Keizan Zenji records in The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light, that after leaving the palace to become a profound ascetic, Shakyamuni Buddha discovered the middle way – the path of no extremes. It was at this time that he propounded the Four Noble Truths. These four truths are 1.) The Truth of Suffering, 2.) The Truth of the Origin of Suffering, 3.) The Truth of the Extinction of Suffering, and 4.) The Truth of the Path that Leads to the Extinction of Suffering. This path is found by practicing Right Understanding, Thought, Speech, Action, Livelihood, Effort, Mindfulness and Concentration. The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light records the line of ancestors in the Zen Buddhist tradition back to Shakyamuni Buddha.
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 Kanchi Sosan, The Thirtieth Ancestor
“Upon meeting Eka, Sosan asked him, ‘My boddy is riddled with disease; please, Reverend Priest, cleanse me of my defilement.’ Eka replied, ‘Bring me your defilement and I will cleanse you of it.’ Sosan thought long and hard about this, then said, ‘I have searched for my defilement but cannot find it.’ Eka replied, ‘I have cleansed you of your defilement. It is fitting that you dwell in accord with Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.’” The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light.
Kanchi Sosan’s birthplace remains unknown and his name means ‘The resplendent Jewel of the Sangha.’ His first encounter occurred with Eka when he was in his forties when Kanchi Sosan exclaimed “Today, for the first time, I realize that the true nature of defilement does not exist within or without or in-between; it is the same as ORIGINAL NATURE; Buddha and Dharma are inseparable.” The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light.
“The ORIGINAL NATURE of things
is void, unstained and pure,
without inside or outside,
Hence neither defilements nor virtues
Leave any traces therein.
ORIGINAL NATURE and BUDDHA
Are fundamentally the same;
Both DHARMA and SANGHA
are, in themselves, clearly wise.”
Keizan Zenji summarizes the teaching of Kanchi Sosan
Sources: The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light – Keizan Zenji, Shasta Abbey Buddhist Monastery
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