History Dharma transmission

1 history

1.1 chán lineage
1.2 chinese patriarchs

1.2.1 6 chinese patriarchs
1.2.2 shenhui , huineng


1.3 indian patriarchs

1.3.1 twenty-eight indian patriarchs
1.3.2 mahākāśyapa

history

the notion , practice of dharma transmission developed in history of chán, means gain credibility , foster institutional ties among members of chán-community. charts of dharma-lineages developed, represented continuity of buddhist dharma. these lineages included chinese patriarchs, later extended twenty-eight indian patriarchs , 7 buddhas.

chán lineage

the chán-tradition developed established tradition of canonical buddhism , remained normative later chinese buddhism . established end of sixth century, result of chinese developing understanding of buddhism in previous centuries.

one of inventions of canonical buddhism transmission lists, literary device establish lineage. both t ien tai , chán took on literary device, lend authority developing traditions, , guarantee authenticity:

chan texts present school buddhism itself, or central teaching of buddhism, has been transmitted 7 buddhas of past twenty-eight patriarchs, , generations of chinese , japanese chan , zen masters follow.

the concept of dharma transmission took shape during tang period, when establishing right teachings became important, safeguard authority of specific schools. emerging zen-tradition developed transmission of lamp-genre, in lineages shakyamuni buddha own times described.

another literary device establishing traditions given kao-seng-chuan (biographies of eminent monks), compiled around 530. chán-tradition developed own corpus in genre, works such anthology of patriarchal hall (952) , jingde records of transmission of lamp (published 1004). mcrae considers dumoulin s history of zen modern example of genre, disguised scientific history.

chinese patriarchs

the chán-lineages picture indian monk bodhidharma patriarch brought chán china. scarce historical information available him, hagiography developed when chan tradition grew stronger , gained prominence in 8th century.

six chinese patriarchs

by time lineage of 6 ancestral founders of chán in china developed. in late 8th century, under influence of huineng s student shenhui, traditional form of lineage had been established:

shenhui , huineng

huineng tearing sutras

according tradition, sixth , last ancestral founder, huineng (惠能; 638–713), 1 of giants of chán history, , surviving schools regard him ancestor. dramatic story of huineng s life tells there controversy on claim title of patriarch. after being chosen hongren, fifth ancestral founder, huineng had flee night nanhua temple in south avoid wrath of hongren s jealous senior disciples.

modern scholarship, however, has questioned narrative. historic research reveals story created around middle of 8th century, beginning in 731 shenhui, successor huineng, win influence @ imperial court. claimed huineng successor of hongren s, instead of publicly recognized successor shenxiu. in 745 shen-hui invited take residence in ho-tse temple in lo-yang. in 753 fell out of grace, , had leave capital go exile. prominent of successors of lineage guifeng zongmi according tsung-mi, shen-hui s approach officially sanctioned in 796, when imperial commission determined southern line of ch represented orthodox transmission , established shen-hui seventh patriarch, placing inscription effect in shen-lung temple .

doctrinally southern school associated teaching enlightenment sudden, while northern school associated teaching enlightenment gradual. polemical exaggeration, since both schools derived same tradition, , so-called southern school incorporated many teachings of more influential northern school. both schools died out, influence of shenhui immense later chan schools traced origin huineng, , sudden enlightenment became standard doctrine of chan.

indian patriarchs

in later writings lineage extended include twenty-eight indian patriarchs. in song of enlightenment (證道歌 zhèngdào gē) of yongjia xuanjue (永嘉玄覺, 665–713), 1 of chief disciples of huìnéng, written bodhidharma 28th patriarch in line of descent mahākāśyapa, disciple of Śākyamuni buddha, , first patriarch of chán buddhism.

twenty-eight indian patriarchs

keizan s transmission of light gives twenty-eight patriarchs , including bodhidharma in transmission:

mahākāśyapa

according traditional chán accounts, first dharma transmission occurred described in flower sermon. buddha held golden lotus flower before assembly of gods , men . none in attendance showed sign of understanding except disciple mahākāśyapa, offered smile. buddha said,

i have right dharma eye treasury, wondrous mind of nirvana, reality beyond appearance. dharma-door of mind mind transmission has been entrusted kāśyapa. epstein comments, mahākāśyapa received transmission of dharma , became first buddhist patriarch.

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