Life & Times.

[Shi Da Dao]

'Born in Canton in 1898 and died in 1978. His first Master was Hutuktu of Sinkiang - an enlightened Great Lama. His second Master was the Venerable Ch'an Master Hsu Yun, the best-known modern Ch'an Master. Throughout his life Lu K'uan Yu contributed to Buddhist publications in India, London, Paris, and New York, for he passionately devoted his life to presenting Chinese Buddhist texts to Westerners because he wanted to preserve Buddhism.'

From "Ch'an and Zen Teaching'

Despite the contribution to world Buddhism, its spread to the West, and its preservation within Chinese culture, there is not a great deal written speficially about Charles Luk himself. It is true that throughout his published English translations of Chinese texts a limited personal biography of sorts can be gleamed. The simple fact is that without the presence of Charles Luk (Chinese name 'Lu Kuan Yu'), it is unlikely that the existence of master Xu Yun would have been known in the West, or Chinese Ch'an Buddhism understood to the extent that it is today. He exemplified everything that is good and great about Chinese culture.

Just before Charles died, Richard Hunn met and trained with him in Hong Kong. Charles knew that his life was nearing its end and he asked Richard to continue the Ch'an lineage and to help keep master Xu Yun's teaching alive through it. This lineage has many members, but essentially it is the Buddha's teaching expressed through Xu Yun's mouth, and preserved through our actions. Charles Luk, being a practical person was very much against secterianism in Buddhism, and thoroughly opposed such things as racism and nationalism, as having no place in the Dharma. When he passed away, his daighter - Irene Luk - took care of his work for a time, mediating with those who were interested in it. However, in 2004,at the request of Richard Hunn, we tried to locate this lady in Hong Kong, but despite all our connections in the Chinese community, we were unable to find her. Since then, I have even asked Mainland Chinese what they know, but no information has been forthcoming.

What is interesting is that Charles Luk passed away in 1978 with a number of translation projects in progress, and one or two finished projects waiting to be published. Richard was shown a manuscript Charles was preparing regarding the Lankavatara Sutra. As things stand at the moment, no one knows exactly what has happened to this work - and it has to be said that the honourable Luk family are entitled to their privacy. What is certain is that Charles Luk created some beautiful translations of Chinese texts, and that the work we do have should be viewed as something of a blessing.