Huineng

Dajian Huineng
惠能
Huineng cutting bamboo
Personal
Born	638 Xinxing County, Guangdong, China
Died	713 (aged 74–75) Guo'en Temple, Xinxing County, Guangdong, China
Religion	Chan Buddhism
Nationality	Chinese
Notable work(s)	Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch
Dharma names	Huineng (惠能)
Posthumous name	Dajian (大鑒)
Temple	Guangxiao Temple Nanhua Temple
Senior posting
Teacher	Daman Hongren
Students Qingyuan Xingsi Shitou Xiqian Nanyue Huairang

Dajian Huineng (Chinese: 大鑒惠能; pinyin: Dàjiàn Huìnéng; Wade–Giles: Ta⁴-chien⁴; Japanese: Daikan Enō; Korean: Hyeneung; 638–713), also commonly known as the Sixth Patriarch or Sixth Ancestor of Chan, is a semi-legendary but central figure in the early history of Chinese Chan Buddhism. He was said to have been an uneducated layman who suddenly attained awakening upon hearing the Diamond Sutra. Despite his lack of formal training, he demonstrated his understanding to the fifth ancestor, Daman Hongren, who then supposedly chose Huineng as his true successor instead of his publicly known selection of Yuquan Shenxiu. Twentieth century scholarship revealed that the story of Huineng's Buddhist career was likely invented by the monk Heze Shenhui, who claimed to be one of Huineng's descendants and was highly critical of Shenxiu's teaching. Huineng is regarded as the founder of the "Sudden Enlightenment" Southern Chan school of Buddhism, which focuses on an immediate and direct attainment of Buddhist enlightenment. The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch (六祖壇經), which is said to be a record of his teachings, is a highly influential text in the East Asian meditative tradition.

Further reading

• Huineng, Wikipedia