Joshu Talks
Zhaozhou Congshen (Chinese: 趙州從諗; pinyin: Zhàozhōu Cōngshěn; Wade–Giles: Chao-chou Ts'ung-shen'; Japanese: 趙州従諗, romanized: Jōshū Jūshin) (778–897) was a Chán (Zen) Buddhist master especially known for his "paradoxical statements and strange deeds".
Zhaozhou became ordained as a monk at an early age. At the age of 18, he met Nánquán Pǔyuàn (南泉普願 748–835; J: Nansen Fugan), a successor of Mǎzǔ Dàoyī (709–788; J. Baso Do-itsu), and eventually received the Dharma from him. When Nanquan asked Zhaozhou the koan "What is the Way?", the two had a dialogue, at the height of which Zhaozhou attained enlightenment. Zhaozhou continued to practice under Nanquan until the latter's death.
Subsequently, Zhaozhou began to travel throughout China, visiting the prominent Chan masters of the time before finally, at the age of eighty, settling in Guānyīnyuàn (觀音院), a ruined temple in northern China. There, for the next 40 years, he taught a small group of monks. This temple, now called Bailin Temple, was rebuilt after the Cultural Revolution and is nowadays again a prominent center of Chinese Buddhism.
Zhaozhou is sometimes touted as the greatest Chan master of Tang dynasty China during a time when its hegemony was disintegrating as more and more regional military governors (jiédùshǐ) began to assert their power. Zhaozhou's lineage died out quickly due to the many wars and frequent purges of Buddhism in China at the time, and cannot be documented beyond the year 1000.
Zhaozhou is remembered for his verbal inventiveness and sense of humor. One of his recorded sayings is:
A monk asked the Master, "What is a true statement?" Zhaozhou replied, "Your mother is ugly."
Many koans in both the Blue Cliff Record and The Gateless Gate concern Zhaozhou, with twelve cases in the former and five in the latter being attributed to him. He is, however, probably best known for the first koan in The Gateless Gate:
A monk asked Chao-chou, "Has the dog Buddha-nature or not?" Chao-chou said, "Wu."
Japanese Zen monk Shunryū Suzuki refers to Zhaozhou (as Jōshū) in his book Zen Mind, Beginner's mind. He uses the following saying from Zhaozhou to illustrate the point that Zen practice should not have a particular purpose or goal: "A clay Buddha cannot cross water; a bronze Buddha cannot get through a furnace; a wooden Buddha cannot get through fire".
Title | Speaker | |
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Joshu's 4 Gates and Joshu's BridgeSerial: BZ-02337 Rohatsu Joshu, BCR-9, BCR-52, Ego, Manjushri, Lotus Sutra, Hindrances, Fundraising, Culture,... |
Dec 01 2013 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Ordinary Mind is the Way: Mumonkan Case 19: Serial No. 01074, Side BOrdinary Mind, MM-19, Nansen, Joshu, Ordinary Mind, Dharma Transmission, Intuition,... |
Nov 22 2008 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Blue Cliff Record: Case #80Serial: BZ-01142B Joshu's New-born Babe, Part II, Sesshin Day 4 Joshu, BCR-80, Big Mind, Discrimination, Ego, Karma, Non-discrimination, Buddha Mind... |
Jun 21 2008 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Blue Cliff Record: Case #80Serial: BZ-01140 Joshu's the New-born Babe Part I, Sesshin Day 2 Joshu, BCR-80, Emotions, Continuous, Birth-and-Death, Karma, Ego, Attachment,... |
Jun 19 2008 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Blue Cliff Record: Case #2 Joshu on Hsin Hsin MingSerial: BZ-01430 "I alone am the holy one throughout heaven and earth", Saturday Lecture Joshu, Attachment, Hsin Hsin Ming, BCR-2, Discrimination, Attachment, Non-... |
Apr 14 2007 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Blue Cliff Record: Case #2Serial: BZ-01193 Joshu's "Don't Know", Saturday Lecture Joshu, BCR-2, Attachment, Discrimination, Non-attachment, Hate, Duality, Building,... |
Oct 15 2005 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Joshu's "Go Wash Your Bowls"Serial: BZ-01255 One-Day Sitting Joshu, Continuous Practice, Posture, Daily Life, Samadhi, Instruction, Karmic... |
Mar 14 2004 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Joshu's "Go Wash Your Bowls"Serial: BZ-00178A One-Day Sitting Joshu, Continuous, Pure Existence, New Year, Aspects of Practice, Interview, Daily... |
Jan 11 2003 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Blue Cliff Record: Case #9Serial: BZ-00233B Joshu's Four Gates, Sesshin Day 2 Joshu, BCR-9, Ego, Birth-and-Death, Light-and-Darkness, Buddha Nature, Oneness,... |
Sep 01 2002 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Blue Cliff Record: #9Serial: BZ-00353B Joshu's 4 Gates, Saturday Lecture Joshu, BCR-9, Enemies, Buddha Nature, Discrimination, Passions, Ego, Non-duality,... |
Jul 18 1998 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Blue Cliff Record: Case #41Serial: BZ-00317A Joshu & The Great Death, Saturday Lecture Joshu, Death, BCR-41, Birth-and-Death, Peace, Big Mind, Zoom, Beginners, Ego... |
Jul 12 1997 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Blue Cliff Record: Case #2Serial: BZ-00657A Joshu's "The Way Is Not Difficult", Saturday Lecture Joshu, BCR-2, confusion, Attachment, Hate, Buddha Nature, Daily Life, Emotions,... |
Sep 18 1993 Berkeley Zen Center |