百丈懷海=Baizhang Huaihai; 百丈清規=Baizhang Qing Gui(Baizhang monastic regulation); 農禪思想=Thought of Agricultural Chan; 叢林制度=rules of the monastic jungle; 中國禪宗=Chan School
This paper is to explore the Thought of Agricultural Chan by Baizhang Huaihai (749~814, hereinafter referred to as Baizhang) such as “A day without work, a day without food.” First of all, it is to outline the investigation on the origin of Chinese Buddhism Agricultural Chan, Baizhang’s personal life and his Baizhang Qing Gui (Baizhang monastic regulation) as were recorded in the documentation. Next, this paper is also to bring out the main relation between the monastic regulations and the precepts. Furthermore, it is also to mention the main study of Baizhang’s Chan and Thought, as well as to explore the origin and the background of his monastic regulations. Finally, it is to bring about the content of the main ‘Thought of Agricultural Chan’ which is Pu Qing Fa (Working Chan), and to compare the ‘Set and Carry out the Regulation’ in the Guo Qing Bai Lu (set and carry out the regulation), belonging to Tian Tai Sect, and its development and its effects on the regulations onto the future generation. Through a variety of the recorded documentations, we can see the beginning and its formation of the Agricultural Chan which derived from a variety of special reasons. It has to be a very distinctive way of practice for one to become a Chan practitioner. However, after Tang Wu Di destroyed the dharma of Buddhism and the ‘An Shi’s rebellion’（755~763）on Chan Sect, they still lived a self-sufficient life without being affected by this time period. Baizhang considers the understanding of Chan cannot be obtained only by meditating on cushion, since Chan cannot be departed from daily working and life. It is so-called, “Whatever is to move firewood and carry water; that is Chan.” Baizhang is the first person who founds the rules of monastic jungle. Baizhang’s thought is that “Mind will be a complete pure one, as long as there is no delusion.” He said, “One’s own light is alone when the dust is taken off, and the mind appears true while words are disappeared. The nature of mind is no dye or self, but it is accomplished perfectly in person when he frees from illusion, like all Buddhas are.” This statement shows “The self-nature is stillness, and that is Chan.” Baizhang’s interpretation is more specific than Ma Zhu. The final important view in this paper is that how Baizhang inherits the Ma Zhu’s idea, such as “Let the inside mind understand clearly while the six faculties touch the outside.” How does Baizhang uses the above idea in his “Agricultural Chan”? And lastly, how Baizhang’s regulation is being compared with the regulation of the future generation?
