破邪顯正論「默照」── 默照禪法的安心學理=On Silent Illumination: Refuting the Erroneous Views and Disclosing the Right — Teachings The Doctrine for Pacifying the Mind in the Chan Approach of Silent Illumination
In Song Dynasty, Hongzhi Zhengjue advocated the Chan approach of silent illumination to respond to the issue of “pacifying the mind”. Taking as the core the theme of the teaching for “pacifying the mind” as stressed by the Chinese Chan tradition, this thesis tries to explore the silent illumination approach in order that, by means of discussing this approach’s doctrine for pacifying the mind, we may uncover the beneficial contents that the silent illumination method applies to settle our body and mind, and further reveal the practical spirit of the Chinese Chan approach as passed down by the silent illumination teachings. In this thesis, we first analyze the contents of Chan practice as implied by the term of “silent illumination.” Next, we go on to examine the related criticism of Dahui Zonggao about the contents of the silent illumination teachings. Then we directly expound the doctrine for pacifying the mind in the silent illumination approach. Finally, we elaborate on “the non-abiding of my mind,” the practical spirit of the Chinese Chan tradition, that the silent illumination teachings inherit. This thesis points out that the various comments made by Dahui Zonggao about the silent illumination teachings actually possess the valuable effects of clearing away the obstacles of the teachings in the silent illumination approach, thus helping to perfect the silent illumination approach taught by Hongzhi Zhengjue. In addition, the thesis shows that the silent illumination approach, while going from “purifying and polishing” to “putting at full rest,” and then reaching the state of “(becoming one with the way through) no mind,” has an ever-consistent spirit of Chan practice, which is the implementation principle of “simultaneous practice of samadhi and wisdom” advocated in the teaching of “taking non-abiding as the foundation” given by Master Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch of the Chinese Chan School.
