Sixth Patriarch Talks
Dajian Huineng (traditional Chinese: 大鑒惠能; pinyin: Dàjiàn Huìnéng; Wade–Giles: Ta⁴-chien⁴ Hui⁴-nêng²; Japanese: Daikan Enō; Korean: Daegam Hyeneung; February 27, 638 – August 28, 713), also commonly known as the Sixth Patriarch or Sixth Ancestor of Chan (traditional Chinese: 禪宗六祖), is a semi-legendary but central figure in the early history of Chinese Chan Buddhism. According to tradition he was an uneducated layman who suddenly attained awakening upon hearing the Diamond Sutra. Despite his lack of formal training, he demonstrated his understanding to the fifth patriarch, Daman Hongren, who then supposedly chose Huineng as his true successor instead of his publicly known selection of Yuquan Shenxiu.
Twentieth century scholarship revealed that the story of Huineng's Buddhist career was likely invented by the monk Heze Shenhui, who claimed to be one of Huineng's disciples and was highly critical of Shenxiu's teaching.
Huineng is regarded as the founder of the "Sudden Enlightenment" Southern Chan school of Buddhism, which focuses on an immediate and direct attainment of Buddhist enlightenment. The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch (六祖壇經), which is said to be a record of his teachings, is a highly influential text in the East Asian Buddhist tradition.
Title | Speaker | |
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GenjokoanSerial: BZ-00900B Saturday Lecture Genjokoan, Sixth Patriarch, Composure, Don't Know Mind, Subject-and-Object, Ego... |
Jan 30 1988 Berkeley Zen Center |
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June 3rd, 1987, Serial No. 01501, Side B Birth-and-Death, true dharma, Sixth Patriarch, Koan, Attachment, Heart Sutra, soto,... |
Jun 03 1987 |
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Considering the Hindrances and Seeing the DharmasSerial: BZ-00884A Saturday Lecture Hindrances, Mindfulness, Concentration, Equanimity, Hindrances, Study Period, Sixth... |
Sep 21 1985 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sutra Study: The Meaning of Zazen and KinhinSerial: BZ-00413B Saturday Lecture Zazen, Kinhin, Lotus Sutra, Posture, Daily Life, Sixth Patriarch, Mindfulness, Bell,... |
Aug 10 1985 Berkeley Zen Center |
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The Meaning of the Bodhisattva CeremonySerial: BZ-00413A Saturday Lecture Bodhisattva Ceremony, Karma, Precepts, Bodhisattva Ceremony, Sangha, Manjushri,... |
Aug 03 1985 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Creating Practice Using the Forms at HandSerial: BZ-00425A Layman Pang, Saturday Lecture Lay Practice, Layman Pang, Mindfulness, Buddha Mind, Sixth Patriarch, Monastic... |
Mar 09 1985 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Mind in ZazenSerial: BZ-00405A Rohatsu Ordinary Mind, Buddha Mind, Zazen, Building, Sixth Patriarch, Concentration, Enemies... |
Dec 03 1984 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Trip to JapanSerial: BZ-00393B Saturday Lecture Japan, Dharma Transmission, Transmission, Priest, Building, training, Sanctuary, Lay... |
Oct 27 1984 Berkeley Zen Center |
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May 22nd, 1984, Serial No. 00435 Ordinary Mind, Bodhidharma, Sixth Patriarch, Soto Zen, Impermanence, Culture, Buddha... |
May 22 1984 |
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1984.04.05-serial.00306 Samadhi, Oneness, Delusion, Manjushri, Sixth Patriarch |
Apr 05 1984 |
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The Dharma of Mindfulness: Tassajara GathasSerial: BZ-00903A Saturday Lecture Mindfulness, Tassajara, Gathas, Mindfulness, Monastic Practice, Daily Life,... |
Nov 05 1983 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Mumonkan: Case #12 Pt. IISerial: BZ-00403B Calling and Answering, Saturday Lecture MM-12, Buddha Nature, Precepts, Subject-and-Object, Daily Life, Sixth Patriarch, Don... |
Oct 01 1983 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Enlightenment in Soto ZenSerial: BZ-00402A Saturday Lecture Enlightenment, Soto Zen, Rinzai, Sixth Patriarch, Platform Sutra, Soto Zen, soto,... |
Sep 10 1983 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Bodhisattva Ceremony: Renewing Our WaySerial: BZ-00006A Saturday Lecture Bodhisattva Ceremony, Bodhisattva Ceremony, Vows, Eka, Offering, Daily Life,... |
Feb 26 1983 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Gakudo Yojin-Shu Section 8Serial: BZ-00048A Conduct (understanding) Zazen Mind, Saturday Lecture Gakudo Yojin-Shu, Birth-and-Death, Sixth Patriarch, Buddha Nature, true dharma,... |
Nov 27 1982 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Dogen's Fukanzazengi and Practice RealizationSerial: BZ-00043A Saturday Lecture Duality, Perfect Wisdom, Dragons, Doubt, Sixth Patriarch, Absolute-and-Relative,... |
Oct 23 1982 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Blue Cliff Record: Case #35Serial: BZ-00034A Manjushri's "3's" and "3's"; Nondiscrimination, Saturday Lecture BCR-35
Non-discrimination, Koan, Manjushri, Dragons, Conversation, Sixth Patriarch, Monastic... |
Jul 03 1982 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Essence of Mind: The Fifth ParamitaSerial: BZ-00008A Subject and Object--Buddhanature, Saturday Lecture Paramitas, Subject-and-Object, Duality, Buddha Nature, Buddha Nature, Daily Life,... |
May 15 1982 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Celebration of Spring--This Shore, The Other ShoreSerial: BZ-00014B Keepng Your Place, One-Day Sitting Sixth Patriarch, Heart Sutra, Nirvana, Happiness, Observe |
Mar 20 1982 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Rinzai Zen Sixth Patriarch, Soto Zen, Lotus Sutra, Heart Sutra, Platform Sutra, Doubt, Buddha... |
Feb 26 1982 |
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Right Effort and Right ThoughtSerial: BZ-00026A Saturday Lecture Right Effort, Right Thought, Noble Eightfold Path, Study, Focus, Right Effort,... |
Nov 15 1980 Berkeley Zen Center |
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November 15th, 1980, Serial No. 01061 Right Effort, Monastic Practice, Sixth Patriarch, Soto Zen, Daily Life, American,... |
Nov 15 1980 |