Chapter VII: Appendix: I

HINTS FOR THE PRELIMINARY STUDY OF BUDDHISM IN CHINA

The student should read and inwardly digest the booklet of K. J. Saunders.

He should follow the directions given in Appendix One of that book, This procedure is important because the Hînayâna Buddhism and the life of Buddha are the background of Buddhism in China.

Then he may take Hackmann’s _Buddhism as a Religion_ (No. 15). This will give a general orientation. This may be followed with R. F. Johnston’s _Buddhist China_ (No. _20_). Along with this he may read Suzuki’s _Awakening of Faith_ (No. 32), and also his _Outlines of Mahâyanâ Buddhism (No._ 33). McGovern’s _Introduction to Mahâyanâ Buddhism (No._ 23) will illuminate the philosophical background of Buddhism, and Eliot’s _Hinduism and Buddhism_ (No. 13) will add historical perspective.

The translation of _Mahdydna Sutras_ by Beal and in the Sacred Books of the East will give him some of the sources for the doctrines held in China. He may begin as the Buddhist missionaries did with the sutra of the Forty-two sections and then take up the Diamond Sutra, and then completing the sutras in Vol. 59 and the Catena of Buddhist Scriptures.

For the study of the ethical side he will find De Groot’s _Le Code du Mahâyâna en Chine_ very helpful. For the study of the sects Eliot, Vol. III, pp. 303-320 _Northern Buddhism_ (No. 14) will be helpful.

In all his study he will find Eitel’s _Handbook of Chinese Buddhism_ (No. 12) indispensable. He must, however, make a Chinese index in order to be able to use the book.

Contact with monks will be helpful and is quite necessary in order to appreciate the human problems of the work.