Zen Buddhism People

Dogen

• founder of Soto school in Japan

  • emphasis on zazen and shikantaza

• authored Shobogenzo

  • one of the most important Japanese Zen philosophical works

• oneness of practice and enlightenment

  • everyday activities = being enlightened

  • just existing is an expression of Buddha Nature

Bodhidharma

First Patriarch

• arrived from India in 5th/6th century

• Wall Gazing

  • teachings emphasize direct transmission beyond scriptures

• Treatise on Two Entrances and Four Practices

  • written by disciples

Huineng

Sixth Patriarch

• Sudden Enlightenment and intrinsic Buddha Nature

  • contrasted with gradual approach

  • greatly influenced development of Chan/Zen Buddhism

• Platform Sutra

  • mind-to-mind transmission, non-duality of nature

  • first sutra not written by the Buddha

Sakyamuni

Siddhartha Gautama

• the buddha lol

Hongren

Fifth Patriarch

• Inherent Buddha Nature in all beings

• gave his robe and patriarch title to Huineng instead of Shenxiu

  • believed Huineng was more attuned to enlightenment and actually understood it

  • fake(???)

Mazu

Huairung’s successor

• Irrelevance of Meditation

  • also taught significance of daily life

• “Shock Therapy”

  • pivotal in development of Hongzhou school of Chan

    • first empire-wide school!

  • teachings also influenced later Chan/Zen traditions

    • esp Linji/Rinzai school

Hongzhi

• Silent Illumination!!

  • objectless meditation

  • Caodong/Soto Zen tradition

• studied with Kumu (dead wood)

  • sat so still in meditation that he looked like dead wood

Shenxiu

Hongren’s disciple

• Northern School of Chan

  • taught gradual enlightenment

• defamed by Huineng’s disciple Shenhui

  • still prominent leader of Metropolitan Chan according to Dunhuang manuscript

  • summoned to court of Chang’an by Empress Wu

Zhaozhou

One Who would have Saved the Cat

• Nanquan’s disciple

• well-known koan: “Does a dog have Buddha Nature?”

  • responded “NOT” (“mu/wu”)

Dongshan

• contemporary of Linji

• Cadong (Soto) School

  • poetic style

  • concerned with Buddha Nature of inanimate objects

• distinct teaching style: balancing philosophical depth & practical meditation

Huike

Second Patriarch

• key disciple of Bodhidharma

• legendary for offering his arm to Bodhidharma to demonstrate his sincerity

  • extreme commitment to learning enlightenment from Bodhidharma

Nanquan

One who Killed the Cat

• famous cat-cutting koan

• used everyday activities as opportunities for awakening

• teachings greatly influenced development of koan literacy and Zen pedagogy

Zhuangzi

Daoist monk

• wrote Zhuangzi (daoist text)

  • explored Dao in everyday life

  • “sit quietly and do nothing”

• had the butterfly dream

Eisai

• Brought Rinzai Zen from China —> Japan

  • 12th century

• promoted zen practices in daily life

  • esp tea ceremony

Hakuin

• revived Rinzai school

  • emphasized rigorous koan practice

  • deep koan practice + daily life activities —> enlightenment

• known for dynamic teaching style

  • also artwork and calligraphy

Shenhui

Huineng’s disciple

• 20-year propaganda against Shenxiu

  • tried to discredit him as a patriarch and the northern school

  • erected a shrine hall for Huineng

• created mono-succession from Bodhidharma to Huineng from Buddha

Mahakasyapa

Disciple of The Buddha

• foremost in ascetic practice

• assumed leadership over Buddhist community after the Buddha attained parinirvana

  • presided over First Buddhist Council

Linji

Huangbo’s disciple

• founder of Linji (Rinzai) school

  • dynamic teaching methods (shouts and physical gestures)

  • sudden awakening and direct encounter with one’s nature

• “Kill the Budha”

Dahui

Linji’s successor

• critic of silent illumination

• advocated for koan practice

  • pioneered use of huatou - critical phrase of a koan

  • shaped Linji/Rinzai practice

Shitou

• known for poem “The Song of the Grass-Roof Hermitage”

  • Shitou’s emphasis on the physical body and integration of Taoist naturalness and Buddhist emptiness

• founded _____ School of Chan

Huangbo

Baizhang’s disciple

• known for Shock Therapy

  • influential in development of Linji (Rinzai) school

• The Zen Teaching of _____

  • recorded sayings are classics in zen literature

  • emphasize ineffability of zen

Rujing

• pivotal in transmission of Soto Zen lineage to Japan

  • through student Dogen

• strict emphasis on zazen

Ikkyu

• challenged most institutional Zen formalities

  • was very unorthodox, sometimes very provocative

  • emphasizes direct, personal experience

• his life and teachings highlight Zen’s capacity to encompass a wide range of human experiences

Sengcan

Third Patriarch

• known for composition

• Xinxin Ming (Relying on Mind) - key Zen text he authored

• Non-duality and Inherent Buddha Nature

  • buddha nature in all sentient beings

Laozi

• famous made-up Daoist philosopher

• “authored” Daodejing

Emperor Wu

• 6th-century emperor of Liang Dynasty

• known for patronage of Buddhism and encounter with Bodhidharma

  • Bodhidharma responds ”I don’t know” to Emperor’s question