Emptiness and Omnipresence: An Essential Introduction to Tiantai Buddhism - Paperback

Essential Introduction to Tiantai Buddhism

Tiantai Buddhism emerged from an idiosyncratic and innovative interpretation of the Lotus Sutra to become one of the most complete, systematic, and influential schools of philosophical thought developed in East Asia. Brook A. Ziporyn puts Tiantai into dialogue with modern philosophical concerns to draw out its implications for ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics. Ziporyn explains Tiantai's unlikely roots, its positions of extreme affirmation and rejection, its religious skepticism and embrace of religious myth, and its view of human consciousness. Ziporyn reveals the profound insights of Tiantai Buddhism while stimulating philosophical reflection on its unexpected effects.

Comprehensive Philosophical Analysis

This systematic exploration connects ancient Buddhist philosophy with contemporary philosophical discourse. The text examines how Tiantai Buddhism addresses fundamental questions in ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics through its unique interpretation of the Lotus Sutra. Readers gain access to one of East Asia's most influential philosophical frameworks, presented in a format accessible to modern scholars and practitioners.

Academic Expertise and Scholarly Approach

Written by a leading authority in Chinese religion and comparative thought, this introduction provides rigorous academic analysis while maintaining clarity for readers new to Tiantai Buddhism. The text balances historical context with philosophical depth, making complex concepts understandable without sacrificing intellectual rigor. Published by Indiana University Press, this paperback edition serves as both an introductory text and a reference for advanced study.

Key Topics Covered

The book addresses Tiantai's paradoxical positions on affirmation and rejection, its approach to religious skepticism alongside mythological embrace, and its distinctive understanding of human consciousness. These themes connect to broader discussions in world philosophy and comparative religion, making this text valuable for cross-cultural philosophical study.