Xinxing (540–594); Huisi (515–577); Sanjiejiao; Three Levels; Formless samādhi
摘要
This paper aims to bring out an alternative perspective on the life and work of the alleged founder of the Sanjiejiao 三階教 school, Xinxing. The current study discusses a different aspect of Xinxing’s influence, namely, his impact as a chan master. As the prominent Chan School went through different phases of development, the influence of Xinxing’s meditational teaching waxed and waned in the Chan cycle. Focusing on the texts titled Duigen qixingfa 對根起行法 and Zhizhongshi zhufa 制眾事諸法, I will explore the connotation of sanmei 三昧 (samādhi) in his teaching. In particular, I will explore the term “formless samādhi” (wuxiang sanmei 無相三昧) in Xinxing’s work and in other contemporary texts on meditation by meditation masters, such as Huisi 慧思 (515–577). In this way, this study situates Xinxing in the larger context of meditation teachings which emerged during the sixth century.
目次
Abstract 55 Keywords 55 1 Introduction 55 2 Xinxing, a Meditation Master 58 2.1 The Three Levels 59 2.2 Formless Samādhi 60 2.3 The tathāgatagarbha Thought 64 2.4 Cessation of Thought 67 3 Contemporaneous Meditation Masters 67 3.1 Meditation Master Huisi 68 3.2 Sengchou and Bodhidharma, the Meditation Masters 71 3.3 Huisi and Xinxing’s Influence on Chan Buddhism 71 4 Concluding Remarks 73 Bibliography 74 Primary Sources 74 Dictionary 74 Secondary Sources 74
