On The Early Tiantai School Absorbing From The Old Consciousness-only Thoughts

Tiantai and Consciousness-only are two main schools of Chinese Buddhism. Established by Nanyue, Tiantai is the earliest school of Chinese Buddhism. It emphasizes both scripture study and meditation practice, or wisdom and concentration. The Old Consciousness-only Thoughts, compared to the Cien School's Consciousness-only Thoughts founded by Xuanzang in Tang Dynasty, mainly refer to thoughts elaborated by Dilun and Shelun followers. Tiantai School was founded on the basis of the background of Dilun and Shelun (Summary of the Great Vehicle). Huisi often discussed questions with Dilun and Shelun followers. He and his disciple Zhizhe had long friendship with Shelun master Huikuang, so they were both influenced by Dilun and Shelun followers. But Tiantai School was not turned into a sect of the Old Consciousness-only, because Huisi and Zhizhe used the method of selecting or choosing, which was the indispensable factor for the establishment of Tiantai School. However, that was rarely discussed by scholars before, so the thesis will expound this problem, and try to master the essential of Tiantai Thoughts. Furthermore, through the attitude of Chinese people to the consciousness-only thoughts, the thesis tries to probe the reason of the ups and downs of the consciousness-only thoughts in China. It is helpful to further the study of consciousness-only, and to get to the essence of Tiantai masters.With eight chapters, the thesis has four aspects: a. the brief introduction of the Tiantai thoughts and the old consciousness-only thoughts, b. the come-and-gobetween masters before Huisi and the old consciousness-only, c. Huisi absorbing and reforming the old consciousness-only, d. Zhizhe absorbing and selecting the old consciousness-only.Named Tiantai Thoughts' Fundamental Structure and Character, chapter one briefly introduces Tiantai thoughts. First, according to Huisi and Zhizhe's practicing and writing, the author probes into the essential factor of Tiantai1 establishment, including the relative scriptures and treatises, the enlightening of the masters, the coming down writing, and so on. Tiantai thoughts can be condensed into Jiao and Guan (scripture study and meditation practice). Then, for the ascription of Tiantai, it is considered not the same with the Middle Way, the Consciousness-only and the Womb of the Tathagata.Chapter two is the main viewpoints of the Old Consciousness-only. First, the writing of the Indian three masters (Mile, Wuzuo, and Shiqing) is intrduced. Wuzuo's Observing Emptiness of the Great Vehicle is regarded as the symbol of Consciousness-only's blossom. The Eight Consciousnesses and Three Self-natures are the main topics of Consciousness-only. The author also discusses the relative parts with the Womb of the Tathagata, and thought the three masters' complex thoughts were the basis of the following Consciousness-only followers. About the Chinese Old Consciousness-only, the author introduces the main scriptures, treatises, and representative opinions of the Dilun and Shelun followers. Dilun has two sects (the South and the North), the difference of which is their understanding on the Eighth Conciousness.Chapter three is about the early Tiantai and the Old Consciousness-only. It talks about the thoughts of Huisi and his teachers, including Master Ming, Master Zui, Master Hui, Master Wen and Master Shanhui. The emphases is on their come-and-go with the Old Conciousness-only. The author thinks Master Zui, Master Hui and Master Wen have close relationship with Dilun followers. So Dilun influenced Huisi directly and Zhizhe indirectly.Chapter four, Nanyue Huisi's Consciousness Thoughts, discusses Huisi's characteristic consciousness thoughts according to his three books. The thought ofthe Womb of the Tathagata and the Observing Emptiness of the Great Vehicle are the main topics of Huisi's thoughts, so the author first discusses Huisi's understanding of the Womb of the Tathagata. Then his Eight Consciousnesses thought is talked about. He emphasizes the importance of the sixth consciousness, and thinks the change of consciousness1 function lies on the seventh consciousness. As a result of practicing meditation, Huisi always, basing on the observing emptiness of the great vehicle, talks about the eight consciousnesses.Chapter five is about Shamatha And Vipashyana Of The Great Vehicle's integrating the Old Consciousness-only. Today there are many disputes on the book (Shamatha And Vipashyana Of The Great Vehicle), including its real author, its relations with Tiantai thoughts, and so on. This thesis thinks the book can be regarded as Huisi's writing, because its thoughts are closely uniformed with Huisi's, although there is indeed some difference in the style between the book and Huisi's other books. Through analyzing the structure of the Shamatha And Vipashyana Of The Great Vehicle and the Awakening Of Mahayana Faith, we can conclude that the former book was wrote in the background of the Old Consciousness-only Thoughts facing many difficulties, and the writer of the book tried to integrate the Awakening Of Mahayana Faith and those difficulties. This book, with the character of perfect penetration without obstruction, makes Zhizhe form his different style and route, and has great influence on the later Tiantai followers.Chapter six is the brief comparison between Zhizhe's Tiantai thoughts and the fundamental Consciousness-only thoughts. On the side of Jiao and Guan (scripture study and meditation practice), it compares Zhizhe's Tiantai thoughts with the forenamed three masters' Consciousness-only thoughts. And it concludes that Zhizhe and three masters' writing have different style, but at the same time, have consistent theories and contents.Chapter seven is about Zhizhe's consciousness thoughts. Thought probing Zhizhe's different books, the author tries to find his route of thinking changes and reform to the relative thoughts in the old consciousness-only. Zhizhe's two books, The Beginning Of Reality-realm Precedence and Sensing Mind Intent Contemplation,are in accordance with the thoughts of the Original Buddhism, the Branches Buddhism, and the Middle Way, influenced by the book of Dazhi du lun. The two books are intangible in describing the seventh consciousness. His Jin Guang Ming Jin Xuan Yi and Fa Hua Xuan Yi emphasize on the seventh, eighth and ninth consciousnesses, regarding them as clear consciousnesses. And his Wei Mo Xuan Shu and Wei Mo Wen Shu emphasize on the sixth, seventh, and eighth consciousnesses, regarding them as unclear ones. The most mature thought of Zhizhe is the proposition of the ignorance consciousness being the reality-realm. It makes Zhizhe an image of standing on the standpoint of perfect penetration without obstruction.Chapter eight is Zhizhe's reform and select to the old consciousness-only. Zhizhe communicated with the old consciousness-only followers less than his teacher Huisi, but it is sure he was greatly influenced by Huisi and Huikuang. The word Bie Jiao (separate teaching) is mainly used in Tiantai School, but it was first used by the Consciousness-only. Zhizhe clearly defines the Bie Jiao, including thoughts in the Consciousness-only. But today, when we probe into the the Consciousness-only thoughts, we can get to know that there are many contents belonging to the thoughts of impenetrating three vehicles. On the relationship between form and mind, Zhizhe thinks they are equal, not as the consciousness-only. He regards that the Summary of the Great Vehicle is not perfection, just a path of expedient means. And he points out that people will make some mistakes in understanding if they firmly attach themselves to this book. From Zhizhe's selecting and reforming to the Dilun and Shelun thoughts, we can find that his Buddhist thoughts have clear characteristics, such as respecting sutras, no disputes, and aiming to the utmost salvation. All in all, Zhizhe's thoughts benefit a lot the people who make the study of Buddhism and practice meditation.