A sixth-century monk named Zhiyi (538–597 CE) gets the credit for laying the groundwork that became the Tiantai school in China. After studying under the renowned Nanyue Huisi, Zhiyi brought together strands of Mahāyāna thought—concentration practices, doctrinal classifications and, above all, the Lotus Sūtra—into one cohesive system. His two masterpieces, the Mohe Zhiguan (Great Concentration and Insight) and the Fahua Wenzi (Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sūtra), still feel like a breath of fresh air, even alongside today’s apps promising instant mindfulness.

It wasn’t just theory for Zhiyi; he wove practice and philosophy together so skillfully that each lesson reads like a step-by-step guide to understanding the mind. That “stop and observe” approach has echoes in modern stress-relief workshops and meditation retreats. No need to reinvent the wheel—Zhiyi’s framework serves up the Lotus Sūtra as the ultimate “capstone” teaching, showing how every Buddhist method points back to its message of universal buddha-nature.

Guoqing Temple on Tiantai Mountain remains the beating heart of this tradition. A recent heritage initiative even brought its ancient halls back to life, drawing visitors curious about how a 1,400-year-old practice still resonates in today’s hustle. It turns out that when philosophy and practice are married just right, the proof’s in the pudding: people keep coming back, eager to explore a path that’s been lighting the way since Zhiyi’s day.