The development direction of Taixu

Based on the above understanding of the fundamental spirit of Buddhism, Master Taixu pointed out that modern Buddhism should develop in the direction of building "life Buddhism". In 1928, he expounded the problem of building a life Buddhism from four aspects. He believes that due to the development of the times, China's former Confucian cultural position will be replaced by a new culture that absorbs the essence of China's 5,000-year-old culture and modern world science and culture. Therefore, first of all, "Buddhism should be the same, and it should be linked with Mahayana Bodhisattva to build a life Buddhism from man to bodhisattva and Buddha." Second, "with the life spirit of Mahayana Buddhism, organize the original monks and build a Buddhist sangha system that adapts to the current environment in China". Thirdly, "propagate Mahayana Buddhism for life to absorb new Buddhists, educate old Buddhists, unite and organize, and build a Buddhist believer system adapted to the current environment in China". Fourth, "teach the life of The Mahayana of Chang Ming to all the people in China, so that all the agriculture, industry and commerce who study politics, religion and art can be combined with the ten virtues of Buddhism, develop the national custom of the Chinese nation as a culture with ten virtues, and expand it to the whole world, becoming a world with ten virtues". This is an ideal blueprint of "Buddhism for life" conceived by Master Taixu. Although these ideals were not realized later, the master wrote "My History of Buddhist Revolution Failure" in his later years to sum up the lessons. However, the general direction of Buddhist reform pointed out by the master and his practical spirit still inspire the majority of Buddhist sangha and believers in China to fight for it.