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A. The Pure Land Buddhist ideal of rebirth in the Western Paradise seems very similar to the religious Daoist ideal of achieving immortality; the Chan ideal of enlightenment seems very similar to the philosophical Daoist ideal of union with the Dao. In addition, some of the scriptures in Kohn's The Daoist Experience refer specficially to Buddhist supernatural beings, and the folk religion seems to mix deities of Buddhist, Daoist, and other origins indiscriminately. In light of these similarities and connections, what, if any, is the basic difference between Buddhism and Daoism? What does this tell you about the unity or diversity of Chinese religion?
B. Superficially at least, there are wide differences between the learned schools of Chinese Buddhism, such as Tiantai (T'ien-t'ai) and Huayan (Hua-yen), and the more directly accessible schools, such as Chan and Pure Land. Similarly, there are great differences between the austere meditation of Chan and the simple devotionalism of Pure Land. In what way, if any, are all of these schools of Buddhism characteristically Chinese? Is there anything that differentiates them from other kinds of Buddhism? Is there anything that links them to the other Chinese religions? Explain.