Three sects of Buddhism that we discussed in class are Zen, Shingon, and Tendai Buddhism.

Zen Buddhism is a School from Mahayana Buddhism that focuses on self power that will be later discussed in this paper. The ultimate goal of enlightenment or release in Zen Buddhism is attained through the experience Zen practitioners go through instead of knowledge that has been received from outward sources. This schools approach of attaining enlightenment is different from the others in that it focuses on the internal development t of the individual while trying to exclude outside sources such as media. The School of Shingon Buddhism is a school of Buddhism that originates from Pure Land Buddhism/Mahavairocana Buddhism, a form of esoteric Buddhism that uses Tantras in its practices. The use of Tantras is something unique among the different schools of Buddhism but it is rather common in the fact that it relies on the other power to reach enlightenment. However, the Shingon School of Buddhism is different to the School of Zen Buddhism yet does not originate from Mahayana and its ultimate goal of enlightenment is reached through Sravakayana, the hearer vehicle. This means that through the teachings of the Tantras and the vow of the Amitabha Buddha the Shingon Buddhists shall reach enlightenment. In addition, the School of Shingon Buddhism has what are recognized as patriarchs, the founders of the sect and those who spread more information to them. This again emphasizes the other power experience in the sect. The School of Tendai Buddhism originates from the Tiantai Buddhism School and is a very unique sect of Buddhism. This is because the School of Tendai Buddhism has the concept of Original Enlightenment. Original Enlightenment believes that every being, when they are born is already enlightened, and that to be enlightened is within every beings nature anyway. This is very different from other schools of Buddhism because it does not require the gathering of information and experience through the hearer vehicle or through the solitary endeavors that the Zen Buddhists put themselves through.

The Zen, Shingon, and Tendai Schools of Buddhism are all unique sects of Buddhism. Zen relies on the self power to reach enlightenment, which comes from Mahayana. Shingon is a part of Mahavairocana but uses other power to attain Buddhahood. Tendai is a part of Mahayana, but its ultimate goal of enlightenment is unique in the fact that beings are already born with the enlightenment in them. These three different sects all differ in their way of attaining their ultimate goal of enlightenment. Self Power is an approach in Japanese Buddhism that focuses on the efforts made by oneself and their determination and focus to reach enlightenment. This approach can be seen in the efforts of the Zen Buddhist monks trying to clear their minds during meditation at Hokkaido that we saw in the video we watched in class. The origin of the self power comes from the methods that Siddhrtha Gautama, the original Buddha, who reached enlightenment by sitting under a Bodhi tree. This approach is most widely used through Zen Buddhist practitioners. Other Power is an approach in Japanese Buddhism that is practiced throughout Pure Land and completely trusts in the power of the Amitabha Buddha. Through the chanting of the Buddhas name, the Buddhist followers believe that they will reach enlightenment or salvation at the end of life. This approach originates from the vow made by the Amitabha Buddha, that he would stay behind in this mortal coil until all other creatures had reached enlightenment as well. Therefore, this other power relies on the power of the Amitabha Buddha. In my opinion, after looking at the practices of the original Buddha who starved himself under a Bodhi tree, and looking at the lifestyle of Buddhists that stand on street corners with bowls to accept offers and anything else that you could give them, the self power approach is not a practical approach to reach enlightenment. My reasons for this is that by going through these lifestyles, I cannot imagine clearing my thoughts with an empty stomach, worrying about whether or not I could make it to the next

day. The outer power however seems to have very little effort that has to be put forth to reach enlightenment. I would dare say that it is close to the leniency of Catholicism; if you do wrong, then repent and all will be forgiven, just so that you can go and sin again with a free mind. I feel that both approaches are rather inadequate to reach enlightenment. I would much more prefer the middle path that is not one of the two choices. If limited to these two choices I would have to say that self power a better vehicle for reaching enlightenment because it seems to be a much more sincere approach. If you were to use the other power approach, I think that it would take several reincarnations to reach enlightenment because you are not putting any effort towards your enlightenment, though that may be with just some of the more recent Pure Land Buddhist sects. Basically, I feel that a great amount of effort would have to be put forth to attain Buddhahood, therefore the self power approach is the better vehicle to reach enlightenment.