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Practice in the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch

This paper explores the practical teachings found in the Dunhuang manuscript of the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch and considers the possibility of practice within a doctrine of sudden enlightenment. Part One outlines how the doctrine of sudden enlightenment can be understood to undermine the purpose for practicing meditation. Part Two first makes a case for the position that practice is presupposed by the text regardless of the doctrine of sudden enlightenment. Next the paper argues for what type of meditation practice the Platform Sutra teaches is consistent with sudden enlightenment. The practice the Platform Sutra teaches is an intentionless, continuous, non-passive non-attachment while in the midst of dharmas that takes as its basis the suchness of things inherent in sentient beings.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.31128
Date January 2000
CreatorsMyers, Steven W., 1966-
ContributorsHori, G. Victor (advisor)
PublisherMcGill University
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Formatapplication/pdf
CoverageMaster of Arts (Faculty of Religious Studies.)
RightsAll items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.
Relationalephsysno: 001808039, proquestno: MQ70307, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest.

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