Difference between revisions of "Línjì Yìxuán"
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[[File:Linji Yixuan.JPG|thumb|250px|]] | [[File:Linji Yixuan.JPG|thumb|250px|]] | ||
<poem> | <poem> | ||
| − | [[Línjì Yìxuán]] ([[Lin-chi I-hsüan]]; [[Japanese]]: [[Rinzai Gigen]]) (?–866) was the founder of the [[Linji school]] of [[Chán Buddhism]] during {{Wiki|Tang Dynasty}} [[China]]. [[Linji]] was born into a family named [[Xing]] in Caozhou ({{Wiki|modern}} [[Heze]] in Shandong), which he left at a young age to study [[Buddhism]] in many places. [[Linji]] was trained by the [[Chan]] [[master]] [[Huángbò Xīyùn]] ([[Huang-Po Hsi-Yun]]) but, according to the Record of [[Linji]], [[enlightened]] while discussing [[Huángbò's]] [[teaching]] during a [[conversation]] with the reclusive [[monk]] [[Dàyú]]. [[Linji]] then returned to Huángbò to continue his training after [[awakening]]. In 851, [[Linji]] moved to the [[Linji]] [[temple]] in Hebei, where he took his [[name]], which also became the [[name]] for the [[lineage]] of his [[form]] of [[Chán Buddhism]]. The [[Linji school]] ultimately became the most successful and widespread of the Five Houses of [[Chan]]. | + | [[Línjì Yìxuán]] ([[Lin-chi I-hsüan]]; [[Japanese]]: [[Rinzai Gigen]]) (?–866) was the founder of the [[Linji school]] of [[Chán Buddhism]] during {{Wiki|Tang Dynasty}} [[China]]. [[Linji]] was born into a family named [[Xing]] in Caozhou ({{Wiki|modern}} [[Heze]] in [[Shandong]]), which he left at a young age to study [[Buddhism]] in many places. [[Linji]] was trained by the [[Chan]] [[master]] [[Huángbò Xīyùn]] ([[Huang-Po Hsi-Yun]]) but, according to the Record of [[Linji]], [[enlightened]] while discussing [[Huángbò's]] [[teaching]] during a [[conversation]] with the reclusive [[monk]] [[Dàyú]]. [[Linji]] then returned to Huángbò to continue his training after [[awakening]]. In 851, [[Linji]] moved to the [[Linji]] [[temple]] in [[Hebei]], where he took his [[name]], which also became the [[name]] for the [[lineage]] of his [[form]] of [[Chán Buddhism]]. The [[Linji school]] ultimately became the most successful and widespread of the [[Five Houses]] of [[Chan]]. |
[[Linji's]] [[Teaching]] Style | [[Linji's]] [[Teaching]] Style | ||
[[File:More 166b3.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | [[File:More 166b3.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | ||
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Shouting and Hitting | Shouting and Hitting | ||
| − | His methods included shouting and striking, most often using the fly-whisk that was considered a [[symbol]] of a [[Chán]] [[master's]] authority: "The [[Master]] [Linji] saw a [[monk]] coming and held his fly whisk straight up. The [[monk]] made a low [[bow]], whereupon the [[Master]] struck him a blow. The [[Master]] saw another [[monk]] coming and again held his fly whisk straight up. The [[monk]] paid no [[attention]], whereupon the [[Master]] struck him a blow as well." | + | His methods included shouting and striking, most often using the fly-whisk that was considered a [[symbol]] of a [[Chán]] [[master's]] authority: "The [[Master]] [[[Linji]]] saw a [[monk]] coming and held his fly whisk straight up. The [[monk]] made a low [[bow]], whereupon the [[Master]] struck him a blow. The [[Master]] saw another [[monk]] coming and again held his fly whisk straight up. The [[monk]] paid no [[attention]], whereupon the [[Master]] struck him a blow as well." |
| − | Discourses | + | [[Discourses]] |
[[Linji]] also taught with lectures and sermons, which were collected by his students into the [[Línjì-lù]] ([[Japanese]]: [[Rinzai-roku]]), the Record of [[Linji]], which also contains stories of his interactions with [[teachers]], contemporaries, and students. His lectures were a mixture of the [[Wikipedia:Convention (norm)|conventional]] and the iconoclastic. He is particularly famous for encouraging his students to free themselves from the influence of [[masters]] and [[doctrinal]] [[Wikipedia:concept|concepts]], in [[order]] to be able to better discover their own [[Buddha-nature]]. Famed examples of [[Linji's]] iconoclasm include the following: | [[Linji]] also