By Lin Sen-shou

Buddhism at the time was highly diversified, especially between the north and the south. In the north monks concentrated on meditation and chanting the scriptures, while in the south emphasis was placed on discussing the philosophical aspects of Buddhism. Chih Yi helped to combine the two and created the Tientai sect. His insight into Ch'an (also known as Zen) allowed him to combine all the teachings on Ch'an and develop a new school of thought. In his later years, he established regulations and repentance methods which were widely adopted in Buddhism and are still practiced today.



Background


Master Chih Yi's original name was Chen Wang-tao. His father was once an outstanding official in the kingdom of Liang. When Chih Yi was young, he enjoyed going to the temple. One day, at the age of seven, he went with his mother to the temple and overheard the monks chant a stanza from the Lotus Sutra. He loved it so much that he immediately memorized it. When he returned home, he recited this stanza to his father, Chen Chi-tzu, who was amazed by his incredible memory, although not particularly delighted since he expected his son to grow up to become an outstanding official like him. He instructed his son not to go to the temple again, but Chih Yi went anyway without taking his father's advice to heart. It seemed Chih Yi had a very early affiliation with Buddhism.

Time is impermanent, and so is peace. Liang was conquered by the rival state of Wei, and the king was eventually killed. Mourning his death, Chih Yi's father fell seriously ill. His mother cared for her sick husband for a long time, and then she herself fell ill and died. This added to his father's grief and he died one year later, leaving behind seventeen-year-old Chih Yi and his older brother. Seeing the breakup of his country and his once glorious family, Chih Yi decided to become a monk while his elder brother chose to serve as a government official. When Chih Yi was eighteen years old, he became a novice and was given the Buddhist name Te An by his mentor, Master Fa Hsu. At Kuoyuan Temple, where he became a novice, he had many chores to do, such as collecting firewood in the forest, cleaning the temple and its grounds and cooking. He never complained, but immersed himself in the Buddhist scriptures stored in the temple library after finishing his work. Master Fa Hsu was very pleased to have him as his pupil because of his thirst for knowledge and devotion to studying the scriptures. The old monk somehow knew that Te An would be a great monk in the future.

One day, a monk named Hui Kuang came to the temple. Master Hui Kuang had traveled widely and studied under many famous monks, and he was renowned for his profound understanding of the Buddhist precepts. Master Hui Kuang had known Master Fa Hsu for quite some time, so after exchanging greetings Master Hui Kuang went directly to the library to browse through the scriptures. There he bumped into Te An and was stunned to see the light of wisdom reflected in the young novice's eyes. He knew at once that this young man would be an outstanding monk in the future, and he decided to help him.

Young Te An had been studying the Lotus Sutra for some time, but he was frustrated by the fact that the temple didn't have a complete copy of the sutra. When Master Hui Kuang told him that a temple on Tahsien Mountain had a complete copy, Te An's eyes suddenly lit up. He wished he could go there to study the great sutra, but he knew he couldn't as he was still a novice. Wanting to help Te An to become a great monk, Master Hui Kuang went to talk to Master Fa Hsu.

"You look so delighted-what's happened?" inquired Master Fa Hsu. He also wondered if he had seen Te An.

"Something even better than enlightenment," Master Hui Kuang replied. "I've just discovered a piece of unpolished jade which will shine brightly in the future if it's properly polished."

"Really? I didn't know there was such a wonderful person in our temple." Master Fa Hsu suspected Master Hui Kuang had discovered Te An, but he didn't want to give the young monk to anyone else.

"I'm talking about Te An," Master Hui Kuang said bluntly. "As soon as I met him, I knew he would someday become a pillar of Buddhism. I know I can help educate him, so I would like to ask your permission to take him under my guidance."

Master Fa Hsu became silent. Te An had been an outstanding novice since he came to the temple two years before. He had been doing a novice's duties well, and he also spent a great amount of time in the library studying the scriptures. He had actually gone through all of them and there was nothing more for him to learn. However, Master Fa Hsu found it hard to give up the intelligent young novice. It was a delightful experience to educate a good young man like him.

"I know how hard it is for you to give him up," said Master Hui Kuang, "but as you know, it is beneficial for a person to receive instruction while still young. If you want the best for Te An, you will have to let him see the world with me as early as possible. I hope you will take this into consideration."

Master Fa Hsu was embarrassed, because he was suddenly aware of his personal desire and selfishness. "You're right about that. There is actually nothing more for me to teach him here. I'm very old, and I'm delighted and relieved to have you instruct him and mold him into a pillar of Buddhism."

A few days later, Master Fa Hsu told Te An that he would be going with Master Hui Kuang, since he had studied all the scriptures in the library and there was nothing more for him to learn. Furthermore, Master Hui Kuang's spiritual cultivation and learning were beyond compare. Te An would be better off with him and would learn a lot from him.

