Wang Yanbin

Wang Yanbin was a layman practitioner in the Qingyuan lineage whose inclusion in the transmission records reflects Chan's recognition that awakening is not limited to monastics. He appears in the Jingde Chuandenglu as a lay dharma heir whose understanding was confirmed by his teacher. His exchanges demonstrate the same penetrating insight expected of monastic masters.

The presence of lay practitioners like Wang Yanbin in the lineage records serves as an important reminder that Chan practice was never exclusively monastic. From the earliest days of the tradition, laypersons like Vimalakirti, Layman Pang, and others demonstrated that the awakening to one's true nature is available to all, regardless of ordination status or formal training.