Ming · by 傳燈述
55,778 · about 186 min
The Profound Meaning of the Śūraṅgama Sūtra, authored by the eminent Ming dynasty monk Chuandeng, is an authoritative commentary on the important Buddhist scripture, the Śūraṅgama Sūtra. Master Chuandeng, a representative figure of the Tiantai school who lived during the mid to late Ming period, integrated Tiantai doctrine and Chan thought in his work, offering a profound exposition of the esoteric meanings within the Śūraṅgama Sūtra. This text systematically analyzes the sutra's teachings on the nature of mind, stages of practice, and the philosophy of ultimate reality, with particular emphasis on the essential principles of cultivation and realization: the "permanent true mind" and "dispelling the false to reveal the true." As a significant exegetical work in Chinese Buddhism, The Profound Meaning of the Śūraṅgama Sūtra not only exerted a deep influence within Buddhist circles during the Ming and Qing dynasties but remains to this day a core reference for the study of the Śūraṅgama Sūtra. It embodies the characteristic holistic view of the Tiantai school and holds a lofty status in both Buddhist doctrinal studies and practical cultivation.