taught with lectures and sermons, which were collected by his students into the [[Línjì-lù]] ([[Japanese]]: [[Rinzai-roku]]), the Record of [[Linji]], which also contains stories of his interactions with [[teachers]], contemporaries, and students. His lectures were a mixture of the [[Wikipedia:Convention (norm)|conventional]] and the iconoclastic. He is particularly famous for encouraging his students to free themselves from the influence of [[masters]] and [[doctrinal]] [[Wikipedia:concept|concepts]], in [[order]] to be able to better discover their own [[Buddha-nature]]. Famed examples of [[Linji's]] iconoclasm include the following: | ||
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Followers of the Way of [[Chán]]], if you want to get the kind of [[understanding]] that accords with the [[Dharma]], never be misled by others. Whether you're facing inward or facing outward, whatever you meet up with, just kill it! If you meet a [[buddha]], kill the [[buddha]]. If you meet a [[patriarch]], kill the [[patriarch]]. If you meet an [[arhat]], kill the [[arhat]]. If you meet your [[parents]], kill your [[parents]]. If you meet your kinfolk, kill your kinfolk. Then for the first [[time]] you will gain {{Wiki|emancipation}}, will not be entangled with things, will pass freely anywhere you wish to go. | Followers of the Way of [[Chán]]], if you want to get the kind of [[understanding]] that accords with the [[Dharma]], never be misled by others. Whether you're facing inward or facing outward, whatever you meet up with, just kill it! If you meet a [[buddha]], kill the [[buddha]]. If you meet a [[patriarch]], kill the [[patriarch]]. If you meet an [[arhat]], kill the [[arhat]]. If you meet your [[parents]], kill your [[parents]]. If you meet your kinfolk, kill your kinfolk. Then for the first [[time]] you will gain {{Wiki|emancipation}}, will not be entangled with things, will pass freely anywhere you wish to go. | ||
| − | Those who have fulfilled the [[ten stages]] of [[bodhisattva]] practice are no better than hired field hands; those who have attained the [[enlightenment]] of the fifty-first and fifty-second stages are prisoners shackled and bound; [[arhats]] and [[pratyekabuddhas]] are so much filth in the latrine; [[bodhi]] and [[nirvana]] are hitching posts for donkeys. | + | Those who have fulfilled the [[ten stages]] of [[bodhisattva]] practice are no better than hired field hands; those who have [[attained]] the [[enlightenment]] of the fifty-first and fifty-second stages are prisoners shackled and bound; [[arhats]] and [[pratyekabuddhas]] are so much filth in the latrine; [[bodhi]] and [[nirvana]] are hitching posts for donkeys. |
[[Linji's]] [[Lineage]] in [[Japan]] | [[Linji's]] [[Lineage]] in [[Japan]] | ||
| − | When {{Wiki|Chinese}} [[Chan]] was brought to [[Japan]] it was called [[Zen]]. The [[Japanese]] [[Zen]] sect known as the [[Rinzai school]] is a branch of the [[lineage]] [[Linji]] founded. The smaller [[Japanese]] [[Obaku school]] came to [[Japan]] in the 17th century as a separate [[Linji]] [[lineage]] and existed in [[Japan]] for many years as a culturally {{Wiki|Ming Dynasty}} [[Chinese Zen]] within [[Japan]]. Later the [[Obaku school]] semi-merged into the [[Rinzai]] [[lineage]], since after [[Hakuin's]] revival of [[Rinzai]] in the 18th century all Obaku [[teachers]] trace their [[lineage]] through [[Hakuin]]. Today the [[Rinzai]] and [[Obaku schools]] are closely related. The now-defunct [[Japanese]] [[Fuke school]] also had close ties to the [[Rinzai school]] and claimed affiliation with the [[Linji]] [[lineage]]. | + | When {{Wiki|Chinese}} [[Chan]] was brought to [[Japan]] it was called [[Zen]]. The [[Japanese]] [[Zen]] [[sect]] known as the [[Rinzai school]] is a branch of the [[lineage]] [[Linji]] founded. The smaller [[Japanese]] [[Obaku school]] came to [[Japan]] in the 17th century as a separate [[Linji]] [[lineage]] and existed in [[Japan]] for many years as a culturally {{Wiki|Ming Dynasty}} [[Chinese Zen]] within [[Japan]]. Later the [[Obaku school]] semi-merged into the [[Rinzai]] [[lineage]], since after [[Hakuin's]] revival of [[Rinzai]] in the 18th century all [[Obaku]] [[teachers]] trace their [[lineage]] through [[Hakuin]]. Today the [[Rinzai]] and [[Obaku schools]] are closely related. The now-defunct [[Japanese]] [[Fuke school]] also had close ties to the [[Rinzai school]] and claimed affiliation with the [[Linji]] [[lineage]]. |
