Mind Wandering in Tiantai Zhiyi’s Zhi and Guan Meditations

• In Event: Mind Wandering in Meditative Traditions

Abstract

When Zhiyi (538-597), founder of Tiantai Buddhism, wrote his works on meditation, Sanskrit samatha came to be rendered as Zhi ("calming" or "stop") and vipasyana as Guan ("contemplating" or "look"), simultaneously transforming the meditative practices and creating the basis for a Chinese tradition of Buddhist meditation. In approaching mind wanderings, Zhi and Guan types of meditation represents two different approaches: the Zhi type aiming to calm the mind so as to rid it of thought distractions, the Guan type observing the constant stream of thoughts while aiming to see through its illusory nature. This paper will discuss doctrinal and practical aspects of the distinction.

Author

• Guttorm Gundersen, University of Oslo