A Study Of The Catvari Smrty-upasthanani

As a meditation method taught by Sakyamuni the Buddha, catvari smrty-upasthanani is a way of practice to which the Mahayana Buddhism and Hinayana Buddhism both attach great importance for its everlasting vitality and wide adaptability. Insight into kaya, vedana, citta and dharma with unique Buddhist wisdom, the practice led to the realization of Buddha dharma and the cessation of sufferings.In an order following the development of Buddhism, this dissertation elucidates the textual gist, practical sequence and characteristics of the catvari smrty-upasthanani in primitive Buddhism, sectarian Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, early Chinese Buddhism and Tiantai Buddhism, covering the concerning contents in Pali, Indian and Chinese Buddhism and a discussion about the relationship between Mahayana Buddhism and Hinayana Buddhism.This dissertation has nine chapters in three parts:Part one (chapters 1, 2, 3, 4) deal with the concerning contents in primitive Buddhism and sectarian Buddhism.Chapter 1: Catvari smrty-upasthanani in primitive Buddhism. The basis of the whole text, this chapter explains with materials from Agamas the core position of catvari smrty-upasthanani in primitive Buddhism, expounds some terms and discusses the preparation and concrete methods of the practice.Chapters 2, 3,4 are about the sectarian Buddhism.Chapter 2: The catvari smrty-upasthanani in Theravada Buddhism. After abrief illustration of the splitting of the sects and history of the Theravada, the chapter discusses the catvari smrty-upasthanani in seven shastras of the southern transmission, Vimoksamargasastra, Visuddhimagga with the focus on their development of the catvari smrty-upasthanani from the primitive Buddhism.As the most influential one among all the sects and with its materials best preserved, Sarvastivadin has very rich contents about the practice. Chapter 3: The catvari smrty-upasthanani in Sarvastivadin. With an introduction to the Sarvastivadin's history and its shastras, the chapter studies the explanations and exertions of the catvari smrty-upasthanani in the sect's different shastras: the basic conceptions of the catvari smrty-upasthanani in Abhidharma-dharma-skandha-pada and Abhidharma-samgiti-paryaya-pada, the outline of catvari smrty-upasthanani in Jnana-prasthana-shastra, catvari smrty-upasthanani in the sravaka system in Abhidharma-prakarana-pada, the summary of catvari smrty-upasthanani in sectarian Buddhism of northern transmission in Abhidharma-mahavibhasa-sa-stra, the steps of practice in Samyuktabhidharma -hrdaya-sastra and Abhidharma-kosa, etc.Chapter 4: The catvari smrty-upasthanani in Sariputrabhidharma-sastra and the sects as. Vats-putriyah. Outlining the relative contents in other sects with the focus on Sariputrabhidharma-sastra, the chapter covers the history of Sariputrabhidharma-sastra and Vatsi-putriyah, the relations between Sariputrabhidharma-sastra and the various sects. The chapter highlights the explanation of the catvari smrty-upasthanani in Sariputrabhidharma-sastra.Part two (chapters 5, 6, 7) deal with the catvari smrty-upasthanani in Mahay ana Buddhism and the relationship between Mahayana Buddhism and Hinayana Buddhism.Chapter 5: The Mahayana thoughts before Nagajuna. To make clear to all the Mahayana thoughts in primitive and sectarian Buddhism, the chapter expounds theMahayana thoughts and practice in Agamas, Mahayana thoughts in sectarianBuddhism, six kinds of emptiness in Sariputrabhidharma-sastra and Mahayanathoughts in Vatsi-putriyah. Attached to the chapter is the essay Maitreya Bodhisattva in Agamas as a supplementary explanation.Chapter 6: The Mahayana catvari smrty-upasthanani and its position in Bodhisttva's way. Sketching the spreading of Mahayana with a definition of "the Mahayana catvari smrty-upasthanani", the chapter highlights Nagajuna's initiative contribution to Mahayana focusing on his illustration and development of Mahayana catvari smrty-upasthanani in Mahaprajn-aparamitasastra. The position of catvari smrty-upasthanani in Bodhisattva's way is exposed here to clarify the misu...