Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Some Legends About Zen Master Chân Nguyên, a Famous Vietnamese Zen Master in the 17th Century--Part II
After that Nguyễn Nghiêm came to Vĩnh Phúc Temple on Mt. Côn Cương to learn from Zen master Minh Lương, who was an entrusted disciple of Zen master Chuyết Chuyết. At the meeting, before Minh Lương questioned him, Nguyễn Nghiêm had asked, “What is the meaning of the statement ‘For years the gems have been hidden inside, how do you feel now that you have seen them with your own eyes?’"
Zen master Minh Lương did not reply, but looked at Nguyễn Nghiêm steadily. Nguyễn Nghiêm also looked at Minh Lương. At that moment Nguyễn Nghiêm got enlightened and knelt down and prostrated in front of Minh Lương. The latter said, “ Now I may entrust you as my successor of the Lâm Tế School. You should continue to develop it.” Later, Zen master Minh Lương named the disciple Chân Nguyên, and gave the latter the following Dharma gatha:
The precious gem lays hidden in the rock
The lotus flower grows out of mud
One should understand the source of life and death
Getting enlightened about that is Bodhi.
[Mỹ ngọc tàng ngoan thạch
Liên hoa xuất ứ nê
Tu tri sinh tử xứ
Ngộ thị tức Bồ-đề.
(Chinese Vietnamese)
Ngọc quý ẩn trong đá
Hoa sen mọc từ bùn
Nên biết chỗ sinh tử
Ngộ vốn thật Bồ-đề.
(Vietnamese)]
From then on the name Chân Nguyên was an inseparable part in the life of the young man Nguyễn Nghiêm.
After entrusted by Zen master Minh Lương, Chân Nguyên took the major vows, and became a bhikhu. One year later Chân Nguyên took the Bodhisattva vows, and offered his two fingers to three Buddhas, namely, the Śākyamuni Buddha, the Amitābha Buddha, and the Maitreya Buddha.
Later Chân Nguyên was an entrusted successor in the Trúc Lâm Zen School. He became the abbot of Long Động and Quỳnh Lâm Temples, which were two great temples of the School. In 1684 Chân Nguyên had the Cửu Phẩm Liên Hoa built at Quỳnh Lâm, following the same structure as the Cửu Phẩm Liên Hoa that Zen master Huyền Quang (the Third Patriarch) had had built at Ninh Phúc Temple previously.
In 1692, at 46 years of age, Chân Nguyên was invited by King Lê Hy Tông to the Court to teach the Dharma. The King highly respected him, and offered him the highest title (Vô Thượng Công). He was donated robes and other religious tools for future lineage succession.
In 1722 at 76 he was offered the position of Head of the National Buddhist Sangha by King Lê Dụ Tông. That means the Zen master became the nation’s Master with the title Most Venerable Chánh Giác. Throughout the 17th and the 18th centuries, he was the best known and the most respected Zen master in Vietnam.
(To be continued)
Source:
http://www.daophatngaynay.com/vn/phatgiao-vn/con-nguoi-vn/10759-Huyen-thoai-ve-vi-thien-su-Viet-lung-danh-the-ky-17.html
25/04/2012
