P.391
 
　　　　  The  purpose  of this  essay  is to examine  the
　　   emergence  of  Ch'an  Buddhism  as  a  separate  and
　　   distinct sect in China. The argument is NOT that the
　　   traditions concerning this emergence are unreliable,
　　   but rather that attention to the historical  context
　　   of their compilation may help to explain some of the
　　   distinctive  features  of Ch'an as a sect of Chinese
　　   Buddhism.  I will attempt  to distinguish  the Ch'an
　　   traditions   from  the  emergence   of  Ch'an  as  a
　　   separtate  sect of Chinese Buddhism.  It may be that
　　   some  features  of the  traditional  history  of the
　　   Ch'an sect are a reconstruction, after the fact, for
　　   apologetic purposes.
　　　　   Ch'an   is   an  esoteric   sect   of  Mahayana
　　   Buddhism,in which the experience of enlightenment is
　　   transmitted   directly   from  master  to  disciple,
　　   through the practice of seated meditation.  The name
　　   Ch'an  itself  suggests   this  singular   focus  on
　　   meditation-practice,  since   it   is  the   Chinese
　　   pronunciation  of dhyana, commonly translated by the
　　   English  word "meditation."  Ch'an became a vigorous
　　   reform movement  within Chinese  Buddhism, proposing
　　   as its distinctive feature:
　　　　   A special tradition outside the scriptures;
　　　　   No dependence upon words and letters;
　　　　   Direct pointing at the human soul;
　　　　   Seeing  into  one's own  nature  and  attaining
　　   Buddhahood.(1)
　　　　   Because of its esoteric  nature, there would be
　　   no necessity  for Ch'an to exist as a separate sect.
　　   Virtually  all Buddhist  sects of which  I am aware,
　　   including all the major sects of Chinese
 
 
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　　   Buddhism, have esoteric  elements  within  them, and
　　   all sects teach and encourage the practice of seated
　　   meditation,   the   focus   of   Ch'an   traditions.
　　   Furthermore,  the  formation   of  a  separate   and
　　   distinct  sect is contrary  to the esoteric impulse,
　　   since   it  brings   into  the  open   the  intimate
　　   relationship  between  master  and  disciple, and to
　　   some  extent   compromises   that  relationship   by
　　   publicity.   Because  the  major  sects  of  Chinese