To be or to not be.... your own refuge! What does it mean to be your own refuge? Does faith play a role in Buddhism?
Tag: Tendai Buddhism
五停心観 GOJŌSHIN-KAN – Five Hindrances Meditation
五停心観 GOJŌSHIN-KAN The Five Meditations for Stopping the mind, aka Five Meditations for mental stability, are a traditional set of Indian meditations taught by Zhiyi – the founder of Chinese Tiantai (Japanese Tendai). These traditaional practices are a way of calming the mind, eliminating the delusional mind, and for overcoming the Five Hindrances (五蓋) of… Continue reading 五停心観 GOJŌSHIN-KAN – Five Hindrances Meditation
Hongaku
HONGAKU – ORIGINAL ENLIGHTENMENT Original Enlightenment, although related to Buddhanature (Tathagata-garbha) is a different teaching. Original Enlightenment (also innate enlightenment) is the view that Enlightenment is not something to be gained, but rather we are already enlightened, we just need to realise it. The reason we can’t see this is because there is a veil… Continue reading Hongaku
Lotus Sutra
GUIDE TO THE LOTUS SUTRA The Lotus Sutra is one of the most influential texts of Mahayana Buddhism, especially within East Asia, and is considered one of the most central texts in Tendai Buddhism. The Lotus Sutra has shaped Mahayana Buddhism since the earliest of times, and was often cited by Indian masters, (Nagarjuna, Vasabandhu,… Continue reading Lotus Sutra
Ekayāna
Ekayāna is a Sanskrit word that means ‘One Vehicle’ or ‘Single Vehicle’. This idea features prominently in Tendai (Tientai) doctrine and comes from the Lotus Sutra. Buddhism is made up of many different ‘vehicles’ or ‘yanas’ – Śravakayāna, Mahayāna, Vajrayāna etc. The Ekayāna principle claims that all these different paths or ‘vehicles’ are expedient means… Continue reading Ekayāna
