Are you an EPFL student looking for a semester project?
Work with us on data science and visualisation projects, and deploy your project as an app on top of Graph Search.
Concept
Shandao
Summary
Shandao (; Zendō; 613–681) was an influential writer on Pure Land Buddhism, prominent in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. His writings had a strong influence on later Pure Land masters including Hōnen and Shinran in Japan. In Jōdo Shinshū, he is considered the Fifth Patriarch, while in Chinese Pure Land Buddhism he is considered the second patriarch after Lushan Huiyuan.
Shandao was born in what is now Zhucheng, in Shandong Province, China. When he was young, he entered the priesthood and devoted himself to the study of the Infinite Life and Vimalakirti Sutras. One day, in the year 641, he visited the temple of the famous Pure Land master Daochuo, who happened to be giving a lecture on the Amitāyurdhyāna Sūtra. This lecture ultimately inspired him to follow and then spread Pure Land Buddhism.
Shandao dwelt at Xiangji Temple () in Shaanxi, which continues to honor his memory and contributions. In his lifetime, Shandao wrote five major works on Pure Land Buddhism, with his commentaries on the Amitāyurdhyāna Sūtra being among the most influential.
Shandao synthesized much of the teachings of earlier Chinese Pure Land Buddhists, such as Tanluan and Daochuo, however, he introduced additional ideas that became staple concepts to both Chinese and Japanese Pure Land traditions:
All beings could equally perceive the Pure Land in its true form, it did not depend on the meditative qualities of the practitioner.
The "ten recitations" cited in both the Longer Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra and the Amitayurdhyana Sutra are verbal recitations. Previous interpretations were more ambiguous in interpreting the meaning of buddhānusmṛti.
All nine levels of attainment the Amitayurdhyana Sutra were accomplished by ordinary people not advanced sages.
Rebirth in the Pure Land comes primarily through Amitabha Buddha's vow rather than one's own efforts.
Shandao was recorded as having taught various Pure Land practices, including nianfo, as well as written several commentaries on extant Mahayana scriptures.
Official source
About this result
This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.