Saint Funayashya
Eleventh Zen Buddhist Ancestor
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 Funayashya, The Eleventh Ancestor
“Whilst Funayashya stood in gassho before Barishiba, the latter asked, ‘Where do you come from?’ Funayashya answered, ‘My mind travels nowhere.’ Barishiba then asked, ‘Where do you reside?’ Funayashya replied, ‘My mind resides nowhere.’ Barishiba asked, ‘Then things are not settled for you?’ Funayashya said, ‘It is just as it was for all the Buddhas.’ Barishiba said, ‘You are not ‘all the Buddhas’, moreover it is a mistake to refer to anyone as ‘all the Buddhas.’” Hearing this statement, Funayashya trained diligently with it for three weeks until he recognized for himself the DHARMA NATURE OF THE UNBORN; he then announced to Barishiba, ‘It is a mistake to regard anyone as ‘all the Buddhas’ and to regard you as a ‘Sainted One’,” Barishiba approved of this and Transmitted the True Teaching to him. The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light.
Funayashya’s name means ‘He of Virtuous Renown,’ and was a member of the Gautama clan from the country of Patna.
“MY ORIGINAL NATURE is not the Buddha nor is IT you,
And all my comings and goings abide therein.”
Keizan Zenji summarizes the teaching of Funayashya
Sources: The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light – Keizan Zenji, Shasta Abbey Buddhist Monastery
Mount Shasta
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