Core concepts and foundational teachings of Buddhism for spiritual growth
Dharma is like water, conforming to the shape of its vessel. As the prologue to "The Stream of Dharma" series, this article deeply traces the evolution of Buddhism: from the philosophical progression in India, the steadfast preservation of the Theravada tradition, the syncretic classifications of Han Buddhism, and the aesthetic extremism of Japanese Buddhism, to the modern engagement of Humanistic Buddhism in Taiwan.
India is the source of the Dharma and the gene bank of all sects. This article delves into the three philosophical leaps of Indian Buddhism—from the "cessation of suffering" in early teachings to the "Emptiness" of Mahayana Madhyamaka, and the "Transformation" of Vajrayana—revealing a wisdom revolution that lasted for fifteen hundred years.
While Northern Buddhism climbed the peaks of philosophy, Southern Theravada Buddhism chose to silently guard the Buddha's original teachings in the jungle. This article delves into how this ancient lineage has preserved a direct path to liberation for modern people through rigorous precepts, the transmission of the Pali Canon, and the techniques of Shamatha and Vipassana meditation.
Han Buddhism was not a simple transplantation of Indian Buddhism, but a great civilizational dialogue. This article delves into how Chinese patriarchs integrated the eight major schools through "Pan Jiao" (Doctrinal Classification), syncretized Indian "Emptiness" with Chinese "Buddha-nature," and created the philosophical peaks of Tiantai and Huayan, as well as the practical revolutions of Chan (Zen) and Pure Land.
Japanese Buddhism is not only a faith but also an extreme aesthetic and a view of life and death. This article delves into the journey from the mysticism of Esoteric Buddhism in the Heian period to the philosophy of "Selection" in Zen and Pure Land developed during the Kamakura period, analyzing how Japanese Buddhism shaped Bushido, the Tea Ceremony, and the unique culture of "Mono no Aware" through "Simplification" and "Extremism."