Shakyamuni Buddha
Shakyamuni Buddha
c. 563 BCE – c. 483 BCE
Shakyamuni Buddha, born Siddhartha Gautama in the foothills of the Himalayas around the fifth century BCE, renounced his princely life at twenty-nine to seek liberation from suffering. After years of ascetic practice and contemplation, he attained complete awakening beneath the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya, becoming the Buddha, the Awakened One. His enlightenment, reached through the direct investigation of mind and reality, forms the unshakeable ground on which all subsequent Buddhist teaching rests.
For forty-five years the Buddha traveled the Gangetic plain, teaching the Dharma to monks, nuns, laypeople, and rulers. His discourses range from practical ethics to the profound analysis of dependent origination and the nature of consciousness. He established the Sangha, the community of practitioners, as the third jewel alongside the Buddha and Dharma. In the Chan tradition, his transmission to Mahakashyapa at Vulture Peak—raising a flower and smiling in silence—is regarded as the origin of mind-to-mind transmission beyond words.
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Students
Teachings
- koanBuddha Twirls a Flower
When Buddha was in Grdhrakuta mountain he turned a flower in his fingers and held it before his listeners. Every one was silent. Only Maha-Kashapa smiled at this revelation, although he tried to control the lines of his face. Buddha said: "I have the eye of the true teaching, the heart of Nirvana, the true aspect of non-form, and the ineffable stride of Dharma. It is not expressed by words, but especially transmitted beyond teaching. This teaching I have given to Maha-Kashapa." Mumon’s comment: Golden-faced Gautama thought he could cheat anyone. He made the good listeners as bad, and sold dog meat under the sign of mutton. And he himself thought it was wonderful. What if all the audience had laughed together? How could he have transmitted the teaching? And again, if Maha-Kashapa had not smiled, how could he have transmitted the teaching? If he says that realization can be transmitted, he is like the city slicker that cheats the country dub, and if he says it cannot be transmitted, why does he approve of Maha-Kashapa? At the turning of a flower His disguise was exposed. No one in heaven or earth can surpass Maha-Kashapa's wrinkled face.
- koanThe Girl Comes Out From Meditation
In the time of Buddha Shakyamuni, Manjusri went to the assemblage of the Buddhas. When he arrived there, the conference was over and each Buddha had returned to his own Buddha-land. Only one girl was yet unmoved in deep meditation. Manjusri asked Buddha Shakyamuni how it was possible for this girl to reach this state, one which even he could not attain. "Bring her out from Samadhi and ask her yourself," said the Buddha. Manjusri walked around the girl three times and snapped his fingers. She still remained in meditation. So by his miracle power he transported her to a high heaven and tried his best to call her, but in vain. Buddha Shakyamuni said: "Even a hundred thousand Manjusris could not disturb her, but below this place, past twelve hundred million countries, is a Bodhisattva, Mo-myo, seed of delusion. If he comes here, she will awaken." No sooner had the Buddha spoken than that Bodhisattva sprang up from the earth and bowed and paid homage to the Buddha. Buddha directed him to arouse the girl. The Bodhisattva went in front of the girl and snapped his fingers, and in that instant the girl came out from her deep meditation. Mumon’s comment: Old Shakyamuni set a very poor stage. I want to ask you monks: If Manjusri, who is supposed to have been the teacher of seven Buddhas, could not bring this girl out of meditation, how then could a Bodhisattva who was a mere beginner? If you understand this intimately, you yourself can enter the great meditation while you are living in the world of delusion. One could not awaken her, the other could. Neither are good actors. One wears the mask of god, one a devil's mask. Had both failed, the drama still would be a comedy.
- proverbLandscape of Spring
In the landscape of spring, there is neither better nor worse. The flowering branches grow naturally, some long, some short.
- proverbEntering the Forest
Entering the forest, he does not disturb a blade of grass. Entering the water, he does not cause a ripple.
- proverbBamboo Shadows
The bamboo shadows sweep the stairs, but no dust is stirred.
- proverbScoop Up Water
Scoop up water and the moon is in your hands. Handle flowers and their fragrance fills your clothes.
- proverbWild Geese Reflection
The wild geese do not intend to cast their reflection. The water has no mind to receive their image.
- proverbA Thousand Mountains
A thousand mountains—not a bird in flight. Ten thousand paths—no trace of man.
- proverbRide Your Horse
Ride your horse along the edge of a sword. Hide yourself in the middle of flames.
- proverbCast Off What Has Been Realized
Cast off what has been realized. Turn back to the subject that realizes.
- proverbBlue Mountains
The blue mountains are of themselves blue mountains. White clouds are of themselves white clouds.
- proverbDense Bamboo Forest
Though the bamboo forest is dense, water flows through it freely.
- proverbFrom the Withered Tree
From the withered tree, a flower blooms.
- proverbKnock on the Sky
Knock on the sky and listen to the sound.
