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 Tendo Sokaku, The Forty Eighth Ancestor
“Sokaku was Seiryo’s jiisha for a long time. One day Seiryo asked him, ‘How do you view the matter these days?’ Sokaku said, ‘I too would say that IT is ‘like this.’’ Seiryo said, ‘Not yet it – go on further.’ Sokaku said, ‘Why is what I said not yet it?’ Seiryo said, ‘I did not say that you said is not yet it; it is that you are not yet familiar with THAT which is beyond.’ Sokaku said, ‘I can speak of THAT which is beyond.’ Seiryo said, ‘What is THAT which is beyond?’ Sokaku said, ‘Even supposing I could express THAT which is beyond, I could not begin to find for you, Reverend Priest, something with this to compare IT.’ Seiryo said, ‘You are really not able to say.’ Bowing humbly, Sokaku said, ‘Ask me and I will express IT.’ Sokaku said, “What is THAT which is beyond?’ Seiryo, gesturing, said, ‘I too would say that IT is not ‘like this’!’ Hearing this, Sokaku awoke to his TRUE SELF and Seiryo gave him the Seal of certification.” Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light.
Tendo Sokaku’s name means ‘The Jewels of Our Line.’ It is not known where he was born and to which clan he was associated as a child.
“By analogy IT is just like a post
wedged in at top and bottom;
You cannot push it in farther
and you cannot pull it out!”
Keizan Zenji summarizes the teaching of Tendo Sokaku
Sources: The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light – Keizan Zenji, Shasta Abbey Buddhist Monastery
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