Chan Buddhism; huatou meditation; Yikui Chaochen; early Qing; gong’an; female Chan master; Qiyuan Xinggang; recorded sayings
摘要
This research studies the Recorded Sayings of Chan Master Cantong Yikui (Cantong yikui chansi yulu 參同一揆禪師語錄). It details the English translation of this early Qing yulu concerning the huatou teachings of the master, Yikui Chaochen. The thesis is divided into three parts. The first part is an introduction of the history of the huatou method prior to Yikui, which focuses on the transformation of the gong’an, the understanding of the huatou method, and how it remained until Yikui. The second part is an introduction of Yikui’s life and her Recorded Sayings with special focus on the historical context, the different authors, the geographical locations, the structure, and the legacy of the text. The third part is an analysis of the contents of Yikui’s Recorded Sayings centered on her Chan huatou teaching in order to understand how Yikui practiced and taught Chan huatou meditation.
目次
ABSTRACT I DEDICATION II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS III CONTENTS IV
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1 Introduction 1 Method and approach 3 Review of Previous Scholarship 5 Conclusion 8
CHAPTER TWO THE HISTORY OF THE HUATOU METHOD PRIOR TO YIKUI 11 The Chan Buddhist Gong’an 11 Dahui Zonggao and the Huatou Method 16 The Huatou Method After Dahui Zonggao 22 Conclusion 25
CHAPTER THREE YIKUI’S LIFE AND HER RECORDED SAYINGS 28 Yikui’s Life 28 Historical Context 28 Yikui’s Life through her Recorded Sayings 31 Yikui’s Recorded Sayings 40 Authors and Date: Muchen, Shi Bo, Wang Ting and Puming 40 The Structure of the Text 45 Sources in the Recorded Sayings 46 Legacy of Yikui’s Recorded Sayings 51 Conclusion 52
CHAPTER FOUR ANALYSIS OF THE TEACHINGS OF YIKUI 54 Continuation of the Chan Tradition 55 Yikui, Solely a Chan Master 56 Yikui’s Doctrinal Thought 60 Yikui’s Instructions to Practitioners 64 Yikui’s Encounter Dialogue 64 Yikui’s Huatou Practice 70 Yikui’s Meditation Instruction 75 Conclusion 82
CHAPTER FIVE CONCLUSION 85
APPENDICES 89 Appendix A: Partial Translation of the Recorded Sayings of Chan Master Cantong Yikui 89 The Preface 89 Dharma Talks 91 2nd Talk 91 4th Talk 93 5th Talk 95 6th Talk 97 7th Talk 100 Appendix B: A Chronology of Yikui’s Life 116 Appendix C: Lineage 118 Appendix D: Picture of Yikui 119
