Sengai Gibon

Names

Teachers and lineage of Sengai Gibon

Teacher / root master:

• Gessen ZenneRoot teacher / master · 1702 – 1781

Full lineage of Sengai Gibon →

Teachings

• sayingCircle, Triangle, Square

  (traditional attribution)

  The circle, the triangle, the square—these are the universe entire. The square is the earth, solid and stable, the ground beneath your feet. The triangle is the beginning of all forms, the principle by which things arise. The circle is infinite emptiness, boundless and complete, without beginning or end. From emptiness, form arises; from form, the myriad things; and the myriad things return to emptiness. These three brushstrokes contain everything. What more is there to say?

  Sengai Gibon

• sayingThe Universe in a Cup of Tea

  (traditional attribution)

  When you drink tea, drink tea. The whole universe is in this cup. The water came from clouds, the clouds from the sea, the sea from the rivers, the rivers from rain. The heat came from fire, the fire from wood, the wood from earth and sun. Take one sip and you swallow the entire universe. But if you are thinking about the universe while you drink, you have missed the tea entirely.

  Sengai Gibon

• proverbCircle, Triangle, Square

  (traditional attribution)

  I painted a circle, a triangle, and a square. Some called this the universe, the dharma, the Buddha. I called it: ink, ink, and a little more ink. The interpretation is the viewer's body.

  tr. Zen Lineage editorial

  Sengai Gibon

• proverbOld Man Laughs

  (traditional attribution)

  An old man laughs at his own paintings, and the paintings do not mind. So practice — laughed at by the years, the practice does not lose its smile.

  tr. Zen Lineage editorial

  Sengai Gibon

• proverbThree Friends

  (traditional attribution)

  Pine, bamboo, plum — three friends of winter. Each holds firm in a different way: the pine by not letting go, the bamboo by bending, the plum by blooming. Choose your way of holding.

  tr. Zen Lineage editorial

  Sengai Gibon

• proverbDo Not Leave the Painting

  (traditional attribution)

  Do not finish a painting and leave it behind. Carry it in your eye. The next painting begins where the last one's ink dries.

  tr. Zen Lineage editorial

  Sengai Gibon

Other masters in Rinzai

• Myoan Eisai1141 – 1215
• Shinchi Kakushin1207 – 1298
• Koho Kakumyo1271 – 1361
• Kanzan Egen1277 – 1360
• Shuho Myocho1282 – 1337
• Tetto Giko1295 – 1369

Master Record Sources

• datesZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation

  1750-1837

  Reliability: editorial

• nameZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation

  Sengai Gibon

  Reliability: editorial

• schoolZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation

  Rinzai

  Reliability: editorial

• teachersZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation

  Gessen Zenne

  Reliability: editorial