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 Daii Doshin, The Thirty First Ancestor
“Bowing before Great Master Kanchi, Doshin said, ‘Please, Reverend Priest, I beg you, from your compassion, to impart to me the Dharma Gate of liberation.’ Kanchi said, ‘Who is preventing you from entering?’ Doshin answered, ‘No one is preventing me.’ Kanchi said, ‘Then why do you seek liberation from me?’ At these words Doshin experienced a great awakening to his true self.” The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light.
Daii Doshin’s name means ‘He Who Trusts in the Way’. He was from Kanai but later resided in Kishu.
A story is related of Daii Doshin that in 617 C.E. he and his followers arrived at Kichishu, a city that had been held in the grip of bandits for over seventy days. Taking pity on the residents of the city, Doshin instructed the residents to recite ‘The Scripture of the Great Wisdom.’ Later, the band of robbers approached the city, but many believed they saw what they called ‘phantom soldiers’ waiting for them at the gate. As a result, they realized a phenomenal saint was within and they should no longer attack. Withdrawing, Doshin stayed with the people until 624 when he returned to Kishu.
“ORIGINAL NATURE is empty, ITS unsullied wisdom
holds no thought of right or wrong;
Within ITSELF, IT recognizes nothing
as being fettered or free;
Even though we may distinguish five skandhas
and four elements
Sight and hearing, sound and form
Are ultimately nothing other than IT.s”
Keizan Zenji summarizes the teaching of Daii Doshin
Sources: The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light – Keizan Zenji, Shasta Abbey Buddhist Monastery
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