Meditative Disciplines
Tendai meditative efforts center primarily upon MAKA SHIKAN, or "The Great Calm, Abiding Meditation." A good deal of extremely proficient scholastic work has been performed on the relevance of Maka Shikan to Tendai theory, but from a layman's view, a basic understanding of the essential characteristics gives us a look inside the practice itself:
During 5th and 6th century A.D. China, the development of Chinese Buddhism found its pinnacle with the formulation of the Tendai (T'ien-ta'i ) Maka Shikan (Chinese: chih-kuan) theory and practice. Countering this claim of highest meditative theory was the Zen (Cha'n) supposition brought about by Hua-yen scholar Ch'eng-kuan (738~838) that indeed, the Zen practice was superior to Tendai's Maka Shikan.
To battle this argument, Tendai patriarch Chan-jan (711~782) more fully developed the Tendai theory as based on the three primary texts of the time (Chinese: the Mo ho chih kuan, the Fa hua hs'an i, and the Fa hua wen chi ). Chan-jan expounded upon the views of renowned T'ien-ta'i scholar Chih-i (538-597), presenting us with the most reputable aspects of Tendai philosophy to this day.
In practical terms, the practice of the Maka Shikan is to lead us to inherently recognize two conditions. The first being that of ICHINEN SANZEN ("One Thought <containing> the Three Thousand Realms"), a unified and non-differentiated view of the Dharma. The second is that of ISSHIN SANGAN ("One Mind <enveloping> the Three Practices), the practice of One Mind throughout the myriad Tendai practices.
Tendai Shikan Taza Meditation Practice
Tendai Tenfold Contemplation Method