Subitism
Subitism
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The term subitism points to sudden enlightenment, the idea that insight is attained all at once.[1] The opposite approach, that enlightenment can be achieved only step by step, through an arduous practice, is called gradualism.[2]
Contents
[hide]Etymology[edit]
The application of the term to Buddhism is derived from the French illumination subite (sudden awakening), contrasting with 'illumination graduelle' (gradual awakening). It gained currency in this use in English from the work of sinologist Paul Demiéville. His 1947 work 'Mirror of the Mind' was widely read in the U.S. It inaugurated a series by him on subitism and gradualism. [web 1]
Early Buddhism[edit]
Dhyana and insight[edit]
A core problem in the study of early Buddhism is the relation between jhana/dhyana and insight.[3][4][5][note 1] The Buddhist tradition has incorporated two traditions regarding the use of dhyana.[4] There is a tradition that stresses attaining insight (bodhi, prajna, kensho) as the means to awakening and liberation. But it has also incorporated the yogic tradition, as reflected in the use of jhana, which is rejected in other sutras as not resulting in the final result of liberation.[3][6][5] The problem was famously voiced in 1936 by Louis de La Vallee Poussin, in his text Musila et Narada: Le Chemin de Nirvana.[7][note 2]
Schmithausen, in his often-cited article On some Aspects of Descriptions or Theories of 'Liberating Insight' and 'Enlightenment' in Early Buddhism, notes that the mention of the four noble truths as constituting "liberating insight", which is attained after mastering the Rupa Jhanas, is a later addition to texts such as Majjhima Nikaya 36.[8][4][3] Schmithausen discerns three possible roads to liberation as described in the suttas. Vetter adds a fourth possibility, which pre-dates these three:[9]
- The four Rupa Jhanas themselves constituted the core liberating practice of early buddhism, c.q. the Buddha;[10]
- Mastering the four Rupa Jhanas, where-after "liberating insight" is attained;
- Mastering the four Rupa Jhanas and the four Arupa Jhanas, where-after "liberating insight" is attained;
- Liberating insight itself suffices.
This problem has been elaborated by several well-known scholars, including Tilman Vetter,[3] Johannes Bronkhorst,[6] and Richard Gombrich.[5]
Dhyana[edit]
According to Tilmann Vetter, the core of earliest Buddhism is the practice of dhyāna.[3] Vetter notes that "penetrating abstract truths and penetrating them successively does not seem possible in a state of mind which is without contemplation and reflection."[11] Vetter further argues that the eightfold path constitutes a body of practices which prepare one, and lead up to, the practice of dhyana.[12]
Bronkhorst agrees that dhyana was a Buddhist invention,[4] whereas Norman notes that "the Buddha's way to release [...] was by means of meditative practices."[13] Gombrich also notes that a development took place in early Buddhism resulting in a change in doctrine, which considered prajna to be an alternative means to "enlightenment".[14]
Insight[edit]
According to Johannes Bronkhorst,[4] Tillman Vetter,[3] and K.R. Norman,[13] bodhi was at first not specified. K.R. Norman:
According to Norman, bodhi may basically have meant the knowledge that nibbana was attained,[15][16] due to the practice of dhyana.[13][3]
Bronkhorst notes that the conception of what exactly this "liberating insight" was developed throughout time. Whereas originally it may not have been specified, later on the four truths served as such, to be superseded by pratityasamutpada, and still later, in the Hinayana schools, by the doctrine of the non-existence of a substantial self or person.[17] And Schmithausen notices that still other descriptions of this "liberating insight" exist in the Buddhist canon:
