Yangqi line

Poan Zuxian

c. 1136 – c. 1211

Poan Zuxian was a Chan master who contributed to the tradition's development during his period of activity. He maintained a practice community and transmitted the Dharma within his lineage stream.

Zuxian's place in the Chan genealogy reflects the tradition's broad base of practitioners and teachers. The survival and flourishing of Chan Buddhism depended on this extensive network of realized teachers, each maintaining the standard of practice and ensuring the continuity of the living transmission.

Names

dharma · enPoan Zuxian

Teachers

Students

Teachings

  • sayingSeeing Through

    (traditional attribution)

    Poan said: "If you can see through just one phrase completely, you see through a thousand phrases, ten thousand phrases, all at once. If you cannot see through one phrase, how will more words help you? Do not seek extensively—turn the light around and look at what is looking."

    Attributed_to: Poan Zuxian

Master Record Sources

  • nameZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation

    Poan Zuxian

    Reliability: editorial

  • teachersZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation

    Zhuan Shigui

    Reliability: editorial