Digital Dictionary of Buddhism

DDB Top Page 
 
 
  XML source

玄沙宗乘

Pronunciations

Basic Meaning: Xuanshaʼs essential teaching

Senses:

  • This is a reference to a gong'an 公案 story in the Jingdechuandenglu 景德傳燈錄 in which Xuansha Shibei 玄沙師備 (835–908) indicates the essence of the Buddhist teachings by holding up his fly whisk 拂子. Shibei is asked by a monk, "The people of old often held up their fly whisks. Is this the essential teaching?" to which Shibei replies, "No." The monk follows up, "Then why did they do that?" . Shibei raised his fly whisk. The monk asked, "What is the essential teaching?" . Shibei replied, "When you first experience awakening you will know." 〔景德傳燈錄 T 2076.51.346a26〕 , 〔鐵笛倒吹、四三〕 [Stefan Grace; source(s): ZGDJT, ZGDJT, Yokoi]
  • Search SAT
  • Search INBUDS Database

    • Feedback

    [Dictionary References]

    Zengaku daijiten (Komazawa U.) 0285a

    Japanese-English Zen Buddhist Dictionary (Yokoi) 154

    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: 2018-02-20