Question

The influence of Indian over Chinese thought on Tibetan Buddhism is legendarily explained by a debate at Samye Monastery, in which Móhēyǎn argued for enlightenment that occurs in this manner. For 10 points each:
[10m] Give this general manner of enlightenment. The Chan monk Shénhuì espoused this type of enlightenment, contrasting a “Northern School” aligned with Shénxiù against his own “Southern School” descending from Huìnéng. A description is fine.
ANSWER: sudden [accept subitism; accept spontaneous; accept any answers indicating a lack of formal cultivation or training practices; prompt on answers indicating hearing the Diamond Sutra or hearing a sutra by asking “what more general type of enlightenment is this?”] (The contrast between a gradualist Northern School and subitist Southern School was largely created by Shénhuì, somewhere on the spectrum from exaggeration to fabrication.)
[10e] The Samye debate’s winner, Kamalaśīla, was a gradualist but unfavorably compared these figures, who attain Nirvana alone, to bodhisattvas. Becoming one of these figures is the goal of a series starting with “stream-enterers.”
ANSWER: arhat [or arahant]
[10h] This Tibetan meditative tradition emphasizes regimented preliminary exercises but also the “direct” realization of innate rigpa, or awareness. This Nyingma meditative tradition can culminate in a rainbow body.
ANSWER: Dzogchen
<AY, Religion (Buddhism)>

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Data

Summary

TournamentEditionExact Match?HeardPPBEasy %Medium %Hard %
2025 RMP Fest Online Mirror05/31/25N420.00100%100%0%
2025 RMP Fest Carleton Mirror07/13/25Y320.00100%100%0%
2025 RMP Fest CO Mirror08/10/25Y618.33100%83%0%