Abstract
In this essay the onto-dynamics of the triunity in T’ien-t’ai Buddhism, the common foundation of Chinese Universism and the related inter-cultural philosophy of inter-religious dialogue, will be investigated.1 The following themes in the speculative philosophy of Buddhism and the related inter-religious dialogue will be discussed:
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(a)
The theory of the onto-dynamics of the triunity has three essential elements: (1) triadic, (2) negation, and (3) dynamic. All three elements belong to a cycle, an empty roundness. This is the totality and entirety in the theory of the triunity.
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(b)
“Negation” is non-vertical and non-horizontal, and rejects both the synchronic-epistemological-horizontal understanding and the diachronicontological-vertical understanding of other schools. The non-vertical and non-horizontal is not only a negation of nihilism, however; it also implies a two-fold articulation, because the triunity not only corresponds to non-vertical and non-horizontal negation, but also implies an onto-dynamics of revolving around one another.
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(c)
The two kinds of theory of the triunity in classical Chinese philosophy will be explained. The theory of the triunity has two trends: (1) an epistemological triunity (earth, heaven, humanity), and (2) an ontological triunity (t’ai-chi, yin, yang). These two trends also develop further in later Chinese Buddhism.
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(d)
Chih-i’s (538-97) theory of the triunity implies a new opportunity for inter-religious dialogue in global thought, the conversation of religions, and an inter-cultural philosophy, because (1) the triunity and the themes related to it are also core concepts of Western theology and philosophy, and (2) the theory of the triunity presupposes a methodology of the pluralism of the theology of religion.2
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References
In his theory of the onto-dynamics of the dialectical-triadic understanding of reality in an “East-Asian, horizontal-pragmatic manner,” and above all in East-Asian Buddhism, Heinrich Beck explains a “distant analogy (or aboriginal disposition?) towards the Christian enigma of trinity” and develops an inter-cultural philosophy of inter-religious dialogue for the Western and East-Asian religions. Cf. Heinrich Beck, “World Peace as Dynamic Unity of Cultural Contrarieties: The Onto-Hermeneutic Basis for an Understanding of the Structure of the Culture of Mankind as a Perspective for a `dialectic-Triadic’ Conception of Reality”, in Creative Peace through Encounter of World Cultures,pp. 19–68, ed. Heinrich Beck and Gisela Schmirber (Delhi: Sri Satguru Publications, 1996).
Cf. Heinrich Beck, “Europa-Afrika-Asien: Komplementarität der Weltkulturen,” in Ganzheitliches Denken: Festschrift für Arnulf Rieber zum 60. Geburtstag,ed. Erwin Schadel (Frankfurt: Peter Lang, 1996), p. 80: “Hegel’s dialectical view of reality is influenced above all by the three-hypostases theory of neo-Platonism. Here the second member of the triunity-model is the Hegelian `antithesis,’ in our view of the `standing opposite’ — already clearly characterized as `consciousness’ or `reason’; so, for example, with Plotinuschrw(133). According to East-Asian philosophical tradition the entirety of being lives in the complementary contrariety of the forces (or movement-trends) yang and yin, which can also be interpreted in the sense of triadic circular motion.”
The T’ien-t’ai School (Chin. lit.: School of the Heavenly Platform); a school of Buddhism that was given its final form by Chih-I (538–97).
One can say, therefore, that Nâgârjuna’s philosophy not only rejects by negative dialectic all opinion as prapanca (Chap. XVIII, 5 to prapancâtprapancastu günyatâyam nirudhyte),but also acknowledges a positive role for the “dependent skillfulness of the means” (prajnaptir-upâdâya). Nâgârjuna formulates that in his reply to his opponent[s] as follows (XXIV, 7–10): “Based on the Two Truths, on the earthly, limited truth and on the highest truth, the Buddhas proclaim the teachingchrw(133). Based on the truth valid in practical life (vyavahâra),the highest truth (paramârtha) is taught. Without the highest truth, nirvana is not attained.”
Chih-i, Mo-ho chih-kuan,Taissho Vol. 46, p. 7; English Translation, see Neal Donner and Daniel B. Stevenson, The Great Calming and Contemplation: A Study and Annotated Translation of the First Chapter of Chih-i’s Mo-ho chih-kuan (Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1993), p. 178 (7b12).
Chih-i, The Great Calming and Contemplation (Mo-ho chih-kuan),Taisho 46, p. 2. Here we use our new English translation. Stevenson’s Translation see p. 138 in Great Calming and Contemplation: A Study and Annotated Translation of the First Chapter of Chih-i’s Mo-ho chih-kuan.
Michael von Brück and Whalen Lai, Buddhismus und Christentum: Geschichte, Konfrontation, Dialog ( Munich: Verlag C. H. Beck, 1997 ), p. 628.
Chih-i, The Great Calming and Contemplation (Mo-ho chih-kuan),Taisho Vol. 46, p. 22. Here we use our new English translation.
Chih-i says: “One must believe in the non-vertical and the non-horizontal of the three virtues of the great nirvana, which is the same as the three points of the word ”ie“ and the three eyes of the Isvaradeva. One must believe in the non-vertical and the non-horizontal of the three concentrations and the three views. See Taisho Vol. 46, p. 22.
Chih-i says: “On the basis of the Three Truths we can explain the reason that is clarified by the Four Teachingschrw(133). The name of the Three Truths comes from Inro Sutra and Renwan Sutra.
