• QQ Friends group
  • Comments
  • collect

Professor Wei Dedong: Generalizing the qualities of Chinese Buddhist philosophy with mind and intuition

Buddhist fables
Professor Wei Dedong: Generalizing the qualities of Chinese Buddhist philosophy with mind and intuition

Author: Wei Dedong Vice Dean of the School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China

What are the characteristics of Chinese Buddhist philosophy?What are the ideological characteristics of Buddhism after the sinicization?Professor Fang Litian believes that mind and intuition are the two key points of Chinese Buddhist philosophy.Among Chinese Buddhist philosophical thoughts, the most innovative and distinctive ones are the theory of mind and intuition.

Professor Fang believes that the mind and nature refer to the nature of human beings, and is a concept that includes multi-level meanings such as psychological nature, moral cultivation, religious emotions, religious practice, and the origin of sentient beings and all things.The theory of mind and nature focuses on discussing the nature of human mind and nature and explores the basis for human enlightenment to become a Buddha. It is the core content of Chinese Buddhist theory and occupies a very important position in the Chinese Buddhist philosophy system.In the book "Essentials of Chinese Buddhist Philosophy", Professor Fang used nearly 200,000 words to discuss the mind-nature thoughts of different schools of Chinese Buddhism in different periods and sects. The main achievements are: First, he made a detailed analysis of the mind-nature thoughts of various sects in various periods and sects in China, and the analysis of the Zen theory of mind-nature, which is particularly detailed, thus showing the characteristics of Chinese Buddhist theory of mind-nature.Second, it constructs a philosophical category network of Chinese Buddhist theory of mind and nature. In terms of mind, it mainly discusses the relationship between true mind and false mind, mind and consciousness, mind and spirit, mind and object, mind and reason, and mind and Buddha;In terms of nature, we focus on discussing the nature of mind and Dharma nature, all nature and Buddha nature, pure nature and awakening nature, good nature and evil nature, existence and non-nature, nature originality and nature begin to exist, nature and nature, nature and emotion, nature and reason, nature and nature, nature and its relationship.Third, we studied the interactive relationship between Buddhist theory of mind and nature, Confucianism and Taoism, and then proposed that the theory of mind and nature is the main point of incoherence between the three religions of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism.Professor Fang believes that from the perspective of ideas and culture, Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism are both philosophy of life, and they both emphasize that people should sharpen inwardly and improve their mind and nature in their lives, which has become the premise and foundation for the convergence of the three religions.As an alien culture, Buddhism has obvious differences from Chinese cultural traditions. Its foothold in integrating Chinese culture is the mind and nature.Fourth, it summarizes the similarities and differences between the Chinese and Indian Buddhist theory of mind and nature.The biggest common point between the two is that they emphasize the Tathagatagarbha thought and the theory of Buddha nature, while advocating the theory of "normal mind is the way", "original awareness" and the way of returning to the origin to the root of the practice are the biggest differences between Chinese theory of mind and nature from India.

As a religion, Buddhism’s ultimate destination is to become a Buddha. How can this achievement be achieved?Buddhism has created unique practical methods, and the core of these methods is experiential intuition.But what is intuition?Is intuition objective?What are the characteristics of Chinese Buddhist intuition?Is there any scientific value?These issues have long been less studied, and some even regard them as superstition in religion.Professor Fang attached great importance to the intuitive category in Chinese Buddhism and believed that this is one of the most distinctive and valuable parts of Chinese Buddhist philosophy.

He used modern academic methods to analyze this practical method with a strong religious color, opening up a channel for people to objectively understand Buddhism's liberation path.

Professor Fang Litian believes that intuition is a modern term, referring to a universal psychological phenomenon of human beings, a cognitive ability and way of thinking that directly understand and fully grasp the object without analysis and reasoning.In Buddhism, it is manifested in four concepts: observation, illumination, verification, and enlightenment.Chinese Buddhism has many theoretical creations and practical experiences in intuitive thinking.The Han, Wei and Western Jin Dynasties mainly practiced the Zen and Prajna preached in India. The intuitive way of fusion between the two was popular from the Eastern Jin Dynasty to the Southern and Northern Dynasties. After the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Tiantai, Huayan and Zen sects all created colorful Chinese-style intuitive ways, especially the Zen enlightenment intuition, which was the most vivid and flexible.

The intuitive way of thinking is not unique to Buddhism. Traditional Chinese Confucianism and Taoism also have rich intuitive thinking resources, and are in line with Buddhist intuition.Professor Fang Litian believes that Chinese Buddhist scholars integrate Indian Buddhism’s intuition theory with Chinese traditional intuition theory and have new innovations.Chinese Buddhism attaches great importance to emptiness, which is a fundamental feature that distinguishes it from China's inherent philosophical intuition theory, while Chinese Buddhism attaches great importance to combining one's own mind with truth and ontology for observation, as well as a clear and harmonious intuitive thinking, which is the main feature that distinguishes it from Indian Buddhist intuition theory.

Related micro-text

Article comments

Last updated

© 2015-2025 Superman

Posting specifications and instructions Reporting method:Click to contact us

statement The theme of this website is mainly to promote vegetarian culture. The content is for reference only. Learning and communication does not represent the concept of this website. If it is unintentionally infringed on your rights (including /picture /video /Personal privacy and other information) Please write to inform us. When this website receives information, it will immediately block or delete the content about you. Contact information:Click to contact us

Share on WeChat

Share QR code on WeChat

Scan the QR code to share on WeChat or Moments

Link copied