Six Patriarch Platform Sutra

Author: (Tang) Huineng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-08-01
Features: Since the beginning of the Han Dynasty, Buddhism was introduced to China, and a large number of Buddhist scriptures were translated and introduced by Lu Ji. According to Buddhist tradition, only works that record the teachings of the Buddha, Sakyamuni, are called [Jing]. With one exception, the teachings of the Tang Dynasty monk Huineng were compiled by later generations and called the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch. Huineng (638–713), also known as [Huineng], was of the secular surname Lu. His ancestral home was Fanyang (capital now in southwest Beijing), and he was born in Nanxing, Nanhai (now part of Guangdong). In his youth, he studied Zen under the fifth patriarch Hongren, and because of his verse [Bodhi is inherently without trees, and the bright mirror is also not a platform; fundamentally there is nothing, where can dust be attached!] he was recognized by Hongren, who passed on the robe and bowl to him, making him the sixth patriarch of Zen. Later, he taught at Baolin Temple in Caoxi, Shaoguan, opening a platform to propagate Zen and establishing the Southern School of Zen. The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch is fully titled The Dharma Treasure Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch, abbreviated as the Platform Sutra, one volume, compiled by Huineng's disciple Fazhan. It argues based on the principle [Inherent nature is inherently pure] and promotes [seeing the mind and realizing the nature], advocating abandoning external texts and [pointing directly to the heart], [sudden enlightenment to become a Buddha], greatly advancing the spread of Buddhism. Thus, the position of Zen in the history of Chinese Buddhism was established.