Discriminating insight into transiency as a separate path to liberation was a later development.[19][20] This may have been to due an over-literal interpretation by later scholastics of the terminology used by the Buddha,[21] or to the problems involved with the practice of dhyana, and the need to develop an easier method.[22] According to Vetter it may not have been as effective as dhyana, and methods were developed to deepen the effects of discriminating insight.[22] It was also paired to dhyana, resulting in the well-known sila-samadhi-prajna scheme.[22] According to Vetter this kind of preparatory "dhyana" must have been different from the practice introduced by the Buddha, using kasina-exercises to produce a "more artificially produced dhyana", resulting in the cessation of apperceptions and feelings.[23] It also led to a different understanding of the eightfold path, since this path does not end with insight, but rather starts with insight. The path was no longer seen as a sequential development resulting in dhyana, but as a set of practices which had to be developed simultaneously to gain insight.[24]
Theravada[edit]
The distinction between sudden and gradual is also apparent in the differentiation between vipassana and samatha. According to Gombrich, the distinction between vipassana and samatha did not originate in the suttas, but in the interpretation of the suttas.[25]
Mahayana[edit]
The emphasis on insight is also discernible in the Mahayana-tradition, which emphasises prajna:
Although Theravada and Mahayana are commonly understood as different streams of Buddhism, their practice too may reflect emphasis on insight as a common denominator:[note 6]
Chinese Buddhism[edit]
The distinction between sudden and gradual awakening was first introduced in China in the beginning of the 5th century CE by Tao Sheng.[28]
Chan[edit]
The term is used in Chan Buddhism to denote the doctrinal position that enlightenment (kenshō, bodhi or satori) is instantaneous, sudden and direct, not attained by practice through a period of time, and not the fruit of a gradual accretion or realisation. Aspects of Dzogchen and Mahamudra may be referred to as subitist, as well as the Rinzai school.
Huineng[edit]
In the 8th century the distinction became part of a struggle for influence at the Chinese court by Shenhui, a student of Huineng. Hereafter "sudden enlightenment" became one of the hallmarks of Chan Buddhism, though the sharp distinction was softened by subsequent generations of practitioners.[29]
This softening is reflected in the Platform Sutra, a text ascribed to Huineng but composed by later writers of various schools.[29]
Rivalry between schools[edit]
While Southern School placed emphasis on sudden enlightenment, it also marked a shift in doctrinal basis from the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra to the prajnaparamita tradition, especially the Diamond Sutra. The Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra, which endorses the Buddha-nature, emphasized purity of mind, which can be attained in gradations. The Diamond Sutra emphasizes śūnyatā, which "must be realized totally or not at all".[30]
Once this dichotomy was in place, it defined its own logic and rhetorics, which are also recognizable in the distinction between Caodong (Sōtō) and Linji (Rinzai) schools.[31] But it also leads to a "sometimes bitter and always prolix sectarian controversy between later Ch'an and Hua-yen exegetes".[32] In the Huayan classification of teachings, the sudden approach was regarded inferior to the Perfect Teaching of Huayan. Guifeng Zongmi, fifth patriarch of Huayan and Chan master, devised his own classification to counter this subordination.[33] To establish the superiority of Chan, Jinul, the most important figure in the formation of Korean Seon, explained the sudden approach as not pointing to mere emptiness, but to suchness or the dharmadhatu.[34]
Later interpretations[edit]
Guifeng Zongmi, fifth-generation successor to Shenhui, also softened the edge between sudden and gradual. In his analysis, sudden awakening points to seeing into one's true nature, but is to be followed by a gradual cultivation to attain buddhahood.[2]
This is also the standpoint of the contemporary Sanbo Kyodan, according to whom kensho is at the start of the path to full enlightenment.[35]
This gradual cultivation is also recognized by Dongshan Liangjie, who described the Five Ranks of enlightenment]].[web 3] Other example of depiction of stages on the path are the Ten Bulls, which detail the steps on the Path, The Three Mysterious Gates of Linji, and the Four Ways of Knowing of Hakuin Ekaku.[36] This gradual cultivation is described by Chan Master Sheng Yen as follows:
Hua-yen[edit]
In the Fivefold Classification of the Huayan school and the Five Periods and Eight Teachings of the Tiantai-school the sudden teaching was given a high place, but still inferior to the Complete or Perfect teachings of these schools.
