Understanding Chen Yen Sect (Part 1/5) Names ‘Chen-yen’ [真言] is the pronunciation of two Chinese words [真] and [言], which means ‘true’ and ‘word’ respectively. Literally, Chen-yen means ‘words of truth’. It means it is the true words of the Buddha. This school is considered as the third and final […]
Buddhist Sects
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Understanding San Lun Sect (Part 2) Double Truths All Buddhist teachings are induced by the Double Truths, i.e. Real Truth [真諦] and Common Truth [俗諦]. The Real Truth, i.e. Paramartha-satya in Sanskrit, refers to the correct dogma of the Real Mark of Middle Way, which is beyond words and perception by human beings. […]
Understanding Pure Land Sect (Part 8) Other Methods of Practice in Pure Land Buddhism Apart from the Buddha Remembrance or ‘Nien-fo’ [念佛], there are other methods of practice in Pure Land Buddhism. Recitation of Mantra Recitation of Mantra is one of the essential methods of practice in Esoteric Buddhism. A Mantra […]
Understanding San Lun Sect (Part 1) Name San-lun [三論] is a pronunciation of the Chinese words, which means Three Shastras, or Three Treatises, so this sect is also known as Three Shastra Sect, or Three Treatise Sect. Like many other sects, the three shastras are the principal texts of this sect, […]
Understanding Pure Land Sect (Part 7) Types of Buddha Remembrance As stated in the Sutra, “A single perfectly sincere repetition of the name ‘Amitabha Buddha’ obliterates the grave wrongdoings of eighty trillion eons of birth and death.” The practitioner should believe this statement in deep faith, without worrying how deep […]
Understanding Tibetan Buddhism (Part 6) Tantric Initiation After the preliminary practices, the formal Tantric practice begins with initiation. Initiation [灌頂] is known as Abhiseka in Sanskrit, which literally means ‘sprinkling’. It is a kind of enpowerment [加持力] by a master called Guru. The emphasis on the need of a guru […]
Understanding Pure Land Sect (Part 6) Nine Classes for the Rebirth in Pure Land According to the Contemplation Sutra, there are three grades [三輩], each with three forms of rebirth, so that there are nine classes [九品] of people can be reborn in Sukhavati in different manners. It describes the […]
Understanding Chan Buddhism (Part 5) Monastic life in Chan sect As Chan sect emphasizes the Dharma transmission from the master to the disciple, there has a well-organized system in the monastic order and a structured monastic life for the monks. The practitioners are required to work very hard in their daily […]
Understanding Tibetan Buddhism (Part 5) Preliminary practices The preliminary practices are the approach in the preparation for the Tantric practice. In Tibet, it is known as Ngondro, which means ‘something that goes before’. There are two kinds of preliminary practices, the first is the common / ordinary and the second […]
Pure Land Part 5 Understanding Pure Land Sect (Part 5) Qualification of Rebirth in Pure Land The prime purpose of Pure land Buddhism is achieving rebirth in the Pure Land. Who are qualified to be reborn in Pure Land? As stated in Amitabha Sutra, “… by means of small good […]
