How Buddhism won the hearts of the Chinese?

[Willy]

For those of you who read about this post of mine

http://fengshuiforward.com/124/how-buddhism-win-the-hearts-of-the-chinese-part-1/

I would like to hear what u think maybe the reasons how Buddhism gains popularity in China.

[Gemini]

i think the different schools of teaching properous with the different dyansty.

In Qing Dynasty, Law School was the main stream.  Before Han Wu Ti, it is Lao Zi.  Confucism gain a footage during Han Wu Ti era.  Buddishm peak during Tang Dynasty. 

So i think during different time, each school of teaching gain popularity because it has something to offer for that period.  When things settle and change, the school is neglected because people are looking for change. 

My two cents, and obviously I did not answer the question. 

[Willy]

Hi Gemini,thanks for taking an interest in this discussion.

You are right to say that Qing dynasty practised legalist system. It was later replaced by Confucianism but legalist system was still very much practised by the Hans. Throughout Chinese history, Confucianism was used in name to camouflage the various policy decision by the government.

In one way or another, Buddhism from India adapted itself to blend in with the confucianist thinking of the Chinese. It helped to win some supporters but it wasn 't enough to gain foot hold in a large and diversified Chinese population.

Anyone would like to discuss more on this topic?

[Ken]

Hi Willy,

I am not so well-read into historical developments.  However, one of the reason for the appeal of Buddhism must have been its selfless preaching or teaching for people to do good deeds even without having to become a buddhist.  I know all religions are supposed to teach people to be upright but quite a number of them have a pre-requisite of having to believe in their God before even doing good deeds.  A lot of people don't see the need to be a "member" to do good deeds or be kind.

Incidentally with the recent furore of the milk scandal and other food scandal arising from practices of China Chinese, a lot of people have been asking why did it always happen with people (from SARS to Toy scandals etc) from that country.  Many thought that this could be a result of many years of Communist Rule and consequently not having a religion to instil good morals in its people.  True or false?  I would not conclude but definitely having a religion will have its positive effects on human values.

[oley]

True true. but I though all humans r born good? No....? :

[Gemini]

not necessary, if i remember my confuscius class correctly, within confuscius students, one believe we are born good while another believe we are born bad ..

I support Ken's view that religion can help with moral or human values but must be used correctly ... use wrongly, it can be a dark force ... look at those suicide bombers in Middle East ... 

during my coffee break chat with my colleagues, our thought is that moral value is giving way with today emphasize on profit and cost ... 

[Mudbuddha]

I know all religions are supposed to teach people to be upright but quite a number of them have a pre-requisite of having to believe in their God before even doing good deeds.  A lot of people don't see the need to be a "member" to do good deeds or be kind.

Interestingly in my recent overseas training trip in Thailand, i had a chance to chat with a member of a certain religion who tried to hard sell his religion to me in a bid to get me as a convert. There was one point which i found very amusing. According to him, Chinese Metaphysics is actually knowledge from the dark side in a attempt to make us believe in the dark side. Even if i use the knowledge to do good for the masses, i'd still not be saved when armaggedon comes around. 

[Ken]

Hi Mudbuddha,

*chuckle*.  This sort of things I have experienced quite many times.  They told me certain types of songs, decorative ornaments and even the pomegranate trees are all instruments of the dark side while trying convert people like me to their religion and get us to discard these items.

[Willy]

Hi Mudbuddha, glad to see you again!

Well, I do think that some people practise a religion out of 'fear' about their afterlife & hence, follow very strictly to teachings that might not be logical.

[Mystery]

 Okay, a bit words of warning that I might appear to be giving lots of blashephy comments here......but, since this is forum.....whatever. And no.....my statement and my thoughts are not supported by any materials which means I can't give detailed bibliography of my statement. So, I might be wrong....then again.....I might be right too.


 I do not know how Buddhism won the hearts of Chinese. My study of The Buddha himself mostly derived from reading Manga (Japanese Comic Book) by Osamu Tezuka, titled, "Buddha". Entertaining Manga, nevertheless.

