On the Practical Philosophy of the Nuns’ Buddhist Academy at Mount Wutai Through “One-Week Intensive Buddha Retreats”

The educational philosophy of the Nuns’ Buddhist Academy at Pushou Monastery on Mount Wutai centers on “Hua Yan as the foundation, precepts as the practice, and Pure Land as the destination,” drawing on the Avatamsaka Sūtra and the Amitābha Sūtra. This approach translates scriptural teachings into daily practice, embodying “the non-obstruction of principle and phenomenon” and enabling experiential understanding of spiritual realms. The paper argues that Pure Land practice is living and should be studied comprehensively—through textual analysis, sociological methods, and attention to its spiritual dimension—to reveal its contemporary relevance.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The educational philosophy of the Nuns’ Buddhist Academy at Pushou Monastery, Mount Wutai, is based on the principles of “Hua Yan as the foundation, precepts as the practice, and Pure Land as the destination.” This philosophy draws upon Buddhist scriptures, integrating descriptions of the Pure Land practice found in the Avatamsaka Sūtra and the Amitābha Sūtra. This approach translates the textual teachings of Buddhist classics into real-life practice, expressing the concept of “the non-obstruction of principle and phenomenon” in the tangible activities of practitioners. It also allows for the experiential understanding of the spiritual realms revealed in the scriptures during theoretical learning and practice. The philosophy of the Nuns’ Academy embodies the practical emphasis of Chinese Buddhism, guiding all aspects of learning and practice. This paper argues that the pure land practice is living. In order to understand pure land practice, there should be a comprehensive viewpoint. It is needed to explore this way of practice through the analysis of textual analysis, figuring its root in Buddhis sūtra, as well as a sociological method to investigate its manifestation at the present society. Moreover, the spiritual dimension should not be neglected for a full-scale study. In this sense, the pure land school is living at present.