"University Direct" And Transcendental Classic Notes

Buddhism experienced a renaissance in late Ming Dynasty after a period of downturn, when contemporary eminent monks tend to focus on the integration of diverse schools in Zen Teach of Buddhism. Ouyi Zhixu was one of the famous monks who committed himself to the integration of different schools of Buddhism while also tried to reconcile the relationship among Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. His ideas hold a feature of exhibiting diverse characteristics as a whole, which was a result of historical factors and cultural realities and bore inclusive features.To reverse the negative situation caused by Confucian scholars’underground absorption from Buddhism with a superficial rejection, Ouyi Zhixu implemented a cross-religious method of commentary in stance of Buddhism. Ouyi Zhixu commented The Great Learning through the Buddhist concept of Four Siddhantas, while deliberately misread the concepts and the logical framework of The Great Learning. In this way Ouyi Zhixu wrote the Da Xue Zhi Zhi, which was written explaining Confucianism, though Buddhist perspective.This article includes four aspects:● describe the historical background where Ouyi Zhixu’s thought was formed, show his life experience and writings as well as the lineage of his thought while set a basic overview of Da Xue Zhi Zhi afterward.● Provide a general view of Da Xue Zhi Zhi and explain its ideological connotations. In this part I will give introduction of his theory of Nature and Practice elaborated by Ouyi Zhixu in the text which indicated that Nature is already there, through Practice to meet the Nature, Nature and Practice is consistent.The discussion will be unfolded basing Da Xue Zhi Zhi itself as well as several relative writings and researches.● Analyze his standpoint and method applied in Ouyi Zhixu’s commentary on Da Xue Zhi Zhi. In this part we will reach a verdict that this book provides a cross-religious commentary from a Buddhist stance, and focus on how he applied the methods of Four Siddhantas and deliberate misreading.● Generalize the integration between Buddhism and Confucianism of Da Xue Zhi Zhi on the cross-religious classical commentary. Through Da Xue Zhi Zhi, Buddhism and Confucianism committed a dialogue with each other:using the concept of " three-in-one " to explain the way of sanctification in Confucianism; viewing the doctrine of "nothing exists beyond the mind" as the origin of "reflexive exploration"; and citing the four ways of " Faith, Understanding, Practice and Attain " to guide the general steps of practicing.Da Xue Zhi Zhi is a book regarded as a representative case of cross-religious commentary in a Chinese context. The basic stance, methods and practical effects of cross-religious commentary elaborated in this book are instrumental in expanding the theory and practice of dialogues among religions and promoting mutuality among cultures.