Zen Master Yuanlai Thought Research

Zen Buddhism is a typical representative of the sinicization of Buddhism and an important component of traditional Chinese culture.Cao Dongzong is the main Zen sect in China,which originated in the late Tang Dynasty and has continued to have an important impact on Chinese culture.In the early Ming Dynasty,the development of Cao Dongzong was relatively weak,mainly continuing the Wansong Xingxiu system.Among them,famous Zen masters include Xueting Fuyu,Lin Quan Conglun,Lin Shan Changzhong,Shaoshi Changrun,and Wuminghui Sutra.Yuan Lai inherited the teachings of the Wuming and Huijing Zen masters,and realized the wisdom of the Huijing Zen master’s "I don’t know,I don’t know," and founded the Boshan sect of the Shouchang Zen sect.As one of the important Zen monks in the lineage of Cao Dong Sect’s teachings,he once expressed unique insights into many current drawbacks in the jungle at that time.Currently,there is a lack of specialized and systematic case studies on Yuan Lai in academic circles.A comprehensive review of Yuan Lai’s life and Zen thoughts is beneficial to promoting the study of Chinese Zen Buddhism.This article mainly focuses on four aspects: the life and behavior of Yuanlai,the theory of "self nature Amitabha,the original mind is Buddha",and the theory of "working hard to arouse suspicion" and its historical impact.In terms of his life style,I have specifically researched and identified two controversial issues concerning his common surname and the monks and lesbians,especially analyzing his criticism and support of the jungle ills.In terms of the theory of mind and nature,first of all,Yuan Lai continued the theoretical tradition of Cao Dongzong attaching importance to the idea that mind is Buddha based on the idea of directly pointing to the human heart and becoming Buddha by seeing one’s nature.Secondly,the Zen cultivation method of "Breaking the Heart of Life and Death" and "Pure Land is Western Land" integrates the thoughts of Pure Land Sect cultivation.Finally,his teaching theory of Zen emphasizes the combination of "Zen","purification",and "law",and advocates "Shen Hua Tou" to enable Zen practitioners to focus on understanding the Tao.In terms of the theory of time,Yuan Lai proposed the theory of time for meditation in response to the serious abuses in the jungle during the late Ming Dynasty.First of all,we should attach importance to the importance of precepts and wisdom for the cultivation of Zen meditation.Secondly,explore the root causes of jungle ills and propose feasible measures to "arouse suspicion".Finally,compared to the traditional Zen teaching method of Zen,it advocates the Zen ideology of "integrating Zen and teaching,and returning to Buddhism through meditation.".In terms of historical influence,the Yuan Dynasty inherited the development of the Shouchang Zen system of the Cao Dong Sect and created the Boshan Zen system.Its unique Zen thought has cultivated many legacies,attracted many Zen practitioners,and had an important impact on promoting the development of the Shouchang sect and promoting the style of the Cao Dong sect.