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Nâgârjuna formulates that in his response to his opponent(s) as follows (MMK, XXIV, 710): “On the basis of the Two Truths, the Buddhas proclaim the theory, on worldly, limited truth and on the highest truthchrw(133). On the basis of the truth valid in practical life (vyavahâra) the highest truth (paramârtha) is taught. Without the highest truth, nirvana is not attained.”
Chih-i, Four Places to Meditate,in Taisho 46, here chapter 4, p. 580.
The Ten Stages Sutra is one part of the Hwa-yen Sutra (Buddhâvatamsaka-sûtra, The Garland Stitt - a,Japanese Kegon-kyo).
The Mahayanasamgrahasâstra,which was translated by Paramartha, is one of the more important treatises of the Only-Consciousness Philosophy in China before Hsüang-tsang.
Chih-i, The Great Calming and Contemplation (Mo-ho chih-kuan) Chapter 5, here see Taisho Vol. 46, p. 54.
Chih-i, The Great Calming and Contemplation (Mo-ho chih-kuan) Chapter 5, here see Taisho Vol. 46, p. 54.
Chih-i, The Great Calming and Contemplation (Mo-ho chih-kuan),Chapter 5, here see Taisho VoI. 46, p. 54.
Chih-i, The Great Calming and Contemplation (Mo-ho chih-kuan),Chapter 1, here see Taisho Vol. 46, p. 10.
Chih-i, The Great Calming and Contemplation (Mo-ho chih-kuan),Chapter 1, here see Taisho p. 7.
Chih-i, The Great Calming and Contemplation (Mo-ho chih-kuan),Chapter 3, here see Taisho 46, p. 23.
Toshihiko Izutsu, Toward a Philosophy of Zen Buddhism ( Tehran: Imperial Iranian Academy of Philosophy, 1977 ), p. 125.
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Chih-i, The Great Calming and Contemplation (Mo-ho chih-kuan),Chapter 1, here see Taisho Vol. 46, p. 7.
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Jan Jakob Maria de Groot, Universismus: Die Grundlage der Religion und Ethik, des Staatswesens und der Wissenschaften Chinas ( Berlin: G. Reimer, 1918 ).
de Groot, Universismus,pp. 6, 9, 22–55.
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Li Gi: Das Buch der Riten, Sitten und Bräuche, pp. 64–65 (Li yün, paras. 24, 26 ).
Helmuth von Glasenapp, Die fünf Weltreligionen: Hinduismus, Buddhismus, chinesischer Universismus, Christentum, Islam(Munich: Eugen Diederichs Verlag, 1963), pp. 127–28 (1996 paperback edition, p. 144).
Das Buch der Sitte des älteren und jüngeren Dai,trans. and ed. Richard Wilhelm (Jena: Eugen Diederichs Verlag, 1930), p. 374.
von Glasenapp, Die fünf Weltreligionen,p. 128 (1996. paperback edition, p. 145).
von Glasenapp, Die fünf Weltreligionen,p. 129 (1996 paperback edition, pp. 145–46).
von Glasenapp, Die fünf Weltreligionen,p. 129 (1996 paperback edition, p. 146).
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von Brück and Lai, Buddhismus und Christentum,p. 633.
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von Brück and Lai, Buddhismus und Christentum,p. 628.
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von Glasenapp, Die flint’ Weltreligionen,p. 177 (1996 paperback edition, p. 203).
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Heinrich Beck, “World Peace as Dynamic Unity of Cultural Contrarieties”, in Creative Peace through Encounter of World Cultures,here see pp. 44–45.
Gadjin M. Nagao, Mädhyamika and Yogäcära: A Study of Mahayana Philosophies,trans. and ed. L. S. Kawamura (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1991), p. 54: “In later Chinese Buddhism, however, one encounters the saying, Truly empty (hence) unfathomable existence,’ which is to be understood as the identity of non-being and being, negation and affirmation, or as the recovery of existence from nonexistence.”
Lai Shen-chon, Buddhist Hermeneutics (in Chinese), (Taiwan: Fo Guang University Publishing Center, 2002 ), Part II.
von Brück and Lai, Buddhismus und Christentum, p. 625: “In T’ien-t’ai (Japanese: tendai) the triadic schema (Chinese: san-i, literally: ”three-one“) is found in different contextschrw(133). Also for Christian theology, the Trinity is fundamental as the starting point for non-dualistic structures of thought.” The circular dynamic of the triad in T’ien-t’ai Buddhism and Trinity in Christianity, see also Johannes Laube Dialektik der absoluten Vermittlung (Freiburg, Basel, Wien: Herder, 1984), pp. 124–142, 224.
See von Brück and Lai, Buddhismus und Christentum, pp. 450–61. See also John B. Cobb and Christopher Ives, ed., The Emptying God: A Buddhist-Jewish-Christian Conversation (Mary-knoll, New York: Orbis, 1990); Christopher Ives ed. Divine Emptiness and Historical Fullness: A Buddhist Jewish Christian Conversation with Masao Abe (Valley Forge, Penn.: Trinity Press International, 1995), I: Kenotic God and Dynamic Sunyata (Masao Abe).
See von Brück and Lai, Buddhismus und Christentum,pp. 468–72. On “the way there” (oso) and “the way back” (gensb),see Johannes Laube, Dialektik der absoluten Vermittlung,pp. 156–57; on metanoia,see pp. 162, 190, 248.
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Lai, Sc. (2003). The Speculative Philosophy of the Triunity in Chinese Universism (TAOISM) and Buddhism. In: Koslowski, P. (eds) Philosophy Bridging the World Religions. A Discourse of the World Religions, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-2618-4_7
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