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Comparing Tian-Tai Buddhism And Hua-Yan Buddhism

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Tian-tai Buddhism and Hua-yan Buddhism are debatably two of the most philosophically powerful schools of thought in Chinese Buddhism. The Tian-tai school was founded by Zhi-yi (Chih-i) in 538-597 A.D. The founder of the Hua-yan school was a Chinese monk named Du-shun in 557-640 A.D. However, people who study Hua-yan Buddhism typically give credit to Fa-zang in 643-712 A.D. This is because he more thoroughly developed the philosophy. Tian-tai Buddhism and Hua-yan Buddhism have similar basic concepts, but overall their views are actually radically different - Tian-tai is more realistic, while Hua-yan is almost more imaginary in a sense. One of the most important and defining aspects of Tian-tai is the belief that there is only one true reality - the real world and nirvana. It is believed that they are the same. This is not typical of classic Buddhism, which is what makes Tian-tai so unique. This one actual reality is divided into ten dharma realms in Tian-tai Buddhism. They are: hell beings, hungry ghosts, beasts or beings of …show more content…
The first four represent the most painful parts of human existence - so, when we suffer, we are experiencing one of those four. Next, human beings and gods are placed in the same category as one another, because both feel a healthy mixture of contentment and suffering. Next, “Voice-hearers” refers to those who strictly follow classic Buddhism. “Self-enlightened Ones” are those who were enlightened on their own without guidance from the teachings of Buddhism. Bodhisattvas have reached an even higher form of enlightenment. However, they never enter a state of nirvana out of sympathy for those who are not as enlightened as they and will never reach nirvana. Lastly, the highest form of enlightenment is Buddha. According to Tian-tai, Buddha can switch from nirvana to the real world with ease. The goal of Tian-tai is to become Buddha, but not everyone has the ability to reach this

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