 But, I suspect that Buddhism got through China maybe how the teaching is aligned with the Confucian teaching. On how to be selfless, etc. Although, for me Buddhism is more of living life in order to reach enlightment, to understand the very purpose of your life, and thus, to enter Nirvana and join in the cosmic energy of the world without having to be "re-born" again in this world that some Buddhists redeemed as "Punishment" to re-pay karma.

 I am a Buddhist myself. But, I do not see Buddhism as religion. i see it as teaching. Teaching on realizing how one is already complete and that you don't need anything else to "Complete" you.But, I disagree on he notion of Buddhism that "To live is to suffer" and "Thou shall not indulge into worldly pleasure".

 Come on....we live in the world and when there are pleasures to be embraced to some extent within legal practice, I'd say just do it.

 Ken mentioned that having religion is good that it teaches moral and values.

 I have mixed feelings about this.

 Religion has been used as ploy or excuse to gain more power. Mayan Civilitation was basically destroyed due to Spanish in order to "Promote" their religion. Japan also got visited by Christians missionaries during Sengoku era, only Japanese was smart enough to use them for their country development. But, we knew that European used religious missionaries to conquer other countries.

 And If religion does teach moral and values, Religions were used as propaganda as means to justify the Crusade wars between Muslin and Christians.

 And not to mention Jews annihilation by NAZI before. Jews were forced to convert.

 Nature is mean. Our nature as "animal" is merely to survive and replicate. simple as that. Ironic thing is.....even people got religions.....the war is still going. that explains, our genetic......to survive and to spread our seeds to more areas.

 Babies are born good or bad. Neither. Babies are born ignorant. And ignorant is bliss, one has said.

 A bit sidestracked now.......How Buddhism won the hearts of Chinese.....It could be because India might have had trade relations with China before (That time, Westeners did not even know that China existed). I guess, it was just there at the right time and at the right place within Asian regions. Besides, Buddhism was embraced by Thai, Japanese, Korean, Cambodia, etc within Asian region when......Marco Polo hasn't discovered Asia yet. That is my opinion.

[Mudbuddha]

Interesting views from Mystery.

From my conversations with the followers of the various mainstream religions and faiths...my conclusion is that all of them advocates doing good for mankind. However it is the followers that makes the difference. It is up to how the followers interpret the meanings of the teachings and how they apply them. Some misinterprets the meanings and end up developing extreme ideas while others are not flexible when applying the teachings.

There are instances where i encounter that the ladies of a certain religion insists on fully covering themselves from head to toe despite the need to work under the blazing hot sun. Due to the clothes, heat is trapped and cannot be dissipated efficiently running a high risk of heat stroke. In the end, some of them fainted due to heat exhaustion. In my personal opinion, it is inflexiblity when applying teachings. They would rather subject themselves to health risks which could potentially be fatal.

 



 

[Mystery]

 The teaching can be good and also can not be interpreted as good. The "Good book" Implicitly mentioned that the Jews is a supreme race.....If it is the case then God is probably racist....

 I am more interested in science, namely evolutions. Then again, When using science to argue the validity of religion, it is unfair.

 By the way, Buddhism for me is a teaching instead of religion.

[Willy]

Hi guys, if you have read my latest blog post, the barbaric invasion of China give rise to the emergence of Buddhism. Then, Northern China (major part of the Chinese Empire) was ruled by these foreign rulers who choose Buddhism as their national religion....

[guaiguai29]

I actually believe all the religions in the world are the same ... it teaches people to be kind and avoid harming others. However it is really depending on people understanding of their own religion. Some people just take it straight from the book without actually understanding it.

Buddha actually encourage us to challenge his own teachings. It make us think so we wont become a puppet.

I think they are more people believe in Buddhism because of the more and more positive reports in the media and meditation is a big thing in Buddhism. it supports our current community where most people are stress about family, career, marriage and all other sort of problems.

I guess that is why ... anyway, It is just my opinion anyway