Two Zen Masters.

One of the most influential figures in the History of Zen thought is Huineng ( died 713). Without this controversial figure zen would not be where it is now.

Huineng was an illiterate woodcutter who ended up studying beneath the fifth Patriarch Hung jen ( died 674)

A rivalry emerged between Huineng and Shen Hsui (died 706).

Shen Hsui was head monk and very learned, he went on to form the northern school, which emphasised dhjana ( sitting meditation) and gradual enlightenment.

Huineng formed the southern school, the school of sudden enlightenment, which denounced seated meditation as false cultivation of conciousness, Huinengs position was one that, if the mind essence was the creative force behind all phenomena, sitting in quietude was in fact restraining this mind essence, better to leave this mind essence to arise spontaneously in all circumstances, than to sit in quietude polishing the mirror of awareness.

These passages have been taken and condensed from D. T. Suzukis book, The Zen doctrine of no mind.

T. O. M's comment.

These two figures, come to represent an evolution in Zen and Buddhist thinking.

Before Huineng the emphasis was on seated meditation as a gradual means to enlightenment, and this was personified by the exemplary monk Shen Hsui.

Zen Buddhism before Huineng was also restricted to the more intellectual types and being a monk was requisite with study and meditation, learning Sutras and other literature.

Huineng came along and smashed the mould, proving that insight could be attained suddenly and without years of study, and by anyone, he amassed thousands of followers due to his way of speaking directly and intuitively.

I cannot speak highly enough of this short but excellent book by Suzuki. For me it highlights the brilliance of Huineng, (who ever since first encounters with his style of teaching, I gravitated towards naturally, because of his approachable style and no nonsense teachings) and the southern school, of seeing the flaw in seated meditation and providing clarity on the reasoning behind this.

Peace.

Submitted October 13, 2020 at 12:24PM by transmission_of_mind https://ift.tt/2GXrci3