November 06, 2006
Nichiren on Shan-tao and Chinese Pure Land
The Four Dictums
Nichiren's First Sermon April 28 1253
Rikkyo Kaishu-e or Risshu-e
Life and legends of Nichiren
(1) "Nembutsu {Jodo} leads to the hell of incessant suffering."
"The Pure Land Buddhism which survived the persecution of 845 and which attained mass appeal throughout East Asia was not, 
however, the Pure Land Buddhism of the Pratyutpanna Sutra championed by Hui-yuan or Chih-i. ... Three teachers of Chinese Pure Land Buddhism in particular should be noted because they provided the major source of inspiration for the Pure Land movement of Honen in Japan. These teachers are T’an-luan (476-542), Tao-ch’o (562-645), and Shan-tao (613-681)." -- Ryuei
While Pure Land Buddhism predated him in China, Shan-tao 613-681 was apparently the most important one who changed it; from a contemplative meditation practice for advanced Bodhisattvas, to the popular and simple practice of reciting Amida's name. His teachings are expounded in the "Kuan Wu Liang Shou Ching Shu {Commentary on the Meditation on Amida Buddha Sutra}." Shantao believed that those born in Mappo were beyond redemption, but even those who are beyond salvation can be redeemed by the power of Amida Buddha's original vow.
Here is a search of "Shan-Tao" in the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Concordance: Link
Here is a sampling of quotations:
"But T'an-luan, Tao-ch'o, and Shan-tao embraced the provisional teachings and forgot about the true ones, went by what had been taught in the earlier period of the Buddha's life and discarded what was taught later."
"The Reverend Shan-tao, who was revered as a practitioner who had gained enlightenment through the attainment of meditation and honored as a living incarnation of Amida Buddha, designated five kinds of sundry practices that are to be discarded, and said of the Lotus Sutra that 'not even one person in a thousand' could be saved by it; by which he meant that if a thousand people put faith in that sutra not a single one of them will attain Buddhahood."
"If we stop to ponder the logic of the matter, we will realize that Shan-tao is the deadly enemy of all Buddhas and sutras, and the foe of wise priests and humble lay believers alike."
"And Shan-tao in his writings calls the Lotus Sutra a 'sundry practice,' saying that 'not even one person in a thousand' can be saved by it, by which he means that, if a thousand people take faith in it, not a single one of them will gain enlightenment."
The spread of popular Pure Land Buddhism coincided with a decline of the Chinese Tiantai-Lotus and Flower Garland Schools. Nichiren concurred with Tiantai Grand Master Chih-i {T'ien-t'ai} in his view that the Flower Garland & Lotus Sutras represented the finest teachings of Buddhism. If I understand correctly, Nichiren saw their decline as leading to the general decline of Chinese Culture.
More:
Pure Land Buddhism in India and China
The Influence of Shan-tao on Honen's Teachings
The Five Chinese Masters of Jodo Shu
