探索聖嚴法師傳法予居士的「演派名號」── 從臨濟宗鼓山派的法脈傳承談起=Exploring the System of “Dharma Name” for the Lineage Transmission to Lay People by Master Sheng Yen: The Gushan line of Linji Lineage
作者單位： 1. 釋果興：法鼓山聖嚴書院講師 Lecturer, Sheng Yen Academy 2. 林其賢：國立屏東大學中國語文學系副教授 Associate Professor, National Pintung University
關鍵詞
聖嚴法師=Master Sheng Yen; 臨濟宗鼓山派=Gushan line of the Linji Lineage; 中華禪法鼓宗=Dharma Drum Lineage of Chinese Chan Buddhism; 傳法證書=Certificate of Transmission; 演派名號=Dharma name system for the transmission; 居士法子=Lay dharma heirs
This paper traces back the full particulars of the Dharma name system for the sangha members from the history, excavates the lineage tradition in the family tree like naming system in order to clarify the complete “Dharma name system” in the contemporary Gushan line of the Linji Lineage, and to explore the background for establishment of the Dharma Drum Lineage of Chinese Chan Buddhism. Furthermore, this enables us to clearly understand the characteristics of Master Sheng Yen idea about the lineage transmission to lay people as well as the significance of the transmission of Dharma Drum lineage nowadays. Master Sheng Yen carries the dharma transmission from two main lineages of Chan tradition, the Jiaosan line of the Caodong lineage and the Gushan line of the Linji lineage. Instead of following the traditional naming lineage in the Chan tradition, the Master established the Dharma Drum lineage of Chinese Chan Buddhism, in year 2005, for the transmission to his Dharma heirs, including both sangha members and lay disciples. What is the connection between the Dharma name used in the transmission of Dharma Drum lineage and the Linji lineage as well as Caodong lineage? What is the influence of these two lineages, as to the Dharma name system, onto the newly established Dharma Drum lineage? These are the main topics to be discussed in this paper. The transmission to lay people is a special feature of the Dharma Drum lineage. That is for the propagation of Chan practice globally. Most of the Dharma heirs of Master Sheng Yen in the West are lay people. Also, the first profound Chan experience of Master Sheng Yen was inspired by Master Ling Yuan when he was a lay person. Master Sheng Yen mentioned about the sudden enlightenment experiences of lay people in several articles. It implies his positive attitude towards dharma transmission to lay people. Therefore, how to set appropriate arrangements for sangha members and lay people when transmitting the Dharma lineage? This issue will be clarified in this article. The Dharma naming system on the Certificate of Transmission in the Dharma Drum lineage is based on a verse of 32 characters, which was composed by Master Sheng Yen. The system assigns different Dharma names and orders to Dharma heirs as a sangha member or lay person. This reveals the delicate consideration of Master Sheng Yen for the equality and ethics on the transmission of Chan lineage to these two groups. Meanwhile, it closely matches the inheritance of the past with the development into the future.
