Chinese Buddhism is indeed in a state of crisis, facing great challenges. The fact that many Chinese Buddhists subscribe to a bleak view of the futur… - Sheng-yen

I have a deep conviction that the future of global Buddhism must rest on the inclusive (baorong xing 包容性) and syncretic nature (xiaorong xing 消融性) of the Han transmission of Chinese Buddhism as its main feature in order to take varying sectarian postures and viewpoints and return them to the original intent of the Buddha, so that a new form of Buddhism can emerge that is needed by all people.

Silent illumination is actually the most direct method, because Chan is not something that you can use your mind to think about. It’s not something that you can use any words or form of language to describe. The method is simply to do away with any method of practice. Use no method as the method itself. … The silent illumination method is to not have any thoughts. At that moment you just put down everything, and that is the state of Chan itself. Silent doesn’t mean falling asleep. That’s why we have to follow the word “silent” with the word “illumination,” that is, your mind must be very clear.

Only Chan Buddhism as a school (zong 宗) retains the spirit of Chinese civilization; only the Chan school can unify and absorb the essential teachings of all the various Mahāyāna Buddhist traditions without ever falling into deterioration.