It investigates translators choices on the level of lexicogrammar, the semantic consequences of such choices as the image of huineng and. If you wish to hear the teachings of the sages of the past, each of you must quiet the mind and hear me to. Chinese shoutong has been translated as mastery of the teachings, and xintong, as mastery of ones mind. The mind dharma of the sixth patriarch chan meditation center. The article is on the recreation of the image of chan master huineng in four english translations of the platform sutra through the choice of personal pronouns. Selections from the platform sutra of the sixth patriarch, philip yamplosky, trans. Historians believe the platform sutra was composed after huineng had died, probably by a disciple of one of huinengs dharma heirs, shenhui 670762. Hui neng s instruction still matters the 7thcentury school of sudden awakening. Delivered at tafan temple in shaochou by the sixth patriarch. The platform sutra of huineng dharma study ordinary zen sangha. The sutra of huineng, grand master of zen, with huinengs commentary on the diamond sutra, translated by thomas cleary, boston. The term sutra is reserved for a sermon of gautama buddha or one of the great bodhisattvas, and the canon of the chan school, the tripitaka, contains only one chinese work bearing that title. Rather than being an incitement to egocentric spontaneity which would result in utter chaos, and hence more delusion. Thats why he obtained the ancestors robe and bowl chan proverb.
The platform sutra does not purport to be spoken by the buddha, but rather is spoken by a buddha, huineng, known as the sixth patriarch of zen or chan buddhism and also called huineng and in japanese, yeno or eno. The platform refers to the podium on which a buddhist teacher speaks. It is often linked with the, isbn 9781593760861 buy the the platform sutra. Liutsu tanching, important text from the chan school of chinese buddhism, most likely composed in the 8th century ce. Please join us, if you can, for this special dharma study. This translation is the definitive english version of the eighthcentury chan classic. If you wish to hear the teachings of the sages of the past, each of you must quiet the mind and hear me to the end. The sixth patriarchs platform sutra is the only sutra by a master of chinese background, the chan schools sixth patriarch, hui neng. It is the mind verses submitted by huineng and his alter ego, shenxiu, that are. Huineng is the most important chinese zen master the sixth patriarch, so whatever is said in this book defines what zen is. The platform sutra records the teachings of hui neng, the sixth patriarch, who is revered as one of the two great figures in the founding of chan zen buddhism. The sutra of huineng, grand master of zen downloadable. The sutra spoken by the sixth patriarch on the high seat of the treasure of the law, otherwise known as the platform sutra of huineng. Suggestions by douglas gildow, for the huineng book.
The mahaparinirvana sutra which you expound explains that buddhanature is the only way. The tan ching, or platform sutra, has been a volume of immense popularity among the chan buddhists of east asia for many centuries. However, unlike the other sutras, which transcribe the teachings of the buddha himself, the platform sutra presents the autobiography of huineng, the controversial 6th patriarch of zen, and his understanding of the fundamentals of a spiritual and practical life. Purported to be the teaching of the sixth patriarch of the southern school of chan, it has achieved the highest status possible for a buddhist text by being awarded the title of ching sutra, which places it. It was originally composed in the 8th century and consists of a biography and the teachings of the sixth patriarch of zen buddhism, huineng. The primacy of the buddhanature, the identity of meditation and wisdom, the formless approach to repentance and the precepts, the samadhi of the single practiceall these are religious principles that are valid beyond the limits of this one brilliant scripture.
Once when the patriarch had come to paolam monastery, prefect wai of. The platform sutra of huineng dharma study posted on 01092019 01092019 by will todays dharma study will be on repentance from the sutra of hui neng. The platform sutra the mahaprajnaparamita sutra of the direct teaching of the southern school of the supreme mahayana, the platform sutra delivered at tafan temple in shaochou by the sixth patriarch, master hui neng, in one volume, compiled and recorded by fahai, recipient of the formless precepts and advocate of the dharma. Though its recollection has been attributed to fahai, a student of huineng, its origins are not clear. The platform sutra of the sixth patriarch purports to be a record of the teachings of huineng, as transcribed by an obscure disciple, fahai. Huineng 6387 was the sixth patriarch of zen in china, but is often. The sutra of huineng, grand master of zen by thomas. Columbia university press, reprinted by permission of publisher. Apr 26, 2011 this edition of the platform sutra is another translation and close reading by bill porter, b. The work is reputed to be a record of the teachings of the great chan master huineng.
