# Patriarchs Hall

Honouring the Buddhist schools together, studying through Tiantai and focusing practice on the Pure Land.

## Centre: Nagarjuna

Nagarjuna represents the roots of Mahayana Buddhism and is honoured as a common patriarch of its eight schools. The schools named here—Chan, Pure Land, Tiantai, Esoteric Buddhism, Consciousness-Only, Sanlun, Flower Adornment and the Vinaya school—all trace important teachings to him.

His place in this hall reminds us not to turn differences between schools into barriers. Buddhist teachings belong to a shared whole. The traditional eighty-four thousand paths of practice are all expressions of the same true nature.

## Left: Master Zhiyi

Zhiyi represents systematic understanding and the Tiantai approach to teaching. Regarded as Tiantai's effective founder, he was called the “Little Shakyamuni of the East.” His classification of the teachings brought the Buddha's forty-nine years of instruction into an organised account.

Practice needs clear understanding. Zhiyi reminds us to study the scriptures closely and seek real insight. Though he devoted his life to teaching Tiantai in depth, at the end of his life he too sought birth in the Pure Land.

## Right: Master Jingkong

Jingkong represents putting the teachings to work in the present and concentrating on Pure Land practice. He used modern technology to share Buddhist education and encouraged the recitation of Amitabha's name.

He taught for more than sixty years. In his later life, he repeatedly urged people to put aside complicated doctrines and focus sincerely on “Amitabha.” He felt that people today had little time, few favourable conditions and unsettled minds. In this age of declining Dharma, trying to follow paths requiring many lifetimes to overcome delusion could leave this life unused. His advice was to devote oneself to a practice that could be carried through now.