Yunyan Tansheng
Yunyan Tansheng
780 – 841
Yunyan Tansheng was a student of Baizhang Huaihai and the teacher of Dongshan Liangjie, the founder of the Caodong/Soto school[1]. He is particularly famous for one crucial exchange with Dongshan that planted the seed of Dongshan's awakening. Dongshan asked him what a non-sentient being preaches the Dharma with. Yunyan said: "Non-sentient beings always preach the Dharma." When Dongshan asked who hears this, Yunyan said: "The non-sentient beings hear." Dongshan asked: "And do you hear?" Yunyan said: "If I heard, you could not hear my teaching." Dongshan asked what scripture this teaching came from, and Yunyan said: "Have you not seen? In the Amitabha Sutra it says: 'Water birds, tree groves, all without exception proclaim the Buddha and the Dharma.'" This exchange led Dongshan to his famous awakening when crossing the stream[2].
Yunyan was known for making straw sandals, a simple craft that he employed as a teaching vehicle. His responses were often enigmatic, pointing to the Dharma-preaching of mountains and rivers and the non-sentient world—a teaching that resonates deeply with the Caodong emphasis on the pervasion of Buddha nature throughout all of reality[1].
Names
Disciples of Yunyan Tansheng
Teachers and lineage of Yunyan Tansheng
Teacher / root master:
Teachings
- dialogueThe Bodhisattva's Hands and Eyes
Daowu asked Yunyan, "What does the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion do with so many hands and eyes?" Yunyan said, "It is like a person in the night reaching back for a pillow." Daowu said, "I understand." Yunyan said, "What do you understand?" Daowu said, "All over the body are hands and eyes." Yunyan said, "That is well said, but it only expresses eight-tenths of it." Daowu said, "Then what do you say, elder brother?" Yunyan said, "Throughout the body are hands and eyes."
- dialogueJust This Is It
When Dongshan was about to leave Yunyan, he asked, "After you have passed away, if someone asks me to describe your teaching, what shall I say?" Yunyan was silent for a long time. Then he said, "Just this is it." Dongshan fell into thought. Yunyan said, "You must be very careful with this great matter." Dongshan remained doubtful. Later, as he was crossing a stream, he saw his own reflection and was greatly awakened. He composed a verse: "Avoid seeking it elsewhere, for that is far from the self."
Featured in
- Traditional Zen Encounter DialoguesDongshan Crosses the Stream
Other masters in Qingyuan line
Master Record Sources
780-841
Yunyan Tansheng
Qingyuan line
- koan_refsChart of the Chan Ancestors
72,89 21,49,54 3,5, 20
- nameZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation
Yunyan Tansheng
- teachersZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation
Yaoshan Weiyan