Zhiyi (Tendai founder)

Zhiyi (538–597 CE) was a prominent Chinese Buddhist monk and the founder of the Tendai school of Buddhism. He is recognized for synthesizing various Buddhist teachings and practices, emphasizing a comprehensive approach to enlightenment. Zhiyi taught that all beings possess the potential for enlightenment and developed a method known as "Lotus Samadhi," which focuses on meditation and the interconnection of all things. His influential work, "The Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra," articulates the central role of the Lotus Sutra in achieving spiritual awakening, shaping later Buddhist thought in China and Japan.