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 Yakusan Igen, The Thirty Sixth Ancestor
“When Yakusan went to train under Sekito he said to the master, ‘I have a rough understanding of the Three Vehicles and the Twelve Divisions of the Scriptures but I have heard that, in the South, they directly point to a person’s ORIGINAL NATURE so that he may see IT and become Buddha. I really do not comprehend this yet and beg, on bended knees, that you, Reverend Priest, out of your compassion, will point IT out to me.’ Sekito responded, ‘You will not find IT if I assert that IT is ineed like this,’ nor will you find IT if I assert that ‘IT is indeed not like this’ and you will certainly not find IT if I assert that ‘ IT is and is not like this.’ What will you do to bring IT forth?’” The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light.
Yakusan Igen’s name meant ‘Dignity Personified’ and was of the Kan clan in Koshu.
“That lively STRANGER
who is always so vigorous and bold;
Whenever you call to HIM, you make HIM be the ONE
Whose eyebrows raise and eyes blink.”
Keizan Zenji summarizes the teaching of Yakusan Igen
Sources: The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light – Keizan Zenji, Shasta Abbey Buddhist Monastery
 |
