2 Assess the significance of migration and trade on the spread of Buddhism to China and Japan . (12)
2 Assess he view that the early developments of Buddhism in China and Japan are vital in understanding the teachings of Asian Buddhism. (12)
2 Assess the strenghts of the claim that Pure Land Buddhism betrays Buddhist origins. (12)
2 Assess the view that the practices of Zen Buddhism are the most successful expressions of Mahayana Buddhism. (12)
2 Assess the view that practices of True Pure Land and Zen Buddhism are essentially the same. (12)
2 Assess how far the early developments of Buddhism in China and Japan are important in Buddhist traditions developedments there. (12)
2 Assess the strenghts of different types of types of Pureland tradition. (12)
2 Assess the weaknesses of True Pureland Buddhism as a legitimate form of Buddhism. (12)
2 Assess the idea that he key teachings of Pureland Buddhism are a betrayal of Buddhist origins. (12)
2 Assess the impact of Dogen on the development of Buddhism in Japan. (12)
2 Assess the importance of the difference between Soto and Rinazai Zen Buddhist traditions. (12)
2 Assess the significance of the indigenous traditions of confusionism and taoism in the development of Buddhism’s spread to china and Japan. (12)
2 Assess the impact of Asian Buddhism's encounter with modernity changed its beliefs and practices. (12)
2 Assess the weaknesses of view that Dogen had no real impact on Japanese Buddhism . (12)
2 Assess the weaknesses of claiming the context and contributions of Huiyuan are the key to understanding the origins of Pureland Buddhism. (12)
2 Assess how far the development of key beliefs and practices of Pureland Buddhism in Japan are dependent on Honin. (12)
2 Assess the idea that the development of the key beliefs and practices of Shin Buddhism or True Pureland Buddhism are depednent on Shinran. (12)
2 Assess the importance of the Pure Land sutras for Pureland Buddhism. (12)
2 Assess the strenghts of the claim that Pureland that represents a gradual and not radical change from earlier traditions. (12)
2 Assess the strenghts of the claim that Zen that represents a radical and not gradual change from earlier traditions. (12)
2 Assess the weakness of Soto Zen claim that it represents teh true expression of Zen Buddhist belief and practice between the main schools of Rinzai Zena and Soto Zen. (12)
2 Assess the weakness ofTrue Pureland claim that it represents the true expression of Zen Buddhist belief and practice between the main schools of Pureland and true Pureland Buddhism. (12)
2 Assess the claim Pure Land represents ‘other effort’ (tariki) compared to ‘self effort’ (jiriki) of zen.
Jiriki (自力?, one's own strength) - here: the Japanese Buddhist term for self power, the ability to achieve liberation or enlightenment (in other words, to reach nirvana) through one's own efforts. Jiriki and tariki (他力 meaning "other power", "outside help") are two terms in Japanese Buddhist schools that classify how one becomes spiritually enlightened. Jiriki is very much urged and practiced in Zen Buddhism. In Pure Land Buddhism, tariki often refers to the power of Amitābha Buddha
These two terms describe the strands of practice that followers of every religion throughout the world develop. In most religions you can find popular expressions of faith which rely on the worship of external powers such as an idol of some kind that is expected to bestow favor after being given offerings of faith from a believer. Some believers of Pure Land Buddhism accept that merely chanting the name of Amitabha Buddha will lead the believer to enlightenment, as some Western Christians believe that by merely asking Jesus to cleanse one's sins will lead to the attainment of such a desire. These are examples of tariki, reliance on a power outside of oneself for salvation
Jiriki is experiencing truth for oneself and not merely accepting the testimony of another. An example of jiriki in Buddhism is the practice of meditation. In meditation, one observes the body (most often in the form of following the breath) and mind to directly experience the principles of impermanence and dependent arising or "emptiness") of all phenomena. Such principles are formally discussed in the Buddhist scriptures, but jiriki implies experiencing them for oneself.
However, the two ways are not to be seen as mutually exclusive, or jiriki seen as "better" than tariki. Indeed, a third way does present itself, which sees guidance from a teacher and self-practice in harmony. Eventually, the believer can continue without a teacher once the ways of practice are learned. Sometimes, each are taken to extremes and degenerate into practices which are strictly one way or the other. For example, in the attitudes of the tariki practices mentioned above in which it is believed that no other effort is required of the believer to attain the ultimate.