惠能禅的文化特质及其贡献

Reasearch on Contributions and Characteristics of the Chan Sect by Hui Neng

唐宋之后,佛教各宗大都式微,惟有禅宗盛行。惠能禅用心灵去证悟佛法,用生命去把握佛法,用实践去诠释佛法,因之对中国心性文化的发展和完善,起到了重要的作用。研究中国文化不能不了解禅,而要了解禅,就必须对惠能及其《坛经》进行研究。

The Culture of Chan Sect, well known as the Sudden Enlightenment School, which was originated by Hui Neng, the Sixth Patriarch, breaks the traditional structure of the Central Plains Culture. What the Chan Sect advocates is that wisdom is totally different with knowledge and can not be taught, and that the profundity of the teaching of the various Buddhas has nothing to do with the written language, and that realizing one's own Essence of Mind means the attainment of Buddhahood. This simple way of trading the path of Enlightenment has a close association with the learning on human nature of the Taoists and the Confucians, develops the vision of Buddhism and makes a deep influence on our traditional culture.