Suzuki did say that the platform sutra was altered beginning within a generation of huinengs death. All of the chanzen buddhism in the world comes to us from him. Given the fragmentary and disputed nature of texts from this period, it cannot be regarded as. The platform sutra does not purport to be spoken by the buddha, but rather is spoken by a buddha, hui neng, known as the sixth patriarch of zen or chan buddhism and also called huineng and in japanese, yeno or eno. Huinengs instruction still mattersthe 7thcentury school of sudden.
This record of the life and teachings of hui neng, the sixth chan zen patriarch, is an eleventhcentury compilation with ancillary materials. Huinengs instruction still matters the 7thcentury school of sudden awakening that he founded survives today, continuing to influence the rinzai and soto schools of contemporary zen. Huineng, pinyin huineng, born 638, southwest kwangtung, chinadied 7, kwangtung, the sixth great patriarch of zen chan in chinese buddhism and founder of the southern school, which became the dominant school of zen, both in china and in japan as a young and illiterate peddler of firewood, huineng heard the chinkang ching diamond sutra and traveled 500 miles 800 km to. The teisho were given by harada shodoroshi at tahoma monastery tahomasan.
It also contains the diamond sutra and hui neng s commentary on it. Selection from the sutra of huineng, price and wong, trans. The platform sutra of the sixth patriarch terebess. The sixth patriarch is the sixth successor after bodhidharma. The sixth patriarchs dharma jewel platform sutra is the fundamental text of ch an buddhism. The study is a comparison of four english translations wong 1930, heng 1977, cleary 1998 and cheng 2011 of an ancient chan buddhist text, the platform sutra, which is a record of the public sermons and personal conversations of the chan master. Hui neng is the most important chinese zen master the sixth patriarch, so whatever is said in this book defines what zen is. The platform sutra of the sixth patriarch analysis. The platform sutra records the teachings of huineng, the sixth patriarch, who is revered as one of the two great figures in the founding of chan zen buddhism. The platform sutra of the sixth patriarch by huineng. The platform sutra, or to give it its full title as red pine does the mahaprajnaparamita sutra of the direct teaching of the southern school of the supreme mahayana, the platform sutra, is widely considered the most important of zen texts.
The platform sutra occupies a central place in zen chan buddhist instruction for students and spiritual seekers worldwide. The study is a comparison of four english translations of a chinese chan buddhist text, the platform sutra. However, unlike the other sutras, which transcribe the teachings of the buddha himself, the platform sutra presents the autobiography. Mastery of the teachings and mastery of mind are like the sun in the empty sky. Pdf the platform sutra download full pdf book download. Aug 10, 2019 platform sutra of the sixth patriarch. The platform sutra part i huineng 6387 the seven hundred eminent monks understood the dharma. The official title of his sutra is the dharma jewel of the platform sutra of the sixth patriarch, and this title represents the deepest truth of this sutra.
It is often linked with the heart sutra and the diamond sutra to form a trio of texts that have been revered and studied for centuries. Platform sutra of the sixth patriarch the book summary. Blyth, an early student and translator of japanese buddhist and literary texts, has some. Jewel of the platform sutra of the sixth patriarch. Most modern scholars doubt the historicity of traditional biographies and works written about huineng, considering his extended biography to be a legendary narrative based on a historical person of merely regional significance, of whom very little is known. It is attributed to the sixth patriarch of the chan tradition, huineng 6387, although it is most likely the work of subsequent disciples who sought to legitimate their school by devising a lineage of dharma masters leading back to. The platform sutra does not purport to be spoken by the buddha, but rather is spoken by a buddha, huineng, known as the sixth patriarch of zen or chan buddhism. On the high seat of the treasure of the law the sutra of the 6 th patriarch, hui neng translated by a.
Oct, 2015 provided to youtube by cdbaby the platform sutra of huineng talk 1 ven. However, unlike the other sutras, which transcribe the teachings of the buddha himself, the platform sutra presents the autobiography of hui neng, the controversial 6th patriarch of zen, and his understanding of the fundamentals of a spiritual and practical life. The two primary sources for huinengs life are the preface to the platform sutra and the transmission of the lamp. The sixth patriarchs dharma jewel platform sutra is the fundamental text of chan buddhism. Its key themes are the direct perception of ones true nature, and the unity in essence of sila. Huineng 6387 was the sixth patriarch of zen in china, but is often regarded as the true father of the zen tradition.
