The Zen rebels: obscure hermits and existential reformers. Xiangyan Zhixian (part 1)

(Xiangyan Zhixian Image from https://terebess.hu)

As we move through the ages, from the early transmission of Ch'an via Bodhidharma, considered the first patriarch of Ch'an Buddhism, handing the Lakāvatāra Sūtra along with his robe and bowl onto the second patriarch Dazu Huike (Jpn spelling) which occurred in the fifth century.  However, even at the time of Bodhidharma, Buddhism in China had already been established, which was brought to the Western parts of the Chinese mainland in the early second century. Splitting into various sects and schools that centralized around aspects of the many sutras associated with the Mahāyāna texts. So, what is important to understand when looking at the time-line of Buddhism in China, is at that time China already had an accepted belief system of an esoteric importance, which was the significant and culturally enriched foundation known as Taoism. That was, at the time in its origination, a perfectly cultivated philosophy of spiritual importance within the early Chinese religious and philosophical history.  When the Buddhist monks from India moved across into China to teach Buddhism, the two belief structures, almost like the Tao also known as the Ying and Yang, one of the most potent symbolism's in Taoism, fused very neatly together. This alignment of Buddhism, particularly Ch'an Buddhism, and Taoism in a complimentary and remarkably way conjoined.  Embraced intensely by the first established Ch'an (Zen) practitioners, who began to impact on Taoism and vice versa in a respectful manner of incorporating both idealism's, although it is the Buddhist scriptures and teachings that in order for one to grapple with the understanding of existence, within the turmoil that is life - one must remove the duality.  Slight differences in determining what duality and non duality inscribes from both the Taoists and Buddhist beliefs, the Taoist sees nature as a constant ebb and flow, thus determining that it also occurs within the self, what is more intriguing in regards the early Ch'an Buddhists, very much like Bodhidharma, turning his back on nature, which also could be argued is also a rejection of the self, to the extent of realizing that there is one nature.  So, to become one with the self, is to know that the external and internal are one of the same. Therefor it is the Buddhist, unlike the Taoists, that do not incorporate the reflection of duality in their teachings or art. As it is only the Buddha nature which can be seen.  A process of meditation and reflection of collapsing all conscious thought, with the use of the Ch'an or what is still known as Zen Koan's, which in turn, they believed once recited and queried without a direct answer, would assist in splitting the self into two parts and whilst at the same time recombining as one.  A reinstatement of nature and reality to the original mind.  This was the beginning of the philosophy and cultivation of incorporating Ch'an teachings over the vast linage of Masters and disciples, which occurred within a period of Chinese history that was politically and culturally in turmoil.

___

(Adrian Glass)