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三關

Pronunciations

Basic Meaning: three barriers

Senses:

  • Three tests; three criteria which must be met before someone can be said to have experienced authentic awakening: (1) continuous awareness during both rest and activity 動靜一如; (2) continuous awareness whether one is dreaming or awake 寤寐一如; (3) continuous awareness (even) during deep sleep 熟眠一如. The fourteenth-century Korean Seon master, Naong 懶翁 (1320–1376), an important figure in the transmission of Imje Seon 臨濟宗 in Korea, taught the criterion of these three tests.  [Ockbae Chun]
  • The notion of three barriers has precedence in Song dynasty Chan Buddhism 禪宗. The earliest occurrence of this notion is connected to Huanglong Huinan 黃龍慧南 (1002-1069), the progenitor of the Huanglong line 黃龍派 of Linji Chan 臨濟宗. In fact, the 'three barriers of Huanglong'  黃龍三關 appears to be a stock phrase by the Southern Song dynasty in works such as the Song dynasty Chan monk Huiweng Wumingʼs 晦翁悟明 (d.u.) Essentials of the united [records of the transmission of the] lamps of our school (Zongmen liangdeng huiyao 宗門聯燈會要) in 1183 [X79 no. 1557:158b24-c4]; or Huiyan Zhizhaoʼs 晦巖智昭 (d.u.) The Eye of Humans and Gods (Rentian yanmu 人天眼目) in 1188 (T 2006.48.310b10-15); or Shaotanʼs 紹曇 (d. 1298) Encomiums of the Correct Tradition of the Five Schools (Wujia zhengzong zan 五家正宗贊) published in 1254 [X78 no. 1554:590c22-23]. Essentially, his three barriers were test questions for students about 1) the 'hands of the Buddha'  佛手 and how they relate to oneʼs own hands; 2) 'hoofs of a donkey 驢脚,' and how they are oneʼs own feet; and 3) 'the conditions for birth'  生緣. These three questions were also considered 'turning words'  轉語 as a rhetorical 語 device that functions to 'turn'  轉 delusion to awakening. [Jimmy Yu]
  • In the title level="m">Gateless Barrier 無門關, Doushuai Congyue 兜率從悅 (1044-1091) provides his three barriers as: 1) "Where is this nature 性? If you see your self-nature 自性, you are liberated from birth and death. 2) Yet, when the light of your eyes goes out 眼光落時, how will you be liberated? If you are liberated from birth and death, you will know where you will go [after you die]. 3) When the four elements 四大 disperse, where will you go?" [Jimmy Yu]
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    [Dictionary References]

    A Glossary of Zen Terms (Inagaki) 307

    Bukkyōgo daijiten (Nakamura) 458d

    Fo Guang Dictionary 697

    Ding Fubao {Digital Version}

    Bukkyō daijiten (Oda) 612-1

    Copyright provisions

    The rights to textual segments (nodes) of the DDB are owned by the author indicated in the brackets next to each segment. For rights regarding the compilation as a whole, please contact Charles Muller. Please do not reproduce without permission. And please do not copy into Wikipedia without proper citation!

    Entry created: 2007-06-15

    Updated: 2023-01-07