- proverbA Single Leaf Falls
A single leaf falls—all under heaven know it is autumn.
- proverbClear Water
Clear water all the way to the bottom. A fish swims like a fish.
- proverbAtop the Hundred-Foot Pole
Atop the hundred-foot pole, how do you step forward?
- proverbIron Tree Blooms
When the iron tree blooms, the rooster lays an egg.
- proverbThe Moon Does Not Think
The moon does not think about being reflected, nor does the water think about reflecting it.
- proverbPut Your Heart at Rest
Put your heart at rest. Do not look for anything outside of this.
- proverbFall Seven Times
Fall seven times, stand up eight.
- proverbThe Frog in the Well
The frog in the well knows nothing of the great ocean.
- proverbThe Reverse Side
The reverse side also has a reverse side.
- proverbSitting Quietly, Not Waiting
Sitting quietly, doing nothing—not even waiting.
- proverbAll Know the Way
All know the Way, but few actually walk it.
- proverbThe Thief Left It Behind
The thief left it behind—the moon at the window.
- proverbA Sheet of Paper
Even a sheet of paper has two sides.
- proverbMoon on the River
The moon shines on the river. The wind blows through the pines.
- proverbSnow on the Plum Tree
The snow on the plum tree is not yet melted, but already the branches bloom.
- proverbWhen the Student Is Ready
When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. When the student is truly ready, the teacher will disappear.
- proverbBefore the Bell Rings
Before the bell rings, where is the sound? After the bell rings, where does it go?
- proverbThe Great Path Has No Gate
The great path has no gate. A thousand roads enter it.
- proverbDrink Your Tea Slowly
Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the whole earth revolves.
- proverbThe River Flows to the Sea
No matter how hard the wind blows, the river always flows to the sea.
- proverbThe Vast Inane
In the vast inane there is no back or front. The path of the bird annihilates east and west.
- proverbFrom the Withered Stump
From the withered stump, a dragon emerges.
- proverbReturn to the Root
To return to the root is to find the meaning. To chase appearances is to miss the source.
- proverbNot Twice This Day
Not twice this day.
- proverbAn Inch of Time
An inch of time is an inch of gold, but you cannot buy an inch of time with an inch of gold.
- proverbMove and the Way Will Open
Move and the way will open.
- proverbThe Spring Rain
The spring rain soaks everything equally—the beautiful garden and the empty lot.
- proverbClouds Come and Go
Clouds come and go. Behind them, the sun has never moved.
- proverbA Person Who Drinks Water
A person who drinks water knows for themselves whether it is hot or cold.
- proverbThe Arrow Has Left the Bow
The arrow has left the bow. It will not return.
- proverbThe Lotus in Muddy Water
The lotus grows in the muddy water. Without the mud, there is no lotus.
- proverbPlunge into the Poison
Plunge into the poison to discover the antidote.
- proverbThe Finger Pointing at the Moon
The finger pointing at the moon is not the moon. All the words I speak to you are like a finger pointing at the moon. Do not mistake the finger for the moon.
- proverbSitting Quietly, Spring Comes
Sitting quietly, doing nothing, spring comes, and the grass grows by itself.
- proverbWhen Hungry, Eat
When hungry, eat. When tired, sleep. Fools laugh at me. But the wise understand.
- proverbWhen You Reach the Top, Keep Climbing
When you get to the top of the mountain, keep climbing.
- proverbEmpty-Handed, I Hold the Hoe
Empty-handed, I hold the hoe. Walking, I ride the water buffalo. Crossing the bridge— the bridge flows, the water stands still.
- proverbThe Ten Thousand Things Return to the One
The ten thousand things return to the one. Where does the one return to?
- proverbThe Old Pond
The old pond— a frog jumps in, sound of water.
- proverbNo Snowflake in the Wrong Place
No snowflake ever falls in the wrong place.
- proverbBe a Lamp Unto Yourself
Be a lamp unto yourself. Work out your liberation with diligence.
- proverbThe Obstacle Is the Path
The obstacle is the path.
- proverbLet Go, or Be Dragged
Let go, or be dragged.
- proverbZen on the Mountaintops
The only Zen you find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.
- proverbThings Are Just as They Are
If you understand, things are just as they are. If you do not understand, things are just as they are.
- proverbNot Thinking About Anything Is Zen
Not thinking about anything is Zen. Once you know this, walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, everything you do is Zen.
- proverbThe Place You Need to Be
Wherever you are, it is the place you need to be.
- proverbFollow the Path, Become the Master
To follow the path, look to the master, follow the master, walk with the master, see through the master, become the master.
- proverbWhen Walking, Just Walk
When walking, just walk. When eating, just eat.
- proverbSeek What They Sought
Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise; seek what they sought.
Master Record Sources
- datesZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation
c. 563-483 BCE
- nameZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation
Shakyamuni Buddha
- schoolZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation
Indian Patriarchs