Korean Seon[edit]
Chinul, a 12th-century Korean Seon master, followed Zongmi, and also emphasized that insight into our true nature is sudden, but is to be followed by practice to ripen the insight and attain full Buddhahood.[38]
In contemporary Korean Seon, Seongcheol has defended the stance of "sudden insight, sudden cultivation". Citing Taego Bou (太古普愚: 1301-1382) as the true successor of the Linji Yixuan (臨済義玄) line of patriarchs rather than Jinul (知訥: 1158-1210), he advocated Hui Neng's original stance of 'sudden enlightenment, sudden cultivation' (Hangul: 돈오돈수, Hanja: 頓悟頓修) as opposed to Jinul's stance of 'sudden enlightenment, gradual cultivation' (Hangul: 돈오점수, Hanja: 頓悟漸修).[39] Whereas Jinul had initially asserted that with enlightenment comes the need to further one's practice by gradually destroying the karmic vestiges attained through millions of rebirths, Huineng and Seongcheol maintained that with perfect enlightenment, all karmic remnants disappear and one becomes a Buddha immediately.[40][41][42][43]
Neo-Vedanta[edit]
Ramana maharshi - Akrama mukti[edit]
Ramana Maharshi made a distinction between akrama mukti, "sudden liberation", as opposed to the krama mukti, "gradual liberation" as in the Vedanta path of jnana yoga:[web 4][note 7]
Inchegeri Sampradaya[edit]
The teachings of Bhausaheb Maharaj, the founder of the Inchegeri Sampradaya, have been called "the Ant's way", [note 8] the way of meditation,[web 7] while the teachings of Siddharameshwar Maharaj and his disciples Nisargadatta Maharaj and Ranjit Maharaj have been called "the Bird's Way",[note 9] the direct path to Self-discovery:[web 7]
The terms appear in the Varaha Upanishad, Chapter IV:
See also[edit]
- Enlightenment in Buddhism
- Enlightenment (spiritual)
- Jinul
- Mushi-dokugo ("self-enlightenment")
- Subitizing
- Shattari
- Illuminationism
Notes[edit]
- ^ Bodhi, prajna, vipassana, kensho
- ^ See Louis de La Vallée Poussin, Musial and Narad. Translated from the French by Gelongma Migme Chödrön and Gelong Lodrö Sangpo.
- ^ Majjhima Nikaya 26
- ^ Anguttara Nikaya II.45 (PTS)
- ^ Samyutta Nikaya III.140-142 (PTS)
- ^ Warder: "In the Sthaviravada [...] progress in understanding comes all at once, 'insight' (abhisamaya) does not come 'gradually' (successively - anapurva)".[27]
- ^ Rama P. Coomaraswamy: "[Krama-mukti is] to be distinguished from jîvan-mukti, the state of total and immediate liberation attained during this lifetime, and videha-mukti, the state of total liberation attained at the moment of death."[44] See [web 5] for more info on "gradual liberation".
- ^ Pipeelika Mārg,[45] or Pipilika Marg ,[web 6]
- ^ Bihangam Mārg,[45] or Vihangam Marg,[web 6]
- ^ Compare Jinul's "tracing back the radiance".Buswell, Robert E. (1991), Tracing Back the Radiance: Chinul's Korean Way of Zen, University of Hawaii Press, ISBN 978-0-8248-1427-4
References[edit]
- ^ McRae 1991.
- ^ ab Gregory 1991.
- ^ ab c d e f g Vetter 1988.
- ^ ab c d e Bronkhorst 1993.
- ^ ab c Gombrich 1997.
- ^ ab bronkhorst 1993.
- ^ Bronkhorst 1993, p. 133-134.
- ^ Schmithausen 1981.
- ^ Vetter 1988, p. xxi-xxii.
- ^ Vetter & 1988 xxi-xxxvii.
