Origin and early development of the Tibetan religious traditions of the Great Perfection (Rdzogs Chen)
rDzogs chen, the ~Great Perfection~, is a philosophical and meditational system of Tibetan Buddhism. It is the counterpart of the Ch'an in Chinese Buddhism and Zen in Japan. Western writers on Tibetan Buddhism have viewed it as a survival of the Ch'an which was once known in Tibet in the eighth century A.D., but declined after the breakup of the Tibetan empire in the mid-ninth century A.D. This view is mainly derived from the attitude of the Tibetan Buddhist orthodox schools who regarded rDzogs chen as a resurrection of Ch'an the practice of which according to the Tibetan historical tradition was officially banned after the famous Sino-Indian Buddhist controversy around 790 A.D. in Tibet. The other interesting aspect of rDzogs chen is that it is a teaching adhered to by the Buddhist school, the rNying ma pa as well as by the Bonpo (followers of the Bon religion in Tibet). Although studies in Tibetan Buddhism have advanced much in recent years, the origin and historical development of rDzogs chen has remained totally unknown. The present Study therefore focuses mainly on the origin of its theories such as ~Primordial Purity~ which it sees as the basis for spiritual development, and its historical and literary
Karmay, Samten Gyaltsen
Buddhism; Buddhist
Origin and early development of the Tibetan religious traditions of the Great Perfection (Rdzogs Chen). rDzogs chen, the ~Great Perfection~, is a philosophical and meditational system of Tibetan Buddhism. It is the counterpart of the Ch'an in Chinese Buddhism and Zen in Japan. Western writers on Tibetan Buddhism have viewed it as a survival of the Ch'an which was once known in Tibet in the eighth century A.D., but declined after the breakup of the Tibetan empire in the mid-ninth century A.D. This view is mainly derived from the attitude of the Tibetan Buddhist orthodox schools who regarded rDzogs chen as a resurrection of Ch'an the practice of which according to the Tibetan historical tradition was officially banned after the famous Sino-Indian Buddhist controversy around 790 A.D. in Tibet. The other interesting aspect of rDzogs chen is that it is a teaching adhered to by the Buddhist school, the rNying ma pa as well as by the Bonpo (followers of the Bon religion in Tibet). Although studies in Tibetan Buddhism have advanced much in recent years, the origin and historical development of rDzogs chen has remained totally unknown. The present Study therefore focuses mainly on the origin of its theories such as ~Primordial Purity~ which it sees as the basis for spiritual development, and its historical and literary
origin early_development tibetan religious_tradition great perfection great perfection philosophical system tibetan buddhism counterpart chinese buddhism zen japan western writer tibetan buddhism view survival know tibet eighth century decline tibetan empire view mainly derive attitude tibetan buddhist orthodox school regard resurrection practice accord tibetan historical tradition officially ban famous sino indian buddhist controversy around tibet interesting aspect teach buddhist school well follower religion tibet although study tibetan buddhism advance much origin historical_development remain totally unknown present_study therefore focus_mainly origin theory primordial purity see basis spiritual_development historical_literary