Lecture 10: Huayan School

Question 1

What is the major scripture of the Huayan School?

Answer 1

The Avatamsaka Sutra, or the Flowery Splendor Scripture.

Question 2

Who is the most important systems thinker in the Huayan School? Mention two titles of his works.

Answer 2

Fazang; his works included:

• The Hundred Gates to the Sea of Ideas in the Flowery Splendor Scripture
• The Treatise on the Golden Lion
• The Metaphysical Inquiries into the Avatamsaka Sutra

Question 3

What is Huayan’s division of Buddha’s teaching, and how does Huayan classify itself in this division?

Answer 3

1. Teaching for Ordinary Disciples
2. Initial Doctrine of the Great Vehicle
3. Final Doctrine of the Great Vehicle
4. Great Doctrine of Sudden Enlightenment
5. The Rounded (Perfect) Doctrine of the One Vehicle

Huayan classified itself as the Rounded Doctrine of the One Vehicle, the highest teaching of Buddha.

Question 4

Explain Huayan’s the two concepts involved in the doctrine of “universal causation of the realms of dharma”.

Answer 4

• The “Dependent Causation,” says that all things arise from dependent causation.
• The “Realms of Dharma,” says the whole universe has fourfold realms.

Question 5

What are the fourfold realms of dharma?

Answer 5

• Realm of Events
• Realm of Principle or Reason
• Realm of Events and Principles Mutually Penetrated
• Realm of All Events Mutually Penetrated

Question 6

What are the meanings of li and shi?

Answer 6

• Li means principle, universal, reason, the abstract, law, noumenon, judgment, knowledge, etc.
• Shi means a thing, an event, the particular, the concrete, phenomenon, matter, etc.

Question 7

Explain the concept of xin (heart) according to Chenguan.

Answer 7

“In order to attain the origin of pure heart, one should understand that the self is empty. In body and form you will find nothing real. All thoughts and deliberations have no true origin, indeed. All of a sudden, the spiritual enlightenment arises, penetrating all worlds immediately. Like the real gold discovered from hidden treasure, as if the sun shines off the misty darkness. If you compare your heart to Buddha, you will see your heart and Buddha form an identity.” (Answer to Emperor Shun Zong on the Heart’s Essential Gate)