The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light was written by the Master Keizan Zenji starting in the first lunar month of 1300. The purpose of The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light was to commemorate and remember the line of ancestors in the Zen Buddhist tradition all the way back to Shakyamuni Buddha who had received the transmission of the teachings directly from the previous patriarch and experienced enlightenment.
Keizan Zenji
Born in Fukui Prefecture in 1267, Master Zenji entered a monastery – Eiheiji – and learned from Koun Ejyo and Tettsu Gikai. He became one of the greatest of the Soto Zen Ancestors and became Chief Abbot of Shogakuji in 1321 shortly thereafter renaming the temple Shogaku-zan Sojiji which later was made one of the two primary temples in Japan for the Soto Zen Church.
Zenji wrote many works including the Sankon-Zazen-Setsu, Denkoroku and most of the religious ceremonies used in the Soto Zen Tradition.
Denkoroku
The Denkoroku records the moment when the Way was transmitted from teacher to disciple for each of the fifty two patriarchs. In each story, there is a narrative of the moment the student received the Way, short biographical information and a set of verses summarizing that particular Patriarch’s teaching.
Saint Bashyubanzu, The Twenty First Ancestor
“One day Shyyata said to Bashyubanzu, ‘Even though I may not seek after enlightenment, I do not act contrary to it; even though I may not be doing prostrations before the Buddha, I am not spiritually negligent; even though I may not be sitting in meditation, I am not lazy; even though I may not eat just one meal a day, I am not gluttonous; even though I may not know what is enough, I am not covetous. In my heart there is nothing that seek; call this the Way.” When Bashyubanzu heard this, he realized the WISDOM that is free from all defilements and desires.” The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light.
Bashyubanzu was from Rajagriha and his family was from the Bishagi or ‘the clan of Viahsakha,’ Shakyamuni Buddha’s leading female lay disciple’s clan.
“The wind blows across the vast sky
making the clouds expose the mountain peak;
Worldly affairs and yearnings for enlightenment
Are both of no concern.”
Keizan Zenji summarizes the teaching of Bashyubanzu
Sources: The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light – Keizan Zenji, Shasta Abbey Buddhist Monastery
 |
