Zhiyi - Founder of Tiantai Tradition
Author : Peter Vredeveld
Tiantai School of Buddhism is one of the oldest Buddhist schools in China and Tiantai school practices Tiantai tradition which was considered to be found by Zhiyi, Fourth Patriarch of Tiantai School.
The Tiantai Tradition within the Tiantai School of China is a prominent Buddhist tradition renowned for its rich teachings and historical significance. The founder of this tradition, Zhiyi, is revered as a pivotal figure in Chinese Buddhism and is recognized as the fourth patriarch of Buddhism. In honor of Zhiyi's contributions, a monastery was established on Mount Tiantai in Zhejiang, China, aptly named Zhiyi's Monastery. Zhiyi's legacy includes his comprehensive classification of Buddhist teachings, a first in the history of Chinese Buddhism. He follows a lineage of esteemed patriarchs: Nagarjuna, Huiwen, and Huisi, with Zhiyi receiving the mantle from Huisi.
History
Zhiyi, also known as Zhikai, embraced monastic life at 17 following his parents' death. He became a disciple of the esteemed Buddhist master Huisi, the third patriarch of the Tiantai School. From 560 to 567, Zhiyi received profound teachings from Huisi, culminating in his intense training and meditation at Tiantai Mountain. Zhiyi's approach to meditation, deeply rooted in the Indian practices of Samatha and Vipassana, was a unique synthesis, incorporating complex self-cultivation practices alongside devotional rituals. This period of intense spiritual development coincided with the era of Bodhidharma, another influential Buddhist figure.
Achievements of Zhiyi
Zhiyi's founding of the Tiantai tradition is celebrated as his paramount achievement. He authored "Great Concentration and Insight," a seminal text in the Tiantai School. Another notable work, The Mohe Zhiguan, outlines the Four Samadhi, forming the Tiantai tradition's foundation of practice and curriculum. These Four Samadhi are:
- One Round Samadhi (Samadhi of Constant Sitting)
- Prolonged Samadhi (Pratyutpanna-Samadhi)
- Samadhi of Half Walking and Half Sitting
- Samadhi at Free Will (Samadhi of Non-Walking and Non-Sitting)
Tiantai School
The Tiantai School, influential in China and other East Asian countries like Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, is predominantly centered around the teachings of the Lotus Sutra. Sometimes referred to as "The Lotus School," its teachings emphasize the various phases of Lord Buddha's life and teachings, categorized into five distinct periods:
- The Flower Garland Period: This period signifies the initial three weeks of Buddha's teachings after the Enlightenment.
- The Agama Period: Spanning over 12 years, this phase involved Buddha's teachings to monks and disciples at Deer Park, Sarnath.
- The Correct and Equal Period: Lasting eight years, focusing on deeper aspects of Buddha's teachings.
- The Wisdom Period: The most extended phase, lasting 22 years, where Buddha's teachings reached their pinnacle of depth.
- The Lotus and Nirvana Period: Spanning eight years, this period includes Buddha's attainment of Parinirvana in Kushinagar.
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