Publication details
Traces of the Brush : Examination of Dōgen’s Thought Through His Language
| Authors | |
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| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Chapter of a book |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | The beginning of Zen is attributed to a renowned account of Buddha Shakyamuni’s silent transmission to his follower and disciple Mahakasyapa related in case six of the Gateless Gate or Wumen’s Barrier koan collection, Mumonkan ???. Surrounded by his followers and disciples on Vulture Peak, Shakyamuni Buddha was seated, ready to expound his teaching. Instead of a verbally pronounced lecture, however, his audience received a silent sermon of the Buddha lifting a flower in his fingers, blinking his eyes and showing it to the assembly. Everyone remained silent, waiting in blank amazement, only Mahakasyapa’s face broke into a soft smile. That was when the Buddha said, “I possess the treasury of the true dharma eye, the wondrous mind of nirvana, the true form without form, the subtle dharma gate. It is nondependent upon words and letters, transmitted outside scriptures, and I hereby impart it to Mahakasyapa.” Thus, the characteristic Chan/Zen narrative of silent transmission, also referred to as the story of “holding up a flower and smiling softly” (nenge misho ????) was born. |