Te An received the full precepts from Master Hui Kuang and thus became a full Buddhist monk. He received the new Buddhist name of Chih Yi.



The best sutra


Master Hui Kuang took Chih Yi with him everywhere he went, so that the young monk would have the opportunity to listen and learn from others. However, Chih Yi became confused as to which scripture was the best and most suitable for him, as every Buddhist monk he met advised something different. The Buddha, after becoming enlightened, toured the Indian subcontinent and gave countless lectures to countless people. Which sutras should Chih Yi follow in order to find the one most suitable for him?

The more he looked for the answer, the more confused he felt. He seemed to have become lost in a vast ocean of Buddhist scriptures. One day he went to see Master Hui Kuang and asked for his permission to go and study the complete volume of the Lotus Sutra in a temple on Tahsien Mountain, a place he had hoped to visit before. He thought he might find the answer to his puzzle by going through the complete text of the Lotus Sutra.

After arriving at the temple, Master Chih Yi spent all his time on the sutra and found the answer to his problem in the Sutra of Unlimited Meaning, a leading sutra to the Lotus Sutra. One passage recorded that due to the different faculty of understanding and intelligence of each person, the Buddha had to apply different ways of preaching his understanding of the ultimate wisdom of the universe. However, these were just methods which could guide people to the Truth-they were not themselves the true essence of the Buddha's wisdom.

These words were like a bolt of lightning shining through the dark cloud of Chih Yi's bewilderment. He concluded that the Lotus Sutra was the best Buddhist sutra. He had become well-versed in the scriptures, commentaries and precepts, and he was becoming interested in Ch'an. However, the Buddhist sects in southern China focused much more on the discussions of Buddhist philosophies and dogmas, so he was unable to find a Ch'an master to help him explore his interest. He didn't know what to do. It was like having stepped up to the door of enlightenment but still having a long way to go. He needed guidance from an excellent instructor. A name was finally revealed: Master Hui Szu from Tasu Mountain in Kuangchou (now in Henan Province, central China). Chih Yi hoped he could visit this monk.

Realizing Chih Yi's desire, and also aware that he had no more to teach him, Master Hui Kuang knew it was time for him to let the young monk find a better mentor to guide him, so he let him go as Master Fa Hsu had done three years earlier. Master Hui Kuang told him that Master Hui Szu was the only Buddhist Ch'an monk who considered the Lotus Sutra to be the best sutra in China, which increased Chih Yi's determination to visit him. Finally, Chih Yi set off on his way to Tasu Mountain to continue his quest of thoroughly comprehending the Buddha's teachings.



Master Hui Szu


After days of arduous travel, Chih Yi finally reached the temple. Master Hui Szu was delighted to have him join the congregation. He told the young monk that since the country was full of danger due to confrontations between rival kingdoms, he was surprised that Chih Yi was able to reach the temple. Interestingly, Chih Yi replied that even a war-torn place could still be a holy Pure Land as long as a great master of the Lotus Sutra was residing there.

Master Hui Szu had Chih Yi start studying immediately. Chi Yi worked extremely conscientiously, both day and night. One day while chanting a verse from the Lotus Sutra to himself, his voice suddenly stopped. He had entered a deep state of contemplation and at that moment attained enlightenment. It was only the fourteenth day after he met Master Hui Szu, and he was only twenty-three years old.

Master Hui Szu was exuberant. They sat together and talked happily about the Buddha's philosophy for four consecutive days. Master Hui Szu talked about the quintessence of the Lotus Sutra and told Chih Yi of his personal experiences. Everyone thus knew that Chih Yi had been chosen by Master Hui Szu to inherit the lineage of the Lotus sect.



The debate between Chih Yi and Hui Miao


At that time, there was another master known as Hui Miao, who arrogantly claimed that his lectures were the essence of Buddhism. He especially liked to discredit Master Hui Szu. One day Master Hui Szu decided to give Master Hui Miao a lesson, and he asked Chih Yi to have a debate with his rival.

Hui Miao thought that his young opponent was only a neophyte, and he felt confident that he would humiliate Master Hui Szu by beating this young monk in the debate. The thought of this made him smile maliciously.

Hui Miao started by insulting Master Hui Szu and his stand on the Lotus Sutra. His witty speech won a lot of applause from the audience.

When Hui Miao finished speaking, Chih Yi countered him by saying, "You claimed that your speech was like a lion's roar, exactly like the Buddha's?"

"Of course I said that," snorted Master Hui Miao. "You are still young, so you'd better remember that."

"However, the Buddha said in the Lotus Sutra that whoever would follow the Lotus Sutra in the future would be like him. Since you look down on the sutra and deny what the Buddha said in it, how can you claim that your own speech is like the Buddha's?"

"Furthermore," he continued, "the sutra also says that whoever insults the Buddha will receive heavy punishment. If anyone insults the sutra with even a single evil word, the crime is even heavier. My master is the defender of the Lotus Sutra, but you insult him constantly, so you will be punished severely. My master's speech is the true lion's roar, and your false lecturing is like the barking of a dog!"

