8/3/2019 Five Levels of Zen

1/2

five levels of zen

Guifeng Zongmi

Chanyuan zhuquan jidu (Origins of the Various Chan Teachings)

http://www.baus-ebs.org/sutra/fan-read/003/03-005.htm

Zen has shallow and deep levels. They're different ranks. Those who strive for heaven and dislike worldly

things; that is the path of outsiders. Those who believe in causality but have likes and dislikes; that is

ordinary people's Zen. Those who see their self as empty; that is the small vehicle Zen. Those who

realise that self and phenomena are both empty; that is the great vehicle Zen. ... If one stops and

realises his mind as originally clear and pure, without vexation, the original self not lacking in wisdom by

nature. that his mind is buddha without difference, relying only on this; that is the most superior vehicle

Zen, also called Tathagata Zen.

trans. by Huifeng:

1

(CBETA, T48, no. 2015, p. 399, b16-20)

If one suddenly realizaes that the essence of one's own mind is originally pure, solitary and without

defilements, itself originally endowed with the nature of undefiled wisdom, that this very mind is

buddha, absolutely no difference, and thus cultivates based on that, this is the supreme unsurpassed

Chan, also named the pure Chan of the Tathagatas, also named the Single Act Samadhi, also named the

Suchness Samadhi. This is the fundament of all samadhis.

----

29

(CBETA, T48, no. 2016, p. 586, b18-22)

Records of the Mirror of the [Chan] School (f29):

Dhyana (chan / zen) has four types:

1. With ulterior motives, one appreciates what is above, and rejects what is below, in order to cultivate.

This is the dhyana of non-Buddhists.

http://www.baus-ebs.org/sutra/fan-read/003/03-005.htmhttp://www.baus-ebs.org/sutra/fan-read/003/03-005.htmhttp://www.baus-ebs.org/sutra/fan-read/003/03-005.htm

8/3/2019 Five Levels of Zen

2/2

2. Correct faith in cause and effect, one uses appreciation and revulsion, in order to cultivate.* This is

the dhyana of unenlightened beings.

3. Ending rebirth through emptiness, fully realizing the true path, in order to cultivate. This is lower

vehicle dhyana.

4. Comprehending the two forms of emptiness, that of the person and that of dharmas, in order to

cultivate. This is Mahayana dhyana.

* Note the difference between the first two is only in having faith in cause and effect (karma) or not.

Hence the role of "view" viz Gedo outer-path non-Buddhist dhyana.

No fifth type here, interesting, huh?

It comes in here (pretty much the same as the Mirror, only with #5 added):

1

(CBETA, X64, no. 1276, p. 808, c9-15 // Z 2:18, p. 494, c7-13 // R113,

p. 988, a7-13)

Record of the Jeweled Treasure of the Chan Sect (f1):

...

5. Direct (sudden) realization of the essential purity of ones own mind, originally without defilements,itself endowed with the influx-free (non-afflicted) gnosis - this mind is Buddha, ultimate with nothing

else beyond - cultivating in this manner, is the Supreme Vehicle Dhyana. It is also known as the Pure

Dhyana of the Tathagatas.