Exploring Seng Zhao's Middle Way Thought ——Taking “On the Immutability of Things, from the Zhao Lun” as an Example

Abstract

The core idea of Buddhism is prajna wisdom, through which all sentient beings attain liberation from the bondage of birth and death, becoming revered saints among humans and heavenly beings. It is clear that understanding and realizing the prajna middle way is an essential course for Buddhist practitioners. Seng Zhao, recognized as the “foremost exponent of emptiness in China”, presents prajna thought that merits study by future generations. Among the existing works on Seng Zhao, “Zhao Lun” best represents his Buddhist philosophy. The section “On the Immutability of Things” in “Zhao Lun” is a classic work in which Seng Zhao uses prajna thought as a guide to interpret the nature of reality through the phrases of Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi. Therefore, I believe this treatise best embodies Sengzhao's middle way philosophy. This paper focuses on “On the Immutability of Things”, combining the commentaries of ancient masters and related scriptures, aiming to elucidate Seng Zhao's middle way Buddhist thought.