- ^ Vetter 1988, p. xxvii.
- ^ Vetter 1988, p. xxx.
- ^ ab c d Norman 1997, p. 29.
- ^ gombrich 1997, p. 131.
- ^ Norman 1997, p. 30.
- ^ Vetter 1988, p. xxix, xxxi.
- ^ Bronkhorst 1993, p. 100-101.
- ^ Bronkhorst 1993, p. 101.
- ^ Vetter 1988, p. xxxiv-xxxvii.
- ^ Gombrich 1997, p. 131.
- ^ Gombrich 1997, p. 96-134.
- ^ ab c Vetter 1988, p. xxxv.
- ^ Vetter 1988, p. xxxvi.
- ^ Vetter 1988, p. xxxvi-xxxvii.
- ^ Gombrich 1997, p. 96-144.
- ^ Gombrich 1997, p. 133.
- ^ Warder 2000, p. 284.
- ^ Lai 1991, p. 169.
- ^ ab McRae 2003.
- ^ Kasulis 2003, pp. 26–28.
- ^ McRae 2003, p. 123.
- ^ Buswell 1993, p. 234.
- ^ Gregory 1993.
- ^ Buswell 1991, p. 240-241.
- ^ Kapleau 1989.
- ^ Low 2006.
- ^ Yen 2006, p. 54.
- ^ Buswell 1989, p. 21.
- ^ 퇴옹 성철. (1976). 한국불교의 법맥. 해인사 백련암 (Korea): 장경각. (Toeng Seongcheol. (1976). Hanguk Bulgyo Ei Bupmaek. Haeinsa Baekryun'am (Korea): Jang'gyung'gak.) ISBN 89-85244-16-7
- ^ 퇴옹 성철. (1987). 자기를 바로 봅시다. 해인사 백련암 (Korea): 장경각. (Toeng Seongcheol. (1987). Jaghireul Baro Bopshida. Haeinsa Baekryun'am (Korea): Jang'gyung'gak.) ISBN 89-85244-11-6
- ^ 퇴옹 성철. (1988). 영원한 자유. 해인사 백련암 (Korea): 장경각. (Toeng Seongcheol. (1988). Yongwonhan Jayou. Haeinsa Baekryun'am (Korea): Jang'gyung'gak.) ISBN 89-85244-10-8
- ^ 퇴옹 성철. (1987). 선문정로. 해인사 백련암 (Korea): 장경각. (Toeng Seongcheol. (1987). Seon Mun Jung Ro. Haeinsa Baekryun'am (Korea): Jang'gyung'gak.) ISBN 89-85244-14-0
- ^ 퇴옹 성철. (1992). 백일법문. 해인사 백련암 (Korea): 장경각. (Toeng Seongcheol. (1992). Baek Il Bupmun. Haeinsa Baekryun'am (Korea): Jang'gyung'gak.) ISBN 89-85244-05-1, ISBN 89-85244-06-X
- ^ Coomaraswamy 2004.
- ^ ab Prasoon 2009, p. 8.
Sources[edit]
Published sources[edit]
- Bronkhorst, Johannes (1993), The Two Traditions Of Meditation In Ancient India, Motilal Banarsidass Publ.
- Buswell, R. E. (1989). "Chinul's Ambivalent Critique of Radical Subitism in Korean Sŏn". Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies. 12 (2): 20–44.
