RG ST 3 Lecture 17: Lecture 17 ChanZen Buddhism
Birth of Chan in China
Buddhism traveled from Inida to China 1st - 5th centuries CE
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Indian monks brought texts to be translated into chinese
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Task completed despite difficulties
Differences of language and culture
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Complexity of Buddhist region
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Resistance to monasticism by Chinese society centered on family
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Chinese adopted Buddhism with East Asian Character
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Chan (Zen) in particular is a fusion of Indian Buddhism with Chinese
culture
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Chan/Zen represents amalgamation of Indian influences
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Chan/Zen has no counterpart in Indian Buddhism
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Mahayana Foundations
Chan/Zen belongs to Mahayana Buddhism
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All forms of Buddhism were transmitted to China
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At first, Hinayana and Mahayana were represented equally
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Only Mahayana spread through the country
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Hinayana was more strict on monastic rules, cultic practices, and
metaphysical doctrine
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Mahayana success in China was a result of a wider view and more
flexibility
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Mahayana "cosmic" perspectives appealed to the Chinese
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Similar concepts to Daoism
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Facilitated translation of Mahayana concepts into Chinese language
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Numerous Buddhas and bodhisattvas offered rich religious symbolism
that appealed to intellectuals and common people
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Chan/Zen influenced by Mahayana scriptures and concepts:
Emptiness (sunyata): al things are "empty" of concrete or
substantial essence -- related to meditation and metaphysics
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Buddha-nature (tathagatagarbha): all beings possess innate
"buddha nature"
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Mind only: reality is ultimately nothing but consciousness
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Relationship with Daoism
Chan/Zen has a strong Daoist streak
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Daoism aided transmission of Mahayana into Chinese culture
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Daoism and Mahayana share concepts such as negative language and
cosmic perspective
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"Dao" is similar to Buddhist ideas of emptiness, nirvana, Buddha-nature,
Buddha-mind, Dharma, Path, etc.
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Chen/Zen and Daoist Meditation
Daoism influences Chan philosophy and meditation
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Daoism associated with meditation since 6th century BCE
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Zhuangzi writes about "sitting and forgetting everything"
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Profound similarities between Daoism and Chan/Zen
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Convergence of fundamental ideas and themes
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Bodhidharma (c. 5th - 6th century CE)
Legendary founder of Chan/Zen
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Obscure origins
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Legend begins 8th century and is developed by 11th century
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Chan/Zen needed to establish a founder and lineage
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Said to be a brahmin or kshatriya from South India
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Famed for his teachings on meditation
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Came to China during the reign of Emperor Wudi
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Promoted Mahayana doctrine and meditation in North China
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Lived 9 years at Shaolin Monastery
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Supposedly stared at a cave wall all 9 years
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Gave "Dharma Transmission" to Huike
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Bodhidharma - Meditation Master
Bodhidharma's meditation was known as "wall gazing" or "wall
contemplation"
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Enlightenment: steep and sudden
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"sudden" enlightenment was important in later Chan/Zen traditions
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Hinayana and Mahayana forms of meditation spread thru China
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Wandering teachers or "meditation masters" -- Bodhidharma one of many
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Sanskrit term for meditation
Dhyana --> chan --> zen
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At first, chan was a collective name for all Buddhist meditation in China
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Chinese were already familiar with Daoist meditation
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In china, meditation practices focused on "sudden enlightenment"
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Encounter with Emperor Wudi
Legendary episodes from BD’s life reveal Chan/Zen values
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Song Period (960-1279) chronicles give accounts of BD’s meeting with
Wudi
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This became basis of a koan exercise
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Wudi zealous Buddhist, proud of his accomplishments
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The dialogue is filled with Zen spirit
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As recorded in the first case of Blue Cliff Record, he met Emperor Wu of
Liang, who was a patron of Buddhism. The Emperor had built many
monasteries; he asked Bodhidharma what merit his generosity had
earned. "No merit," said Bodhidharma. The Emperor asked, "What is the
highest meaning of the holy truths." Bodhidharma replied, "Vast
emptiness; no holiness." The Emperor asked, "Who is facing me?"
Bodhidharma replied, "I don't know."
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Wall Gazing Brahmin
Afterwards, Bodhidharma traveled to Shaolin
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Lived in a cave, and "faced a wall for nine years, not speaking for the
entire time"
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Became angry with himself after falling asleep
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Cut out his eyelids to prevent it from happening again
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Tea plants sprouted from where his eyelids landed on the ground
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Bodhidharma and Huike
Huike was a scholar of Buddhism and Daoism
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Requested Bodhidharma to teach him, but was refused
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Huike cut off his left arm and offered it to Bodhidharma to prove his
resolve
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Impressed with his sincerity, Bodhidharma accepts him as a student
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Bodhidharma at Shaolin Temple
Some accounts describe Bodhidharma as upset by monks' poor physical
condition
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Taught physical and meditation techniques
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Taught exercises called the Eighteen Arhat Hands
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Final Conversation
The disciple Daofu replied: “As I see it, the truth neither adheres to words
nor is separate from them. Yet it functions as the Way.”
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The Master said: “You have attained my skin.”
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Then a nun, Zongzhi, spoke: “As I understand it, the truth is like the
auspicious glimpse of the Buddha land of Akshobhya; it is seen once, but
not a second time.”
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The Master replied: “You have attained my flesh.”
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Daoyou said: “The four great elements are originally empty; the five
skandhas [aggregates] have no existence. According to my belief, there is
no Dharma to be grasped.”
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To him the Master replied: “You have attained my bones.”
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Finally, there was Huike. He bowed respectfully and stood silent.
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The Master said: “You have attained my marrow.”
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Lecture 17: Chan/Zen Buddhism
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
10:27 PM
Document Summary
Buddhism traveled from inida to china 1st - 5th centuries ce. Indian monks brought texts to be translated into chinese. Resistance to monasticism by chinese society centered on family. Chan (zen) in particular is a fusion of indian buddhism with chinese culture. All forms of buddhism were transmitted to china. At first, hinayana and mahayana were represented equally. Hinayana was more strict on monastic rules, cultic practices, and metaphysical doctrine. Mahayana success in china was a result of a wider view and more flexibility. Facilitated translation of mahayana concepts into chinese language. Numerous buddhas and bodhisattvas offered rich religious symbolism that appealed to intellectuals and common people. Emptiness (sunyata): al things are empty of concrete or substantial essence -- related to meditation and metaphysics. Mind only: reality is ultimately nothing but consciousness. Daoism aided transmission of mahayana into chinese culture. Daoism and mahayana share concepts such as negative language and cosmic perspective.
