EACS 21 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Yuquan Shenxiu, Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra, Huineng
Document Summary
Born in india gives him authenticity. Entered nirvana when he was about 80 years old. The buddha passed to him the robe & bowl. Mahakasyapa smiles buddha realize this was the guy. Came to china during the reign of emperor wudi. Promoted mahayana doctrine & meditation in north china. Supposedly stared at a cave wall for 9 years. Gave wordless, mind-to-mind dharma transmission to huike. This is a special transmission outside the scriptures. It lets one see into one"s nature and attain buddhahood. Cut off his arm to show his sincerity before the patriarch transmitted the mind-seal. Author of relying on mind (xinxin ming) Entered nirvana while swinging on the branch of a tree. Co-founder of the eastern mountain school of chan in hubei province. Most important figure of early history of chan buddhism. Received the mind seal from the 5th patriarch in a secret transmission. Said to be the author of the platform sutra even though illiterate barbarian .
