Sixth Patriarch Talks
Dajian Huineng (traditional Chinese: 大鑒惠能; pinyin: Dàjiàn Huìnéng; Wade–Giles: Ta⁴-chien⁴ Hui⁴-nêng²; Japanese: Daikan Enō; Korean: Daegam Hyeneung; February 27, 638 – August 28, 713), also commonly known as the Sixth Patriarch or Sixth Ancestor of Chan (traditional Chinese: 禪宗六祖), is a semi-legendary but central figure in the early history of Chinese Chan Buddhism. According to tradition he was an uneducated layman who suddenly attained awakening (Chinese: 見性, jianxing) upon hearing the Diamond Sutra. Despite his lack of formal training, he demonstrated his understanding to the fifth patriarch, Daman Hongren, who then supposedly chose Huineng as his true successor instead of his publicly known selection of Yuquan Shenxiu.
Twentieth century scholarship revealed that the story of Huineng's Buddhist career was likely invented by the monk Heze Shenhui, who claimed to be one of Huineng's disciples and was highly critical of Shenxiu's teaching.
Huineng is regarded as the founder of the "Sudden Enlightenment" Southern Chan school of Buddhism, which focuses on an immediate and direct attainment of Buddhist enlightenment. The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch (六祖壇經), which is said to be a record of his teachings, is a highly influential text in the East Asian Buddhist tradition.
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Blue Cliff Record: Case #35Serial: BZ-00034A Manjushri's "3's" and "3's"; Nondiscrimination, Saturday Lecture BCR-35
Non-discrimination, Koan, Manjushri, Dragons, Conversation, Sixth Patriarch, Monastic... |
Jul 03 1982 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Essence of Mind: The Fifth ParamitaSerial: BZ-00008A Subject and Object--Buddhanature, Saturday Lecture Subject-and-Object, Duality, Buddha Nature, Buddha Nature, Daily Life, Subject-and-... |
May 15 1982 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Celebration of Spring--This Shore, The Other ShoreSerial: BZ-00014B Keepng Your Place, One-Day Sitting Sixth Patriarch, Heart Sutra, Nirvana, Happiness, Observe |
Mar 20 1982 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Rinzai Zen Sixth Patriarch, Soto Zen, Lotus Sutra, Heart Sutra, Platform Sutra, Doubt, Buddha... |
Feb 26 1982 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Right Effort and Right ThoughtSerial: BZ-00026A Saturday Lecture Right Effort, Right Thought, Noble Eightfold Path, Study, Focus, Right Effort,... |
Nov 15 1980 Berkeley Zen Center |
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November 15, 1980, Serial No. 01061 Right Effort, Monastic Practice, Sixth Patriarch, Soto Zen, Daily Life, American,... |
Nov 15 1980 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Unknown Date, Serial 00168, Side B Birth-and-Death, Lotus Sutra, Ordinary Mind, Sixth Patriarch, Platform Sutra, Funeral... |
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The Book of SerenitySerial: BZ-00239 Class 1 of 5 Duality, Intimacy, Ego, Sixth Patriarch, Subject-and-Object, Non-duality, Four Noble... |
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1 Berkeley Zen Center |