KUMĀRAJĪVA’S MEDITATIVE LEGACY IN CHINA Bhante Dhammadipa Received September 8 2015 - Revised October 21 2015 - Accepted October 22 2015 ABSTRACT The article shows that in China and other Far East countries, where Chinese Buddhism spread at the early stages of Mahāyāna Buddhism, traditional methods of Buddhist practice, as explained in the Āgamas, were in practice, but reinterpreted from the Mahāyānistic understanding. Eventually, in the periods following the decline of the Tang Dynasty those practices were mostly abandoned and replaced by pure Mahāyānistic meditation practices, especially those of the Chan (Zen) and Pure Land schools. It can be clearly seen from the meditation treatises discussed in this article, which are attributed to Kumārajīva, the most popular translator of Indian Buddhist literature in China. Actually, as Western researchers show, these treatises are likely to be notes of Kumārajīva’s disciples, introduced into meditation by him. Key words Kumārajīva, Mahāyāna Buddhism, Chinese Buddhism, meditation treatise 1 Legacy of Kumārajīva All schools of Chinese Buddhism can claim link to the works translated by Kumārajīva, consisting of almost forty titles that are included in theChinese Tripitaka. Some of them remained the most widely read and commented Buddhist scriptures in the Far East to the present day. The profound influence that Kumārajīva exerted on Chinese intellectuals and yogis can be explained not just by his linguistic talents, but it must also be attributed to the power of his practice, which is unquestionable. There is a story about him saying that after his return to Kucha from Kashmir, where he went through his studies, a daughter of the king whose preceptor he was, fell in love with him and he consented to marry her. When his perplexed disciples enquired whether they should follow guru’s example, he is said to have swallowed and digested a hand full of sharp needles, proclaiming that anyone who Spirituality Studies 1 (2) Fall 2015 45 (1)
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