There seems to be a mutual sharing or correspondence between Taoism and Buddhism. In fact, there is a story of Lao-tse going to India and becoming the Buddha. Ch'an is different from earlier Theravada and Hinayana Buddhism. Much of this difference seems to be the influence of Taoism. Taoism is nature oriented; it speaks of the tranquility and ever-changing yet eternal quality of nature. The Avatamsaka Sutra speaks about the interpenetration of the universal and the particular. Likewise, one of the goals of Ch'an practice is to unify the mind and become one with nature. Is my last statement correct, and was Taoism an influence on Buddhism?

SHIH-FU:

There will always be influences from other cultures and traditions. Lao-tse and Confucius were contemporaries of Sakyamuni Buddha, and so Taoism and Confucianism were already well established by the time Buddhism entered China. People naturally interpreted Buddhism in the light of what they could understand. Ch'an, especially the Southern school, was influenced by the naturalistic tendencies of Taoism. For example, the idea that all beings, sentient and non-sentient, can attain Buddhahood is not found in the original Indian sutras. There is a legend of Master Tao-sheng (355-434) giving a talk to no one while everything nodded its approval, including the rocks. These arc Taoist influences. Such ideas show up in the writings of monks succeeding the Sixth Patriarch.

A poet like Wang Wei was probably influenced by Taoism. At the same time, monks were producing Ch'an poetry and painting. These poems and paintings convey a state that seems to have no substance and yet is still dynamic. The artistic works convey the idea that any dharma includes all of totality. Such paintings would tend to be impressionistic or abstract. These works differ from the nature-influenced art. They are influenced directly by the Ch'an teachings.