Contents
56. Cheng-shih Sect
56. Cheng-shih Sect
56.1 Name
Cheng-shih [¦¨Ήκ] was translated from
Sanskrit word 'Satyasiddhi', which was the short form of a shastra
written by Harivarman called 'Satyasiddhi Shastra'. The sect was
named after the shastra, as it was the principal text of this sect.
In Chinese, 'Cheng' means 'establishment' and 'Shih' means 'truth'.
The name of the text is derived from the claim that it emphasizes
the true meaning of the shastra.
56.2 Development
The shastra was translated in Chinese by Kumarajiva. His followers
studied it and established as a sect. The sect was popular in Six
Dynasties till Tang Dynasty.
56.3 Principal
Text
Satyasiddhi Shastra is the principal text, written by Harivarman
in the 3rd century. The shastra was widely studied from
the time of its translation in Chinese by Kumarajiva in early 5th
century.
56.4 Main
Doctrines
This sect is regarded as the most liberal amongst Hinayana sects.
It expounded the views on the emptiness of 'self' and 'Dharma', which
was unique and spectacular by that time.
56.4.1 Two-Truth or Two-Emptiness
Theory
There are 2 main truths:
- Contemplating the emptiness of Five Skandhas, we should not
hold the views of self, others, or sentient beings as a real
and concrete entity.
- Contemplating the emptiness of all Dharmas derived from Five
Skandhas, we should understand these are just names given or
titles adopted by us, but their own entities.
If all Dharmas and human beings are empty in nature, all the
existence and phenomena will be reverted to the state of Nirvana
� the ultimate truth of Hinayana
56.4.2 Two-Obstruction or Two-Hindrance
Theory
There are 2 kinds of obstructions that hinder us from Enlightenment:
- The obstruction by afflictions -- it is equivalent to the
delusion of the views and thought. The obstruction can be removed
by contemplating the emptiness of self and others.
- The obstruction by knowledge -- the worldly knowledge is the
accumulation of our experiences in the past, which is conditional.
That means it is not universally true. It may lead many people
to become more subjective, thus hinder us from Enlightenement.
The obstruction can be removed by contemplating the emptiness
of Dharmas.
56.5 Fruition
upon cultivation
This sect lists 28 levels of fruition in the course of cultivation.
The highest level is Arhatship. Thus the sect is regarded as Hinayana,
though its doctrines are close to Mahayana, particularly the Theory
of the Emptiness of Dharma.
As an Arhat, the practitioner enters in the state of Non-residual
Nirvana, which transcends the Three Realms and, of course, liberate
from reincarnation. However, amongst the Ten Realms, Arhat is inferior
to Bodhisattva and Buddha. The practitioner has to give back Hinayana
and set goal to Mahayana and One Vehicle. During the attainment
of the Supreme Enlightenment in Buddhahood, all will be empty, including
Samsara , Nirvana, and even Buddhahood and emptiness itself.
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