Abstract

                         This dissertation is a comparative study of the Meditation Techniques of Thai and Chinese Buddhist Traditions. This dissertation has three objectives: (1) To study the meditation practice in the Pali Tipitaka and canonical texts, as well as the meditation techniques in the Thai Buddhist tradition. (2) To study the meditation practice in the Chinese Tripitaka and canonical texts, and meditation techniques in the Chinese Buddhist tradition as well. (3) To study the similarities and differences of meditation techniques between Thai and Chinese Buddhist traditions, and the integration and exchanges between them.

Chapter I of this dissertation introduces the background and objectives of this research. It is pointed out that there has been a lot of research figuring out the texts involved in meditation practices as well as the development of meditation techniques in Thai and Chinese Buddhist traditions respectively. However, a systematic comparative study is still in need to find the similarities and differences between them. The main aim of this research is to do comparative research on the basis of the respective study of meditation practice and meditation techniques in both traditions. On the whole, this aim has been achieved, which will be concluded as follows.

Chapter II, “Meditation Techniques in the Thai Buddhist Tradition” firstly has reviewed the suttas and commentaries about meditation practices in the Pāli canon, based on the Ānāpānasati Sutta, Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta and the Visudhimagga. This research finds that the Ānāpānasati Sutta includes both the calm meditation and insight meditation, while the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta covers only insight meditation. The Visudhimagga develops the contemplation on breathing in the former two suttas by adding counting breaths. Having gotten a clear idea of meditation practice in the scriptures, this chapter also surveys the main meditation techniques prevalent in modern Thailand, including four groups: contemplation on breathing in and out, contemplation on the rising and falling of the abdomen, contemplation on some part of the body, and contemplation on the image of a Crystal Ball. In general, the instructions of modern meditation masters follow the Buddha’s teachings in the scriptures, but also made some innovations on the basis of their personal experience. It is found in this chapter that Theravada meditation techniques pay much more attention to a progressive development; on the  basis of the instructions in the scriptures, meditation masters made some innovations; it also teaches how to choose suitable meditation subjects according to one’s own capabilities.

Chapter III of this dissertation studies the meditation techniques in the Chinese Buddhist tradition in three stages. The first stage is the translation of sūtras involving meditation from India and the practice of these Indian meditation techniques mentioned in China, finding that though Mahāyāna meditation techniques were also followed, the Theravāda meditation techniques were mainly focused on. The second stage is the sinicization of Indian meditation techniques, that is, the study and innovation of Indian meditation techniques by Chinese meditation masters. The third stage is the practice of meditation techniques in modern Chinese Buddhism. Counting the breaths and contemplation on the impurities are still practiced by Chinese meditators. However, Chinese meditation techniques such as Kan-hua-tou, Mo-zhao Chan, Nian-fo are paid more and more attention to. This chapter helps to understand the development and changes of meditation techniques in the Chinese Buddhist tradition, and its adjustment in response to social changes.

Chapter IV is a comparative study of the meditation techniques and its practices between Thai and Chinese Buddhist traditions. In organizational form, both Thai and Chinese meditation masters are working to bring meditation techniques out of the forest into people’s daily life. However, meditation courses in Thailand are mainly organized by meditation centers, while in China, temples are mainly responsible for meditation courses. On a theoretical basis, both of these two traditions emphasize that scriptural studies are not necessary before meditating, and Nibbāna is available in this lifetime, in oder to attract more participants. In practice, Mahāyāna Buddhist concepts are borrowed by Thai meditation masters to build their system of Buddhist practice, and Thai meditation techniques are brought into China and have become more and more popular there. There are both similarities and differences between Thai and Chinese meditation techniques, based on which exchanges and integrations are going on between them.

The last chapter discusses the  conclusion of this research, and gives the suggestion for further research in this interesting field.

In general, this dissertation has accomplished the three objectives, and begins a new angle of study on meditation practice and meditation techniques in Buddhism.

ดาวน์โหลด