There Is No Discord.
Mar 3, 2010 12:21:33 GMT 1
Post by Shi Da Dao on Mar 3, 2010 12:21:33 GMT 1
The Patriarch's Ch'an points beyond itself, to the Mind Ground that underlies all phemonena. An academic fact points firmly to itself and does lie outside the phenomenal. However, even the latter can be useful as a kung an:
'Traditionalists may be disappointed to learn that the Platform Sutra's account is completely inaccurate as history and that the conventional interpretation errs at almost every point. First, the biographies of Shen-hsiu and Hui-neng reveal that the two men were not at Hung-jen's side at the same time, and probably neither of them was with him near the end of his life. Hence an exchange of verses between Shen-hsiu and Hui-neng, or any other form of competition between the two men for the succession of Hung-jen's position, simply never happened.' (Zen Tradition & Transition - Chapter 7, The Story of Early Ch'an By John McRae - Page 129)
'Traditionalists may be disappointed to learn that the Platform Sutra's account is completely inaccurate as history and that the conventional interpretation errs at almost every point. First, the biographies of Shen-hsiu and Hui-neng reveal that the two men were not at Hung-jen's side at the same time, and probably neither of them was with him near the end of his life. Hence an exchange of verses between Shen-hsiu and Hui-neng, or any other form of competition between the two men for the succession of Hung-jen's position, simply never happened.' (Zen Tradition & Transition - Chapter 7, The Story of Early Ch'an By John McRae - Page 129)
Ch'an othodoxy
Academic heresy
Without words
What is the answer?
Academic heresy
Without words
What is the answer?