Abstract

This chapter discusses and examines the deconstructive practice of Tiantai contemplation from a philosophical point of view. The scope of this examination embraces all the Tiantai doctrines that describe the dynamics and epistemological nature of ultimate realization, called “subtle awakening”, as well as all the relevant Buddhist sources based on which Tiantai master Zhiyi developed this type of “contemplation”. According to the Tiantai view, epistemological and ontological issues coincide with one another, since contemplation entails our insight that “truth and falsehood are inseparable” concerning the way we relate to and exist in our world. Therefore, the introduction deals with the question of the specific sense in which Tiantai contemplation must be grounded in deconstructive practice. The subsequent two sections, and, elaborate the epistemological and soteriological implications of this Buddhist teaching; section and discuss its linguistic pragmatics; and highlight the ontological and hermeneutical issues, and elaborates on the Tiantai philosophy of mind.