history of the whole of China is closely linked with Chan Buddhism, which in Japan is called Zen.The impact of religious and philosophical trend was and is so strong that even became a symbol of China, along with Shaolin Wushu.Chinese Buddhism is quite different from the orthodox Buddhism, as it has the features of the philosophy of the Tao.
founder of this branch of Buddhism is considered to Bodhidharma.That he came sometime in the Shaolin Monastery and developed a system of self-defense.Despite the common misconception, the combat system was originally only one of the many disciplines that students mastered.
When Bodhidharma came to China, he saw that preach the word of the Buddha there is no need.Patriarch thought to grasp the essence of the teachings Sitharhi possible only by training the body and spirit.And if classical Buddhism developed in eastern countries as a religion of mercy, the Chan Buddhism posted Emotional medieval warrior.This was due to the fact that this branch of the doctrine has incorporated elements of the philosophy of the Tao.In Chan Buddhism intuition was more important than intelligence, and strength of mind and strength of will is more important than rational thinking, from Adept required perseverance and dedication.Therefore, the patriarch Bodhidharma began to preach Chan is a martial arts rather than meditation.In addition, the objective reality demanded from students of Shaolin skills to fend for themselves.Rogues often attacked the friars, because they could not fight back.But over time the situation has changed dramatically.The bandits probably would attack a company of soldiers, than a shaven-headed monk.
If you start to analyze the Shaolin Buddhism basics, even for the uninitiated, it is similar to the teachings of Taoism, who considered the beginning of all the Void.But the similarity is not only that.Chan Buddhism teaches that our visible world is constantly in motion, and this move the world - an illusion.The real world is in a state of rest.It consists of dharma, invisible elements, which come in countless combinations with each other.This all forms the personality of the individual, implementing the law of karma.According to this law, everything that happens to a person is the result of his actions in past incarnations, and all actions in this life will inevitably be reflected in the next reincarnation.
One has to realize the illusory world as "the body of the Buddha," a person must strive to comprehend the "Buddha nature" is not somewhere beyond this world, and everything that surrounds it, first of all - in himself.Thus, self-knowledge was the basis of the practice of Shaolin monks.
Taoist and Buddhist teachings have another thing in common: the core of these two movements is the idea of "emptiness enlightened heart."Even Lao Tzu wrote that the ideal state of man, the ideal of knowledge - the return of the Void.
Chan Buddhism - training the body and spirit.Without divine patron, the man in the harsh world must rely only on themselves.And if in classic Buddhism and enlightenment preacher breaks the cycle of reincarnation, the Chan Buddhism, everything is different.After receiving an intuitive insight, and realize its place in the world, a person starts in a different way to look at reality and finds inner peace.This is the ultimate goal of Chan Buddhism.