Hui Miao was speechless with anger. He didn't know how to respond, because Chih Yi quoted phrases from the sutra and he had no way of countering them. Then, Chih Yi started lecturing to the audience about the essence of the Lotus Sutra. Everyone present deemed that Chih Yi had won the debate.

Some time later, Master Hui Szu showed Chih Yi two sutras, the Great Prajna Sutra and the Lotus Sutra. Master Hui Szu spent a long time copying these two sutras out with gold ink. He smiled and said, "I plan to hold a great sermon upon the completion of these sutras."

Chih Yi was delighted to see these two sutras. "It will be wonderful. I can't wait to hear your sermon!"

Master Hui Szu laughed out loud and said to Master Chih Yi, "I'm the one who can't wait to hear it, because it will be you, Master Chih Yi, who will give the sermon after I make the opening remarks!"

Master Hui Szu felt that Chih Yi was now capable of expounding on the essence of the Buddha's teachings. Chih Yi was thrilled because the sermon meant that Master Hui Szu recognized him as the torchbearer of the Lotus sect. In addition, Master Hui Szu had invited Master Hui Kuang to attend the sermon, and Chih Yi hadn't seen his former mentor in seven years.

The grand lecture lasted for several days and ended in great success, because Master Chih Yi had now become famous. The three of them gathered together afterwards, and both mentors praised Chih Yi for his extraordinary lecture.

"Actually, I invited Master Hui Kuang here for another reason," admitted Master Hui Szu. "Master Hui Kuang has asked me to go south to avoid further attacks from evil monks. Ever since I promoted the Lotus Sutra as the best sutra of all, I have become the target of many assaults, especially from evil people attempting to kill me..."

Chih Yi was stunned to hear this news.

"I'm willing to die for Buddhism, but I'm equally concerned about how to pass down the lineage of the Buddhist teachings to someone else. But now, my mind is at ease. I can now hand over the quintessence of Buddhism to you, Chih Yi, and you must promote it to make people's lives better. Why don't you go to Chinling (modern-day Nanking)? It is a very nice place."

The two thus went their separate ways. Master Hui Szu led a group of followers south and Master Chih Yi led the rest to Chinling.



Life in Chinling


Chih Yi and his followers moved into the Wakuan Temple in Chinling, and there he promoted the essence of the Lotus sect. As time went by he became widely famous, and both laypeople and other renowned monks would crowd into the temple whenever he gave a lecture. He was so famous that when he was giving a talk on the Lotus Sutra one day, the king even allowed all the court officials to take the day off to attend.

One day eight years later, during his meditation he saw a vision: before him was a vast sea which stretched beyond the horizon, and behind him stood a gigantic, green mountain. Suddenly he saw someone waving at him from the top of the mountain. "Who is that?" Master Chih Yi wondered and decided to head in that direction. The person on the mountain came down to meet him, and when they were about to meet...

"Master, it's time for your meal." The call startled Chih Yi from his meditation. After the meal, he asked his disciples about the vision he had seen, and one replied that it was Tientai Mountain (in modern Zhejiang Province, eastern China). Chih Yi believed that the vision indicated where he should go. Thus, in 575 AD, eight years after he arrived in Chinling, he led a group of monks to Tientai Mountain.



Going to the mountain


While traveling to the mountain, Chih Yi was surprised to see that the scenery around him was exactly the same as what he had seen during his meditation. They came to a temple and found that an old monk with a group of younger monks was waiting outside to welcome them. What surprised him more was what the old monk said: "Welcome! I knew you would be coming so we prepared everything."

Though surprised, Chih Yi greeted the old monk: "What is the venerable one's name?"

"I am Ting Kuang," replied the old monk.

"Master Ting Kuang, how did you know that I was coming?"

"Ha, ha, ha! Have you forgotten what you saw in your meditation? I was the one who waved to you. I knew you would be coming, so I asked my disciples to plant more crops. I also asked local farm women to weave more pads and sheets for you. Master Chih Yi, don't worry about anything, since I have prepared everything you need. You can just live here."

"Amitabha! Master Ting Kuang, we really are grateful for what you have done for us," said Chih Yi happily. It seemed that he really had some special connection with this Tientai Mountain.

During his twenty-two-year stay at the mountain, up until his death at the age of sixty in 597 AD, Chih Yi developed a new Buddhist philosophy. Because he stayed at Tientai Mountain, this new philosophy was named the Tientai Sect. The sect was later transmitted to Japan in the ninth century and to Korea in the eleventh century, and it became one of the most influential Buddhist sects in these two countries. Because the sect is based on the Lotus Sutra, the Tientai Sect is also known as, the Lotus Sect. Master Chih Yi is still seen as the founding master of the Tientai Sect.