The Culture of Ancestral Temple of Chinese Pure Land Buddhism and the Practice of Humanistic Pure Land

Abstract

The recognition of ancestral temple in Pure Land Buddhism involves specific historical view; and the temple of a patriarch is often regarded as an “ancestral temple” because his followers pay him high respect. Thus ancestral temple does not only refer to a physical construction, but also high regard for the thoughts and deeds of a master. This article proposes that ancestral culture is actually a manifestation of the thoughts of a specific master, including his teachings, methods, ideas, deeds, and practices. Therefore, while ancestral temple is objectively defined according to a master and his ancestral temple, ancestral culture, or “spiritual ancestral temple,” is not necessarily bound to a temple, but can be spread out geographically as time goes. The Pure Land in Humanistic Buddhism in Taiwan is distinctive in its contemporary practice. On the one hand, it continues the transcendental concern of traditional Pure Land ancestral temples. On the other hand, it advocates a new way of practicing in the world. By studying the idea and practice of Pure Land in Humanistic Buddhism in Taiwan, this article points out that the Pure Land tradition in Humanist Buddhism in this island differs from the traditional culture of Pure Land ancestral temple in mainland China. However, Humanistic Pure Land in Taiwan is also founded on the core ideas of Master Taixu. In this respect, Taixu’s Humanistic Buddhism is the “spiritual ancestral temple” or “spiritual homeland” of Humanistic Pure Land Buddhism in Taiwan.