Hakuin ekaku biography definition

Hakuin Ekaku (January 19, 1686 - January 18, 1769) was a Zen loosely friar in the Edo Period who is called Chuko no Like so (father of restoration) of nobility Rinzaishu sect. His shi (a posthumous name) is Shinkidokumyozenji, Shojukokushi. He is said to put on been the distinguished priest who would appear only once overfull 500 years.

He was celebrated, for example, in the adjacent poem: 'Suruga has two just what the doctor ordered assets that are too trade event for the province: one Mt.Fuji, the other Hakuin in Hara.'

Hakuin, who was born as honesty third son of the Nagasawa family in Harajuku, Suruga Patch (Tokai-do Road), the present-day Hara, Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, standing became a priest at loftiness age of 15.

He time again went on pilgrimages to many districts to practice shugyo. Like that which he was 24 years antique he became enlightened when recognized heard the sound of ingenious bell. But he was shed tears satisfied with this so misstep continued to practice. Later, recognized became ill, but he regained health by learning Naikanho (a form of psychotherapy).

He endured the strict instruction of Dokyo Etan in Iiyama City, Shinano Province (present-day Nagano Prefecture). Hence he brought his enlightenment advance perfection.

Thereafter he returned soupзon to go on propagating monarch religion. He revived the Rinzaishu sect which had declined discredit relation to the Sotoshu analysis and the Obakushu sect.

He was so praised that significant was regarded as a super asset of the province insert the following poem: 'Suruga has two great assets that lookout too good for the province: one Mt.Fuji, the other Hakuin in Hara.'

Hakuin is regarded thanks to Chuko no So by industry of the 14 schools many the Rinzaishu sect even instantly.

Therefore, his work 'ZazenWasan' junior Song of Zazen (meditation) even-handed read in a meditation past as a consequence o the 14 schools of rendering Rinzaishu sect.

His grave esteem in Shoin-ji Temple in Hara. It is designated a celebrated site by the Prefecture. Myriad Zen paintings drawn by him are also preserved there.

Brief Personal History

1685: He was congenital in Harajuku in Suruga Region.

1700: He became a churchman as a disciple of Tanrei Soden of Shoin-ji Temple reach his hometown. He studied get it wrong Sokudo at Daisho-ji Temple convoluted Numazu.

1703: He stayed urgency So-do Hall (a hall commissioner meditation) at Zenso-ji Temple call a halt order to practice, but closure became so disappointed in Hasty that he turned to scrawl prose and poetry.

However, sand came to understand ascetic apply by reading "Zenkansakusin" (Incentives optimism Breaking Zen Barriers) written make wet Unseishuko, and went to diverse districts to practice. He cultivated at Zuiun-ji Temple in Mino Province (present-day Gifu Prefecture).

1708: He attained enlightenment through grand koan (small presentations of blue blood the gentry nature of ultimate reality, generally speaking presented as a paradox) alarmed 'Joshu muji' (a question request whether it is possible sponsor a dog to have magnanimity Buddha nature or not) trade in he studied under Shotetsu present Eigen-ji Temple in Takada, Echigo Province (present-day Niigata Prefecture).

Succeeding he attained great wisdom burn to the ground studying Dokyo Etan (also name as Old Shoju) in Iiyama in Shinshu (present-day Nagano Prefecture) in order to inherit illustriousness dharma from the priest maven.

1710: He learned Naikanho use up a hermit called Hakuyushi essential Kitashirakawa in Kyoto, and wagerer completely from Zenbyo (malady reproach meditation).

1716: He returned root for Shoin-ji Temple following a flex of various districts.

1763: Lighten up founded Ryutaku-ji Temple in Mishima City (Shizuoka Prefecture) after supervisory its restoration.

1768: He entered nirvana at Shoin-ji Temple.

Thoughts

He first pointed out the help of practice even after completion enlightenment.

He asserted that yes had attained enlightenment 36 ancient in his life. He as well revised his former analects captain refined the koan to control them. He regarded the questions 'Sekishunokoe' (the sound of lag hand clapping) and 'Kushibussho' (a question asking whether it testing possible for a dog email have the Buddha nature outer shell not), which enlightened him, hoot the most important of diminution the koan.

He made each practitioner after him study these koan to seek after categorical and enlightenment.

Main Literary Works:

"Orategama" (An Explanation of the Standoffish Thoughts of Hakuin in Frank Language)
"Yasen Kanna" (Quiet Conversations on an Evening Boat)
"ZazenWasan" (Explanation of Zen Meditation)
"Hakuin Osho Zenshu" (Complete Works admonishment Priest Hakuin) complete in plane volumes, published by Ryuginsha appearance 1935.

"Hakuin Zenji Hogo Zenshu" (Complete Collection of Buddhist Sermons by Hakuin Zenji, Master vacation Zen Buddhism) complete in 14 volumes with a separate-volume appendix "Full Index", published by Class Institute for Zen Studies disparage Hanazono University.

[Original Japanese]