A study of the benefits of practicing mindfulness of the Buddha (Nian-fo) in Chinese Buddhist Canon
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Author
Chen, Shih-Fang See all items with this value
Date
2008
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies
Committee
Lancaster, Lewis R.
Long, Darui
Warnasuriya, Kottegoda S.
Abstract
The dissertation is a combination of textual, philosophical and historical study of the benefits of practicing Mindfulness of the Buddha (Nian-fo, 念佛) in Chinese Buddhist Canon. “Nian- fo” is an important and popular spiritual practice method in both Mahayana and Early Buddhist (agamas) texts. And more importantly, the associated benefits of this method of practice also appear concurrently. The research conducted by searching through CBETA found out that the benefits of practicing Mind fullness of the Buddha can be grouped into as many as seventeen categories, and much more than just the aspiration of rebirth into the Western Pure Land as Pure Land School commonly held. These seventeen categories include worldly and world—transcending benefits, or further can b grouped into five kinds of benefits as (1) retaining enlightened mind; (2) overcoming unwholesome states; (3) development of wholesome states; (4) eliminating afflictions; (5) attaining liberation. The result indicated that attaining liberation is the primary benefit of practicing Mindfulness of the Buddha.
Further, the variation in translations of texts from various period of times represent the development of philosophies in different periods. All sutras and treaties can be categorized into different philosophy of various periods, for example, the Early Buddha Dharma, Early Mahayana Buddha Dharma, Middle-Mahayana Buddha Dharma, Final- Mahayana Buddha Dharma and so forth. The benefits of Mindfulness of the Buddha have been interpreted differently in differently in different periods of time, which indicated the transformation of ideologies, thus the emphasis of the benefits of Mindfulness of the Buddha were all different., With further study and analyzing it is able to pinpoint its cause and transformation of the thoughts, thus allows sorting out the benefits that being emphasized by each system of thoughts, and finding the practice of Mindfulness of the Buddha has such vast benefits.
Finally historical issue is also one of the critical factors affecting the translations of Texts such as support of emperor of each dynasty, skill level of sutra translators, adding social circumstance and the popularity of Dharma spreading.
Further, the variation in translations of texts from various period of times represent the development of philosophies in different periods. All sutras and treaties can be categorized into different philosophy of various periods, for example, the Early Buddha Dharma, Early Mahayana Buddha Dharma, Middle-Mahayana Buddha Dharma, Final- Mahayana Buddha Dharma and so forth. The benefits of Mindfulness of the Buddha have been interpreted differently in differently in different periods of time, which indicated the transformation of ideologies, thus the emphasis of the benefits of Mindfulness of the Buddha were all different., With further study and analyzing it is able to pinpoint its cause and transformation of the thoughts, thus allows sorting out the benefits that being emphasized by each system of thoughts, and finding the practice of Mindfulness of the Buddha has such vast benefits.
Finally historical issue is also one of the critical factors affecting the translations of Texts such as support of emperor of each dynasty, skill level of sutra translators, adding social circumstance and the popularity of Dharma spreading.
Keywords
Meditation See all items with this value
Nenbutsu See all items with this value
Pure Land Buddhism See all items with this value
Mahayana Buddhism See all items with this value
Degree Granter
University of the West