- Buswell, Robert E. (1991), The "Short-cut" Approach of K'an-hua Meditation: The Evolution of a Practical Subitism in Chinese Ch'an Buddhism. In: Peter N. Gregory (editor) (1991), Sudden and Gradual. Approaches to Enlightenment in Chinese Thought, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited
- Buswell, Robert E (1993), Ch'an Hermeneutics: A Korean View. In: Donald S. Lopez, Jr. (ed.)(1993), Buddhist Hermeneutics, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass
- Coomaraswamy, Rama P. (2004), The Essential Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, World Wisdom, Inc
- Faure, Bernard (2003), Chan Buddhism in Ritual Context, Routledge, ISBN 0-415-29748-6
- Gregory, Peter N. (1991), Sudden Enlightenment Followed by Gradual Cultivation: Tsung-mi's Analysis of Mind. In: Peter N. Gregory (editor)(1991), Sudden and Gradual. Approaches to Enlightenment in Chinese Thought, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited
- Gombrich, Richard F. (1997), How Buddhism Began. The Conditioned Genesis of the Early Teachings, New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
- Kapleau, Philip (1989), The three pillars of Zen
- Kasulis, Thomas P. (2003), Ch'an Spirituality. In: Buddhist Spirituality. Later China, Korea, Japan and the Modern World; edited by Takeuchi Yoshinori, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass
- Lai, Whalen (1991), Tao Sheng`s Theory of Sudden Enlightenment Re-examined. In: Peter N. Gregory, ed. (1991), Sudden and Gradual. Approaches to Enlightenment in Chinese Thought, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited, pp. 169–200
- Low, Albert (2006), Hakuin on Kensho. The Four Ways of Knowing, Boston & London: Shambhala
- McRae, John (1991), Shen-hui and the Teaching of Sudden Enlightenment in Early Ch'an Buddhism. In: Peter N. Gregory (editor)(1991), Sudden and Gradual. Approaches to Enlightenment in Chinese Thought, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited
- McRae, John (2003), Seeing Through Zen. Encounter, Transformation, and Genealogy in Chinese Chan Buddhism, The University Press Group Ltd, ISBN 978-0-520-23798-8
- Norman, K.R. (1992), The Four Noble Truths. In: "Collected Papers", vol 2:210-223, Pali Text Society, 2003
- Prasoon, Shrikant (2009), Knowing Sant Kabir, Pustak Mahal
- Schmithausen, Lambert (1981), On some Aspects of Descriptions or Theories of 'Liberating Insight' and 'Enlightenment' in Early Buddhism". In: Studien zum Jainismus und Buddhismus (Gedenkschrift für Ludwig Alsdorf), hrsg. von Klaus Bruhn und Albrecht Wezler, Wiesbaden 1981, 199-250
- Vetter, Tilmann (1988), The Ideas and Meditative Practices of Early Buddhism, BRILL
- Warder, A.K. (2000), Indian Buddhism, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers
- Yen, Chan Master Sheng (1996), Dharma Drum: The Life and Heart of Ch'an Practice, Boston & London: Shambhala
Web-sources[edit]
- ^ Bernard Faure, Chan/Zen Studies in English: The State Of The Field
- ^ The Sudden School and the Gradual School. Chapter VIII
- ^ The Five Ranks of Tozan
- ^ ab David Godman (23 june 2008), More on Bhagavan's death experience
- ^ Swami Krishnananda, The Attainment of Liberation: Progressive Salvation
- ^ ab http://nondualite.free.fr, Shri Sadguru Siddharameshwar Maharaj
- ^ ab c sadguru.us, The Bird's way
- ^ swamji.com, Seven Bhumikas
External links[edit]
- Gary L. Ray, The Northern Ch'an School And Sudden Versus Gradual Enlightenment Debates In China And Tibet
- Wei Chueh, Gradual Cultivation And Sudden Enlightenment
Further reading[edit]
- Vetter, Tilmann (1988), The Ideas and Meditative Practices of Early Buddhism, BRILL
- Faure, Bernard (1991), The Rhetoric of Immediacy. A Cultural Critique of Chan/Zen Buddhism. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-02963-6
- Peter N. Gregory (editor)(1991), Sudden and Gradual. Approaches to Enlightenment in Chinese Thought. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited
- McRae, John (2003), Seeing through Zen. Encounter, Transformation, and Genealogy in Chinese Chan Buddhism. The University Press Group Ltd . ISBN 978-0-520-23798-8