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16 EASTERN HORIZON | FACE TO FACE

Asia and Southeast Asian regions. that the Chinese only accepted and their own Buddhist characteristics.
Second is the Chinese Mahāyāna absorbed the Buddhist cultivation Each development has its historical
Buddhist tradition transmitted in and practice methods that were background and limitations. For
the Chinese Language, inherited superior and more refined than instance, when Buddhism was
by Korea, part of Vietnam, Japan, the Chinese methods. We can say transmitted to the SEA region, it was
and all Chinese Buddhists around that—since the Tang Dynasty— still in a simple and unsophisticated
the world; And third is the Sanskrit China has retained her very strong narrative format, which was closer
Language tradition inherited and rich cultural background. And to the Indian Culture. Buddhism
mainly by Tibet. Besides Tibet, China’s unique cultural features that reached the regions of Central
some of them have returned to are not easily assimilated into Asia and China belonged to the
Dharamsala, India. There are also Indian Culture. Besides, Chinese second phase of development, of
Tibetan Buddhist groups in many Mahāyāna Buddhism resulted which the descriptive Mahāyāna
European, North American, and from the fusion of three major Sūtras were the main scriptures
South American countries. When civilizations in the world via the carrying the core principles and
we look at the spread of Buddhism Silk Road—Rome, Greek and thinking of the Buddha. Next is
at the international level in this era, Indian—through mutual resistance, Tibetan Buddhism, which belonged
the current Buddhism in the West compromise, and acceptance of to the later Mahāyāna Buddhism—
is developing and spreading, and these three civilizations. The culture the later Buddhist thinking—in
their understanding of Buddhism of Buddhism, after having gone India. Tibetan Buddhism is from
is growing deeper and broader as through (and been impacted by) the infertile highlands, where the
well. One aspect we need to pay the culture of Central Asia, changed natural environment is perilous.
attention to is that the cultural, to adapt to the new soil, and thus Thus their belief tend to be
linguistic, ethnical, and historical formed the Buddhism found along mysterious, which complies with
factors should be considered the Silk Road. Chang-an and Luo- the belief of polytheism in India
in the process of spreading and yang in Eastern China, for example, that entered Tibet in the late period.
transmitting Buddhism; we should came into contact with Mahāyāna Fortunately for them, Tibetan
understand and grasp the factors Buddhism—which aims towards the Buddhists emphasize treatises,
that are involved. Bodhisattva-to-Buddha Path—in education, and speculative thought.
Central Asia through the Silk Road.
For example, when Buddhism The ultimate goal of Bodhisattva Chinese Buddhism prioritizes
entered the SEA region, SEA Buddhism is to perfectly fulfill Mahāyāna Sūtras and Treatises,
countries accepted the living style, the Buddhahood, not to attain and Āgama Sūtras. The aspects
cultural features, and ancient Indian Arahatship. Buddha and some of of knowledge and faith of these
languages (Pāli, for example) that His disciples were Arahats; the two resources are lacking in Pāli
came along with Buddhism without have different accomplishments and Buddhism. The key to mastering
exception. experience, yet the goal is the same. the coherency of the essence of
This can be further discussed in the practice should be based on
However, when the Indian the future. We can understand the the points just mentioned, the
languages, culture and ethnical strong points and imperfections of same goes for choosing your belief
elements were brought to China, each if we study the three systems system.
the Chinese chose to retain their in Buddhism: — Pāli, Chinese, and
own culture, language, and ethnical Tibetan. Through understanding, From the knowledge-wise, we can
characteristics. We notice that the we can learn how the preferences further understand that for Indians,
eating utensils used by the Chinese and choices of a nation plays a role there are differences between
Buddhists were different from the in the development and evolution Buddha and gods. In its ancient
Indian Buddhists. This indicates of each system, eventually forming period, Buddhism was considered