There are a few jades running through a golden needle (celebrity standouts) in the line of 52 Soto Zen Buddhist Ancestors and Patriarchs. Although the remnants of most of the ancestors lives remain sketchy, there are three who remain well remembered today and whose writings are still extant: Nagyaarajunya (commonly referred to as Nagarjuna), Bodaidaruma and the Master Eihei Dogen, author of the Shobogenzo-Zuimonki and Moon in a Dewdrop, both profound Soto Zen Buddhist texts which remain studied in monasteries and by Buddhists the world over today.
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 Mishaka, The Sixth Ancestor
“One day, Daitaka said, ‘The Buddha said, ‘When one pursues the supernormal powers of a rishi or devotes himself to the study of the Lesser Vehicle, he becomes like someone entangled in, and dragged along by, a rope.’ Know for yourself that, when you leave such rivulets behind, you immediately arrive at the GREAT OCEAN; by all means, confirm the UNBORN for yourself.’ Mishaka, as a result, had a great awakening to his TRUE SELF.” The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light.
Mishaka’s name means ‘He Who Knows Pain.’ He was the leader of thousands of rishi or Indian holy men who spent move of their time working on and cultivating their psychic power. They lived away from other men as hermits. He had a profound understanding of Zen Buddhism and was known to say to his discples, “Nothing fetters you so what need is there to be released?”
“Even though there may be an every-day purity,
silt-clear as a river’s water in autum,
How can it possibly compare with a luminous spring night,
The moon softened by haze?
Many are the houses where people yearn thus
For a spotlessly clean life
But, however much they sweet this way and that,
Their hearts are still not emptied and clear.”
Keizan Zenji summarizes the teaching of Mishaka
Sources: The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light – Keizan Zenji, Shasta Abbey Buddhist Monastery
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