The platform sutra of the sixth patriarch consists of a record of the teachings of huineng, the sixth patriarch of the chan school in china, recorded by his disciple fahai, and is known by several abbreviated titles such as platform sutra or platform sutra of the dharma treasure. Even so, historian heinrich dumoulin wrote, it is this figure of huineng that zen has elevated to the stature of the zen master par excellence. The platform sutra the mahaprajnaparamita sutra of the direct teaching of the southern school of the supreme mahayana, the platform sutra delivered at tafan temple in shaochou by the sixth patriarch, master huineng, in one volume, compiled and recorded by fahai, recipient of the formless precepts and advocate of the dharma. The sutra of hui neng, grand master of zen, with hui neng s commentary on the diamond sutra, translated by thomas cleary, boston. Tachien chihjen huineng, he writes, was a bodhisattva monk, and his preaching of the platform sutra is basically no different from the buddhas preaching of the sutras ibid. Huineng 6387 is perhaps the most beloved and respected figure in zen buddhism. This pdf file may be printed and distributed according to the terms of use estab. During the seventh and eighth centuries under the tang dynasty, master hui neng. The sutra of huineng is here accompanied by huinengs versebyverse commentary on the diamond sutrain its very first published english translation ever. The platform sutra of huineng dharma study posted on 01092019 01092019 by will todays dharma study will be on repentance from the sutra of huineng. The sutra of hui neng download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. The wisdom of huineng, chinese buddhist philosopher. Pdf the study is a comparison of four english translations of a chinese chan buddhist text, the platform sutra.
The sutra of huineng, grand master of zen downloadable pdf. Red pine, whose translations of the heart sutra and the diamond sutra have been celebrated and widely received, now provides a sensitive and assured. The sutra spoken by the sixth patriarch on the high seat of the treasure of the law, otherwise known as the platform sutra of hui neng. The platform sutra of the sixth patriarch is generally regarded as the basic classic of chan zen buddhism. Huineng, who is portrayed in the platform sutra as an illiterate commoner, receives scripture they vary greatly in form, volume, age, and degree of sacredness. The sixth patriarchs dharma jewel platform sutra terebess. Shambhala dragon editions, 1998, 176 pages the platform sutra. It relates the life and teachings of master hui neng, the great master the sixth patriarch, as set down by one of his disciples. Platform sutra of the dharma treasure of the great master. However, unlike the other sutras, which transcribe the teachings of the buddha himself, the platform sutra presents the life and work. Among many explanations to this sutra for over a thousand years in chinese history, the notes by the second patriarch of buddhainmind are one of the best to explain the profound in simple terms and serve as. Huineng and the text of the platform sutra thus underscore the highly ritualized nature of chan life, a fact that several scholars have noted and which provides yet another strong contrast to popular misunderstandings of chan.
Tanjing is a chan buddhist scripture that was composed in china during the 8th to th century. Huineng huineng internet encyclopedia of philosophy. Huineng was the sixth chinese patriarch of zen buddhism. He was given the name hui neng when he was born and he didnt change. The platform sutra of the sixth patriarch bdk america.
Tachien chihjen hui neng, he writes, was a bodhisattva monk, and his preaching of the platform sutra is basically no different from the buddhas preaching of the sutras ibid. The sutra of huineng, also known as the platform sutra, contains the autobiography of a pivotal figure in zen history and some of the most profound passages of zen literature. This edition of the platform sutra is another translation and close reading by bill porter, b. Download the latest version of the video and the portable document format pdf.
It also contains the diamond sutra and huinengs commentary on it. It deals with the buddhist notion that the only criterion of any significance whatsoever is the experience of seeing the buddhanature. Todays dharma study will be on repentance from the sutra of huineng. Even so, historian heinrich dumoulin wrote, it is this figure of hui neng that zen has elevated to the stature of the zen master par excellence. An illiterate woodcutter who attained enlightenment in a flash, he became the sixth patriarch of chinese zen, and is regarded as. Sutra of hui neng 2 w ithin the essence of mind all things are intrinsically pure, like the azure of the sky and the radiance of the sun and the moon which, when obscured by passing clouds, may appear as if their brightness had been dimmed. Transmission and enlightenment in chan buddhism seen through the platform sutra pdf.
977 173 421 292 1087 13 675 275 1484 403 1023 135 657 846 1561 841 1446 1462 1614 729 373 937 1490 1021 1052 31 1118 98 1413 656 1002 32 1319 377 410