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The Debate in China on Humanistic Buddhism
How does religion relate to society? Are they in opposition or in harmony? This question became very important in modern times in China, and formed a line which divided religious traditionalists from religious reformers. We shall first examine the traditionalist stance of the Chinese thinker Liang Shuming (1893-1988), who upheld a clear separation between Buddhism and society, thereby preserving the function of religion as a vehicle of radical criticism. We shall also examine the agenda put forth by the Buddhist monk Taixu (1890- 1947), the most important Buddhist reformer of the first-half of the twentieth century in China. We shall then examine the debate which arose between Liang on one side, and Taixu, his disciple Yinshun (1906-2005) and the sangha on the other. Since Liang regarded Buddhism to be a religion of pure transcendence, he opposed using it to tackle social problems. Liang instead advocated Confucianism, as a form of upāya, which could more effectively lead towards the ultimate Buddhist goal of renouncing to the world.
The Spread of Humanistic Buddhism
Today, we are discussing the spread of Humanistic Buddhism and I want to put it into the context of the history of how Buddhism has spread over the centuries. Buddhist sources of history recount the first spread of Buddhism outside of India to Sri Lanka during the lifetime of the founder, sometime in the 5th century B.C.E. By the 13th century of the Common Era, the religion could be found in a wide area of southeast Eurasia in what I have termed “The Great Circle of Buddhism”.
Chinese Interpretations of Indian Buddhism: From the Mahāprajñāpāramitā Upadeśa’s “Three Samādhis” to Zhiyi’s “Threefold Contemplation”
This study examines the early Mahāyāna commentary, the Upadeśa through the doctrinal and practical aspects of the three samādhis and how it has influenced the thoughts and practices of Zhiyi’s threefold contemplation. The approach on examining Zhiyi’s relation to the Upadeśa through our position in the historical and textual context of the Upadeśa and of Zhiyi has opened up to a strong implication and verification of their connection. In addition, our brief study on the citation of the Upadeśa in Zhiyi’s extant textual exegeses indicated his frequent usages of the commentary both in his early and later works.
Buddhism Meets Christianity—Two Points of Contact
D.T. Suzuki’s Relevance to the Modernization of Buddhism
McMahan considers the Japanese Zen scholar Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki (1870- 1970) to be an important figure in the modernization of Buddhism, who transcends boundaries of any particular religion, culture, and tradition. This paper revisits the significant role of D.T. Suzuki on the modernization of Buddhism through his teachings of illogical Zen, and evaluates the literature that supports and contradicts this claim.
Editor’s Preface：The Glocalization of Buddhism
Volume three of Studies on Humanistic Buddhism contains fourteen articles relating to the glocalization of Buddhism. Glocalization here refers to the spread of Buddhism globally as it situates itself locally. An increased flow of people, goods, and information has allowed Buddhism to rapidly spread across the world, and for greater interaction between Buddhist traditions. Concomitant with Buddhism’s globalization is its localization. As Buddhism settles into new environments, there is an acculturation process. The people who bring Buddhist teachings to a new area must acculturate to the local society in order to come up with skillful means to impart Buddhist teachings in a manner that is appropriate to the dominant culture, and that empowers them to carry on the Buddhist teachings themselves.
Editor's Preface：Humanistic Chan Buddhism
Volume five of Studies on Humanistic Buddhism contains eight articles translated from Chinese, one article that was written in English, and four student papers. The theme of the articles is Chan Buddhism, particularly Fo Guang Chan as developed by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. Chan is the Chinese version of what in English is often known by the Japanese pronunciation— Zen.
Studies on Humanistic Buddhism I: Foundational Thoughts
Studies on Humanistic Buddhism I: Foundational Thoughts
Studies on Humanistic Buddhism III: Glocalization of Buddhism
Studies on Humanistic Buddhism III: Glocalization of Buddhism
Studies on Humanistic Buddhism IV: Human Life
Studies on Humanistic Buddhism IV: Human Life
