Zhanran’s Doctrine of “the Buddha-nature of Insentient Beings” and a Reconsideration of the Buddhist View of Life

Abstract

Jingxi Zhanran 荊渓湛然, the ninth patriarch of the Tiantai School, is well-known for advocating the doctrine of “the Buddha-nature of insentient beings.” By raising the question about the Buddhist view of life, this paper examines Zhanran’s criticism of the notion that Buddhahood has a substantial nature which only sentient beings can embrace. On the basis of his critique of illusory thoughts in relation to the substance of Buddha-nature, Zhanran articulates that not only sentient beings but also insentient ones have Buddha-nature.