetic bodhisattvas like Tanchujié (Dharmapāla), then the Weimojie Jing reflects how Buddhists should regard the worldly realm as the transcendent realm, thereby creating the Vimalakīrti-style lay bodhisattva image and pioneering the so-called "lay Buddhist movement."