Buddhism, Chán and Zen

An Shigao was a Parthian prince who belonged to the Parthian kingdom in 148 A.D. he was born in Khorasan [Tukharistan] BALKH(Bactria) (. Khorasan at that time was in the North-East of Persia. At the time, Parthian (Ashkanians) was called “Traxiane” in Helenistic period [The Hellenistic period covers the period of Mediterranean history between the death of Alexander the Great in 3 centuries B.C. and the rise of the Roman Empire in 27 or 32 B.C.]. An Shigao studied Buddhism and developed it in Iran to some extent. He came to know about Buddhism when he was quite young. He came to know Buddhism through some missionaries from India. Dr. Mostafa Vaziri in his book “Buddhism in Iran” says,

“It was centuries before B.C and at the time of Ashok Shah that Buddhism penetrated in Persia”. After accepting Buddhism, The King Ashok sent some of his missionaries to the neighbouring areas including Persia. An Shigao was awakened by the teaching of the Buddha Sakyamuni. First started spreading Buddhism in his own territory but his high and comprehended knowledge about Buddhism transcendent the habitat he was living. He thought of disseminating his achievement  in a vast and wide country. There must be some reasons as why he preferred to go to China. According to the researchers two important reasons made him go to China:

1. To save his achievement in a safe and assured place

2. To disseminate this humanitarian teaching to China to help them to know about the awakening of the Buddha

Therefore he decided to renounce everything in order to disseminate his vast knowledge about Buddhism in China.  

An Shigao was not a mythical figure but an actual historical personality and ordinary monk who was awakened to the teaching of the Buddha. He developed Buddhism in the form of Chán. Evidence to this fact are many.

And what did happen when he came to China?

He entered China in 148A.D. In the history of the “Han”. The name of An Shigao has been registered as a missionary to the imperial court of China. An Shigao was offered to stay wherever he wished. But he preferred to stay in White Horse Temple (A Buddhist temple) to start his missionary. He stayed in the temple for more than 20 years translating the Buddhist texts and simultaneously teaching what he translated. He was the first Buddhist translator in China who translated Buddhist text and Sutras and then taught what he translated. He established a Translation Team with one of his collaborator (his compatriot “An Xuren” and another lay Buddhist (Taoist) by the name of “Yan Fotiao”, headed by An Shigao himself. These founders of the Buddhist school in China (Two Iranians and one Chinese ) were called three non- imitating translators because there were no other translators before them to translate Buddhist texts in China in the history of the Buddhist translators to China (according to the recent evidence and reliable sources). An Shigao has been considered as the first and the most dedicated translator of the Buddhist texts and Sutras to China in about 148 A.D. There were of course many after him but he was the pioneer among all. His identity was hidden until the curious researchers and common dedicated historians revealed the presence of An Shigao. He has developed the culture and religion of China, brought Chinese Chán and introduced Buddhism in his own way both in theory  and practice.  And also his offspring (descendants) helped the Chinese to establish Sabao office which was mainly concerned with commerce. As a matter of fact the new researches tell us that the Persians were active in building both cultural and commercial of the vast country of China at the beginning of 148 A.D.

Later these three Thoughts ; Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism;  formed Chan (known as Chinese Buddhism ) in China. This combination was first initiated by An Shgao.

How did An shigao teach Dhyana to the Chinese?

The notion of Dhyana taught by An shigao in China has a very broad application. It includes all Samatha meditation practices, such as “Anapanasati” (breathing exercise), Kasina exercise, contemplation of the body, and other similar techniques that have concentration or one-pointedness of mind as their objective. Dhyana which was first brought to China, developed Chán and then it came to  Japan by the name of  “Zen”.

One of the other teachings of An Shigao is the technique of Dhyana. A description is to be found in the preface of Kang Senghui and together with An Shigao’s explanations about Mindfulness, Anapana  (Meditation on Breathing), and Dhyana practices. In fact, Dhyana starts with a subject of meditation with full awareness.

In Mahayana, Dhyana leads to Prajna. Dhyana is a higher state of consciousness empty of all contents, all ideas, feelings, and even sensations.

Kang Senghui did not hesitate to refer these characteristics on mind to the teachings of An Shigao. “Anban Shouyi jing” text translated by An shigao is a fundamental training to achieve Dhyana.

Later on, Chinese people have changed the word Dhyana to Chán, which is today known as a form of Chinese Buddhism.

Was he welcomed by the Chinese?

Yes, because based on Chinese tradition:

1- They were hospitable to foreigners

2- Special attention to the missionaries and the foreign elites [ the Nobles and the Aristocrats]. More than that, an interesting and notable point was that, foreign princes were eligible to the throne. They had rights to share in the kingdom. They could reach high, exalted posts and positions. This law was not seen in other countries at that time. The imperial court of the “Han” encouraged this law and this law was respectable to the Chinese imperial court. This law was well-established until the 7th century A.D.

So where is the root of ZEN?

Before answering this question l’d like to refer back briefly to Meditation and Concentration again in Buddhism. In all schools of Buddhism, Meditation and Concentration are used for training the mind. They are a pathway to understanding the nature of  mind and how to control it; they are practical techniques to achieve our goals in life, to train the mind and purify the heart. The Buddha introduced different techniques for mind training. The most important amongst them are the breathing exercises which are rather different from other methods of meditation. The principal aim of a faithful trainee is to train their mind to the higher state of consciousness and mindfulness.

Zen is another name for meditation. The word ZEN comes from the Sanskrit Dhyana (meditation). As previously stated, the notion of Dhyana firstly was taught and interpreted by An shigao  in China. This notion was translated as Chán in Chinese, Zen in Japanese and Moraghebeh in Persian. It is said that the first Zen patriarch was Bodhidharma  who emphasises the cultivation of intuitive wisdom. It teaches that enlightenment cannot be attained through logic or intellect but by understanding one own mind through the practice of Zazen. Although Zazen is a part of Zen practice, Zen itself includes every possible form of activity. The Chinese and Japanese mentalities prefer to bring Buddhism into everyday life, rather than in caves and jungles, with the belief that Enlightenment can be obtained through the true and sincere practice in everyday life. Zen is not a philosophy, a psychology or a religion, but it can be considered a philosophy, a psychology or a religion. It all depends on one’s perspective and personal belief system. It is also a way of life, an art, a vocation, how one conducts oneself  and so on.