Saint Kanadaiba
Fifteenth Reverend Zen Buddhist Monk
The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light was translated into English by the late Rev. Master Jiyu Kennett of the Shasta Abbey Zen Buddhist Monastery from the original writings of Master Keizan Zenji. Master Kennett, a late twentieth century Buddhist Master, felt that the long sentences of Buddhist writings would be difficult and annoying for many English readers, but she refused to apologize for these insisting that it was within those long sentences that the many facets and degrees of stillness could be found.
The Preservation of the Lineage
It was the Great Master Keizan Zenji who realized that the lineage of the Zen Ancestors could be lost if it were not recorded. He began writing The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light in the 14th century with a special emphasis on preserving the moment that each of the Zen Ancestors received enlightenment.
Master Keizan Zenji entered the monastery Eiheiji at a very young age. He was born in Fukui Prefecture in 1267 and entered as a young boy. Learning from two great contemporaries of his time – Koun Ejyo and Tettsu Gikai, he has become one of the most beloved Zen Masters.
Writing many works in his life, he is best known for having originated and written most of the religious ceremonies utilized today in Soto Zen Buddhism, but he is also credited with the Sankon-Zazen-Setsu and Denkoroku.
Fifty Two Patriarchs
It was not an easy task to do, but Master Keizan Zenji recorded the moment of transmission between Master and Disciple for each of the Fifty Two Patriarchs. These Patriarchs are most often referred to as the Ancestors of Zen, and in Buddhism there is a great deal of respect accorded to the sequence of the teachings. It is not unlike the Apostolic Succession in Catholic Christianity.
Saint Kanadaiba, The Fifteenth Ancestor
“This is what happened when Kanadaiba had his first audience with Nagyaarajyuna, the Noble One. No sooner had Kanadaiba entered the gate than Nagyaarajyuna realized what an astute person he was so he dispatched his jiisha to fetch a bowl filled to the brim with water and place it in front of where they were sitting. Nagyaarajyuna gazed at it, held up a needle which he plunged into the water and then offered the bowl to Kanadaiba. Their eyes met and Kanadaiba, in great joy, realized his ORIGINAL NATURE. The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light.
Kanadaiba’s name meant ‘The Single-eyed Deva and was from Southern India, the merchant caste. As a result, before his encounter with Nagyaarajyuna, he sought after wealth and the persuasion of others for his own monetary gain.
Nagyaarajyuna had come to this village filled with merchants to teach of the Way and was asked, “Is this Buddha Nature something large or something small?” He replied, “BUDDHA NATURE is neither large nor mall, broad nor narrow; IT is beyond profit or recompense and IT is undying and unborn.” Kanadaiba was present and accepted when Nagyaarajyuna offered him a seat to continue his teaching.
“Once the SINGLE NEEDLE has fished up
all the sky-blue waters of the ocean,
The FIERCE DRAGON, wherever HE may go,
Will not conceal HIMSELF.”
Keizan Zenji summarizes the teaching of Kanadaiba
Mount Shasta
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