</poem> | </poem> | ||
{{R}} | {{R}} | ||
[http://www.tamqui.com/buddhaworld/Linji www.tamqui.com] | [http://www.tamqui.com/buddhaworld/Linji www.tamqui.com] | ||
[[Category:Chan]] | [[Category:Chan]] | ||
Revision as of 23:15, 20 April 2014
Línjì Yìxuán (Lin-chi I-hsüan; Japanese: Rinzai Gigen) (?–866) was the founder of the Linji school of Chán Buddhism during Tang Dynasty China. Linji was born into a family named Xing in Caozhou (modern Heze in Shandong), which he left at a young age to study Buddhism in many places. Linji was trained by the Chan master Huángbò Xīyùn (Huang-Po Hsi-Yun) but, according to the Record of Linji, enlightened while discussing Huángbò's teaching during a conversation with the reclusive monk Dàyú. Linji then returned to Huángbò to continue his training after awakening. In 851, Linji moved to the Linji temple in Hebei, where he took his name, which also became the name for the lineage of his form of Chán Buddhism. The Linji school ultimately became the most successful and widespread of the Five Houses of Chan.
Linji's Teaching Style
Linji's own teaching was greatly inspired by his master's, and was characterized by abrupt, harsh encounters with students, aiming to bring about the moment of enlightenment.
Shouting and Hitting
His methods included shouting and striking, most often using the fly-whisk that was considered a symbol of a Chán master's authority: "The Master [[[Linji]]] saw a monk coming and held his fly whisk straight up. The monk made a low bow, whereupon the Master struck him a blow. The Master saw another monk coming and again held his fly whisk straight up. The monk paid no attention, whereupon the Master struck him a blow as well."
Discourses
Linji also taught with lectures and sermons, which were collected by his students into the Línjì-lù (Japanese: Rinzai-roku), the Record of Linji, which also contains stories of his interactions with teachers, contemporaries, and students. His lectures were a mixture of the conventional and the iconoclastic. He is particularly famous for encouraging his students to free themselves from the influence of masters and doctrinal concepts, in order to be able to better discover their own Buddha-nature. Famed examples of Linji's iconoclasm include the following:
Followers of the Way of Chán], if you want to get the kind of understanding that accords with the Dharma, never be misled by others. Whether you're facing inward or facing outward, whatever you meet up with, just kill it! If you meet a buddha, kill the buddha. If you meet a patriarch, kill the patriarch. If you meet an arhat, kill the arhat. If you meet your parents, kill your parents. If you meet your kinfolk, kill your kinfolk. Then for the first time you will gain emancipation, will not be entangled with things, will pass freely anywhere you wish to go.
Those who have fulfilled the ten stages of bodhisattva practice are no better than hired field hands; those who have attained the enlightenment of the fifty-first and fifty-second stages are prisoners shackled and bound; arhats and pratyekabuddhas are so much filth in the latrine; bodhi and nirvana are hitching posts for donkeys.
Linji's Lineage in Japan
When Chinese Chan was brought to Japan it was called Zen. The Japanese Zen sect known as the Rinzai school is a branch of the lineage Linji founded. The smaller Japanese Obaku school came to Japan in the 17th century as a separate Linji lineage and existed in Japan for many years as a culturally Ming Dynasty Chinese Zen within Japan. Later the Obaku school semi-merged into the Rinzai lineage, since after Hakuin's revival of Rinzai in the 18th century all Obaku teachers trace their lineage through Hakuin. Today the Rinzai and Obaku schools are closely related. The now-defunct Japanese Fuke school also had close ties to the Rinzai school and claimed affiliation with the Linji lineage.
