It is not necessarily a well-known point that the originator of all Buddhism and the Soto Zen Buddhist line of Patriarchs and Ancestors, Shakyamuni Buddha himself, received the teachings and the transmission of the Way through others who came before him also seeking the Way. But it is in the writings of the Buddha where this practice of long sentences used to capture indefinable concepts seems to have originated in Zen. It is said in The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light, written by the Master Keizan Zenji, that it is a mistake to look upon Shakyamuni Buddha as standing out from the rest of humanity in his realization of enlightenment. Although the Buddha’s incarnation marks the beginning of the formal religion and scriptures of Buddhism, ascetics sought the way from beginningless time. Through the practice of extremes in wealth and subsequent asceticism, he was able to awaken to the middle way which is the foundation stone of all Buddhism.
Keizan Zenji and Reverend Master Abbess Jiyu Kennett
When Shasta Abbey Zen Buddhist Monastery decided to undertake the task of translating The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light recorded by the Great Master Keizan Zenji in the 1300’s, they assumed the average person would not understand it. It was initially intended for members of the Zen Buddhist priesthood engaging in serious and intensive training of the mind. It was understood that some of these Zen Aphorisms would make no sense to a Western born reader. It would require a penetration of sorts into the true core of what Zen is.
Master Keizan Zenji, born in Fukui Prefecture in 1267, would probably have been surprised to find his work administered in many languages to a lay population. The Sankon-Zazen-Setsu, Denkoroku are just two of the great works attributed to the Master Zenji. Most of the religious ceremonies still used today in Soto Zen tradition were penned by him.
The Moment of Enlightenment
The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light has the profound task of keeping for all eternity the records of the moment between Master and Disciple wherein the Master and current ancestor prepares the new disciple to take the torch of the Way to the next generation. Each moment is unique and profound.
Saint Kayashyata, The Eighteenth Ancestor
“Once, whilst Kayashyata was serving as a jiisha to Sogyanandai, they heard a sound as the wind blew a temple bell. Sogyanandai asked Kayshyata, ‘Is that the souls of the bell or the sound of the wind?’ Kayahshyata answered, ‘Neither the wind nor the bell, merely the sound of TRUE NATURE?’ Kayashyata responded, ‘The REASON why all alike are silent and still.’ Sogyanandai exclaimed, ‘Excellent! The disciple to inherit my Way is none other than you!’ Accordingly he gave the Treasury of the Law to Kayashyata.” The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light.
Kayashyata was from the clan of Udraka Rampautra of Magadha. His father was klnopwn as Tengai, ‘A Heavenly Canopy of Light,’ nad his mother was known as Hosei, ‘Saintly in all Ways.’ When Kayashyata was born, his body was perceived to have the luster of porcelain and even before given a bath he always smelled clean and sweet smelling. He was known to have the gift of the ‘Completely Perfect Mirror’ which followed him everywhere. Comfortable with quietude and unmoved by worldly attachments. When he would sit down the Perfect Mirror was always there, and within it he could see the activities of the Buddhas of every age float across it.
“Silent and still ORIGINAL NATURE resounds
reverbertating in a myriad ways
Sogyanandai and Kayashyata
As well as wind and bell.”
Keizan Zenji summarizes the teaching of Kayashyatai
Sources: The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light – Keizan Zenji, Shasta Abbey Buddhist Monastery
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