Truth and Enlightenment in Tiantai Zhiyi's Philosophy

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The book is an exposition of Zhiyi's (Chih-i) philosophy. It is an analysis of Zhiyi's ingenious thoughts in a systematic form based on deep and insightful study of his works.

According to Zhiyi, Right knowledge of Reality, known as Truth, is the key to Self-realization. This realization of Truth is gradual and graded. Zhiyi reveals the true nature of Truth as viewed by the Buddha and expounded through the Lotus Sutra. Buddha's teachings are meant for all sections of the society and therefore it is to be understood in a classified way. Zhiyi gives such a classification.

Zhiyi explains the nature of Truth and discusses the method of its achievement. He presents a symbiosis of theory and practice. Truth is beyond thought and language. It cannot be conceptualized and verbalized. It is inconceivable and it can only be experienced and intuitively realized. But Truth is not merely theoretical. It has to be practiced. Truth is enlightenment. It is freedom from ignorance, imperfection and suffering.

Haiyan Shen is a Professor of Buddhist Studies and Religious Studies, Department of Philosophy, Shanghai University.

She received her BA. degree in Chinese Language and Literature, East China Normal University, Shanghai, in 1985; M.A. degree in Asian Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA. in 1990, Ph.D. degree in Buddhist Studies, Ghent University, Belgium, in 2004.

She was a visiting Professor of Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR) in 2016-2017. She was a visiting Professor in Swinburne University of Technology, Australia in 2015. She was a visiting Professor in the Centre for the Study of Humanistic Buddhism, Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2012 She was a visiting Professor in the Department of Buddhist Studies, Foguang University, Taiwan in 2011.

Her primary interest is taking the journey into Truth, awakening to the Ultimate Freedom.

This book is a result of her giving lectures on Tiantai Buddhist philosophy in various universities in India in 2017, invited by SR. Bhatt, the former Chairman, Indian Council of Philosophical Research, former Professor & Head, Department of Philosophy, University of Delhi. He has been very supportive to her, and has written two forewords for her books; one is for the book 'The Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra: T'ien-t'ai Philosophy of Buddhism' (2 Vols, Delhi, 2005, 2007), and the other is for this present book 'Truth and Enlightenment in Tiantiai Zhiyi's Philosophy 'Her gratitude to Prof. Bhatt is beyond words.

The present book by Prof. Haiyan Shen is an excellent exposition of Zhiyi's (Chih-i) philosophy. Earlier she published a scholarly work entitled 'The Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra' in two volumes, exhaustively dealing with Zhiyi's elucidation of the Lotus Sutra which is a highly revered Buddhist text. The Lotus Sutra represents the essential teachings of the Buddha and Zhiyi gives an innovative interpretation of this text in a marvellous way. It provides most comprehensive and penetrating classification of Buddhist theories and doctrines which is amazing. Zhiyi is the founder of Tiaen-tai school of Buddhism which has provided basis for later Buddhist thought in China.

The present work of Prof. Shen is a wonderful and brilliant analysis of Zhiyi's ingenious thoughts in a systematic form based on deep and insightful study of his works. For this remarkable enterprise she deserves congratulations. Zhiyi is an abstruse and subtle thinker and it requires an enlightened mind to understand him. Prof. Shen has that capacity and hence this work is a supplement to Zhiyi's philosophy.

According to Zhiyi, right knowledge of Reality, known as Truth, is the key to Self-realization. This realization of Truth is gradual and graded. Zhiyi reveals the true nature of Truth as viewed by the Buddha and expounded through the Lotus Sutra. He reconciles differences among various views on Truth in Buddhism put forth by different thinkers so that the teachings of the Buddha can be understood in a holistic manner. Buddha's teachings are meant for all sections of the society and therefore it is to be understood in a classified way. Zhiyi gives such a classification.

Zhiyi explains the nature of Truth and discusses the method of its achievement. He presents a symbiosis of theory and practice. Truth is beyond thought and language. It cannot be conceptualized and verbalized. It is inconceivable and it can only be experienced and intuitively realized. But Truth is not merely theoretical. It has to be practiced. Truth is enlightenment. It is freedom from ignorance, imperfection and suffering. Buddha nature is inherent potentially in all sentient beings and therefore everyone is entitled for seeking Truth and realization of liberation. This is universal liberation.

Following Nagarjuna, Zhiyi upholds the theory of two-fold Truth but explicates it as three-fold and points out seven-fold approaches to it. He avers that all these are taught by the Buddha according to different circumstances and intellectual capacities of the people. Very sophisticatedly he further analyses four-fold Truth, three-fold Truth, two-fold Truth, one Truth and No-truth. He gives a very interesting and revealing breakdown of this.