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Dharma transmission (denbō or denpo in Sōtō and inka in Rinzai and Ōbaku) refers to "the manner in which the teaching, or Dharma, is passed from a Zen master to his disciple and heir. The procedure establishes the disciple as a transmitting teacher in his own right and successor in an unbroken line of teachers and disciples, a spiritual "bloodline" (kechimyaku) theoretically traced back to the Buddha himself."[1] According to Zen schools, the first instance of Dharma transmission occurred as transcribed in the Flower Sermon, when the Buddha held up a golden lotus flower given to him by Brahma before an assembly of "gods and men." None who were in attendance showed any sign of understanding except his disciple Mahakasyapa, who offered only a smile. According to Ronald B. Epstein, the Buddha then said, 'I have the right Dharma Eye Treasury, the wondrous mind of nirvana, the reality beyond appearance. The Dharma-door of mind to mind transmission has been entrusted to Kāśyapa.'[2] Epstein comments, "Thus Mahākāśyapa received the transmission of Dharma and became the first Buddhist patriarch."[2] Speculation over what the Buddha transmitted to Mahakasyapa has taken place ever since, though "[e]ndless speculations will not reveal it—it is to be discovered each for him or herself, in the course of Zen training."[3] It should also be stated that, "... dharma transmission really entails no transmission at all in the sense of something being passed from one person to another, only the awakening of the disciple to the true nature of his or her own being and a mystical realization of identity with all the Buddhas and patriarchs."[4]
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Dharma transmission is sometimes juxtaposed with the term inka, though such a combination of terms can be misleading and cause confusion when not applied to the proper tradition. In the Sōtō school a student receives Dharma transmission during a denbō ceremony, which is the last ceremony of their shiho ceremony. T. Griffith Foulk writes of the practice as it is in Japan, stating, "The usual practice...is for a Sōtō monk to be given Dharma transmission by the priest who ordained him (in most cases his own father), after he returns from his minimum period of monastery training. Because Dharma transmission is a prerequisite to becoming the head priest of a Sōtō branch temple, virtually all Sōtō priests meet this ritual requirement at a relatively early stage in their careers."[5] Inka most often denotes the completion of some sort of koan curriculum. In the Rinzai school of Zen, inka is the official indicator of mastery and denotes an individual who has successfully completed koan study and received the title roshi.[6] According to Peter Matthiessen, "In the Rinzai tradition, inka is equivalent to dharma transmission and is bestowed upon completion of formal study."[7] Soko Morinaga agrees with Matthiessen, writing, "Inka is the seal of the authentic transmission of Dharma, which is the Law of the universe and the teaching of Shakyamuni." [5] In the Kwan Um School of Zen, inka is granted to an individual who has completed their koan training and is granted the title Ji Do Poep Sa Nim. Dharma transmission in the Kwan Um School of Zen comes after inka, denoting the individual is now a Soen Sa Nim.[8] Seung Sahn himself is quoted saying, "Inka and transmission are different. Our "Ji Do Poep Sa Nim" title is like the Japanese title "sensei." In Korea, we call it "Chong Yong Sun" -- your practice is okay, teaching other people is possible. This title has almost disappeared in Korea, although it still exists in China. In Korea we now have the title "Ip Sung Sunim." -- 'head monk.'"[9] Similarly, in the Sanbo Kyodan and White Plum Asanga, Dharma transmission qualifies one as a sensei, while inka denotes a level of mastery wherein which the sensei is granted the title of roshi.[6][10] Thich Nhat Hanh has created a ritual known as "Lamp Transmission", making a teacher a Dharmacharya—an individual with "limited teaching authority."[8] According to author James Ishmael Ford, "Regarding the issue of Dharma transmission, Thich Nhat Hanh has said no single student will succeed him. Instead his community of practice will itself be his successor. He is quoted as saying Maitreya, the Buddha of future birth, may be a community of practice rather than an individual. What this actually means will only become apparent over the next decades."[8]
[edit] See also
- ^ Haskel, 2
- ^ a b Epstein, 130
- ^ Fowler, 81
- ^ Buckley Ebrey, et al; 154
- ^ a b Kraft, 20; 173
- ^ a b Seager, 107
- ^ Matthiessen, 277
- ^ a b c Ford, 93; 220
- ^ Seung Sahn
- ^ Aitken, 25-26
[edit] References
- Aitken, Robert Baker (2003). The Morning Star: New and Selected Zen Writings. Shoemaker & Hoard. ISBN 1593760019.
- Bodiford, William M. (Winter 1991). "Dharma Transmission in Soto Zen: Manzan Dohaku's Reform Movement". Monumenta Nipponica 46 (4): pp. 423-451. Sophia University. doi:10.2307/2385187. ISSN 0027-0741.
- Buckley Ebley, Patricia; Gregory, Peter N.. Religion and Society in T'Ang and Sung China. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0824815122.
- Epstein, Ronald B. (2003). Buddhist Text Translation Society's Buddhism A to Z. Buddhist Text Translation Society. ISBN 0881393533.
- Ford, James Ishmael (2006). Zen Master Who?: A Guide to the People and Stories of Zen. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0861715098.
- Fowler, Merv (2005). Zen Buddhism: Beliefs and Practices. Sussex Academic Press. ISBN 1902210425.
- Haskel, Peter. Letting Go: The Story of Zen Master Tōsui. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0824824407.
- Kraft, Kenneth (1988). Zen: Tradition and Transition. Grove Press. ISBN 080213162X.
- Matthiessen, Peter (1998). Nine-headed Dragon River: Zen Journals, 1969-1985. Shambhala Publications. ISBN 0877733252.
- O'Halloran, Maura (2007). Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind: The Life and Letters of an Irish Zen Saint. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0861712838.
- Seager, Richard Hughes (1999). Buddhism In America. Columbia University Press. ISBN 0231108680.
- Seung Sahn (Fall 1987). Inka Means Strong Center and Wisdom. Primary Point. Retrieved on 2008-03-23.
[edit] External links
