Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s3.t4.69

v2.c12.s3.t4.69

The Yoga school emphasised the suppression of the modifications of the mind, which bears considerable similarity to the Buddhist meditation. Chinese Zen emphasised that meditation shall be separated from appearance externally and mind shall not be influenced internally. In fact, this is the modifications of the mind required by the Yoga school and generated from the suppression on influence by external unreal things. Besides, such concepts as the eight limbs, samadhi and siddhis advocated by the Yoga school also exist in Indian and Chinese Buddhism in varying forms. The Buddhist essential Threefold Training in discipline, meditation and wisdom also overlaps to a large extent with relevant practices of the Yoga school. The first two of the eight limbs of Yoga school prescribe rules similar to those contained in Buddhist precepts. The state of “samadhi” pursued by the Yoga school is also close to the Buddhist Dhyāna. The highest wisdom or truth sought by the school is also highly similar to the Buddhist “wisdom”. Many such Yoga elements were mixed with relevant Buddhist concepts and enjoyed wide popularity in ancient China.