Buddhism Comes to China

In this lecture, Prof Van Norden discusses some of the cultural and philosophical changes that Buddhism brought to China when it was imported from India, including arguments that Buddhism is superior to Confucianism and Daoism. The readings discussed in this lecture are from Justin Tiwald and Bryan W. Van Norden, eds., Readings in Later Chinese Philosophy (Hackett Publishing). This video was recorded via Zoom on 17 March 2021.

Previous Lecture: How is Theravada Different from Mahayana?    • How Is Theravada Buddhism Different f...  
Following Lecture: Buddhism: One Is All,    • Buddhism:  One Is All  

Part 1: Changes Buddhism Brought to China
1:05 Celibate Clergy
2:14 Veganism
2:56 New Practices of Attire

Part 2: Huiyuan, On Why Buddhist Monks Do Not Bow Down before Kings
5:54 Lay Buddhists
10:26 Buddhist Clergy

Part 3: Zongmi, On Humanity
15:38 Ranking the Teachings
23:33 How does consciousness arise from matter?
26:34 Theodicy
31:22 No-Self in “Hinayana”
38:57 Ethical Consequences of No-Self
40:51 Critique of “Hinayana”
43:14 Superiority of Mahayana
47:27 Solution to Theodicy
50:12 Solution to Problem of Consciousness

54:27 Overview of Lecture