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 Doan Kanshi, The Forty First Ancestor
“Whilst studying under Dohi, Kashi said, ‘Someone of old remarked, ‘I do not desire what worldly people desire.’ I wonder what you desire, Reverend Priest?’ Dohi replied, ‘I have already realized such.’ Upon hearing these words, Kanshi had a great awakening to his TRUE SELF . . . When Dohi was on the verge of death, he entered the meditation hall and said in verse,
‘In front of the Shrine of Many Sons
A child of our line towered above the rest;
Before the peak of the Five Elders
How does the matter go?’
Although he spoke this three times, still no one responded. Finally, Kanshi came forth and said in verse,
The night is bright outside the bamboo blind
Where they stand lined up in rows;
For ten thousand leagues their song reverberates
Expressing the GREAT TRANQUILLITY.’
Dohi said, ‘This donkey of a fellow will find IT first!’” The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light.
Doan Kanshi’s name meant ‘He Who Examines His Intentions’ and it remains unknown as to his clan or birthplace.
“The moon-like TRUE NATURE
and the blossoming in the eyes,
how fine their light and colour are!
They open outside the aeons of time
So who is there to take pleasure in them?”
Keizan Zenji summarizes the teaching of Doan Kanshi
Sources: The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light – Keizan Zenji, Shasta Abbey Buddhist Monastery
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