Chan Buddhism and Meditation
The Oxford Handbook of Meditation November 10, 2020 Caifang Zhu 1 citation
Chan (Zen) Buddhism, the Chinese adaptation of Indian dhyāna, developed through three major periods: the Pure Chan Period from Bodhidharma to the sixth patriarch Huì Néng; the Chanji Era, in which five schools emerged from Huì Néng's teachings—exemplified by Huà tóu Chan (Lín jì school) and silent illumination (Cáo dòng school); and contemporary Shēng-huó Chan. Huì Néng revolutionized seated meditation by defining sitting as having no thoughts arise when facing any circumstance and meditation as seeing the innate unmoved nature of mind. This reoriented Chan toward pragmatic religious practice in daily life, lay or monastic. The inner logic of Chan encounters is the mind's free flow at the opportune moment. Shēng-huó Chan adapts classical Chan to modern life through integral practice.