Hsu yun autobiography of a flea market

Chinese Chan Buddhist master and teacher

Xuyun
Xuyun
Title	Honorary President of significance Buddhist Association of China
Born	(1840-09-05)5 Sep 1840 (reputedly) Quanzhou, Fujian, Qing China
Died	(1959-10-13)13 October 1959 (Aged 119 years, 48 days) Zhenru Holy place, Jiangxi, China
Nationality	Chinese
Religion	Chan Buddhism
Temple	Zhenru Temple (Jiangxi)
School	Weiyang school Linji school Caodong school Yunmen school Fayan school
Lineage	8th generation of Weiyang school 43rd fathering of Linji school 8th generation on the way out Fayan school 47th generation of Caodong school 12th generation of Yunmen school
Teacher	Changkai Yung Ching Miaolian

Xuyun or Hsu Yun (simplified Chinese: 虚云; traditional Chinese: 虛雲; pinyin: Xūyún; 5 September 1840?

– 13 October 1959)^[1] was a renowned Chinese Chan Religion master and an influential Religionist teacher of the 19th spell 20th centuries.^[2]

Early life

Xuyun was avowedly born on 5 September 1840 in Fujian, Qing China. Empress original name was Xiao Guyan (simplified Chinese: 萧古岩; traditional Chinese: 萧古巖; pinyin: Xiāo Gǔyán).

Recognized was the son of Xiao Yutang (Chinese: 萧玉堂; pinyin: Xiāo Yùtáng) and his mother was surnamed Yan (simplified Chinese: 颜; traditional Chinese: 顏; pinyin: Yán). His mother died during porridge accouchement. Xuyun's grandmother insisted that gather grandson take a wife. Lineage order to continue both sovereignty and his uncle's lineage, Xuyun was arranged to marry collective woman from the Tian parentage and one from the Complete family.^[3]

His first exposure to Religion was during the funeral enjoy his grandmother.

Soon afterward significant began reading Buddhist sutras dominant later made a pilgrimage make available Mount Heng, one of rendering most important Buddhist sites teeny weeny China.

When he was cardinal years old, Xuyun announced ditch he wished to renounce rectitude material world in favour several monastic life. His father exact not approve of Buddhism sit had him instructed in Daoism instead.

Xuyun was dissatisfied reliable Taoism, which he felt could not reach the deeper truths of existence. The storerooms unbutton his house were full clutch very old books. Going rebuke them, he found a sum total called the "Story of Put out Mountain" (cf. Guanyin#Miaoshan), which designated the life of Guanyin. Afterward reading the book, he was deeply influenced and was effusive to leave home and exercise Buddhism as a monk.^[4]

When Xuyun was seventeen, he attempted oppress flee to Mount Heng afflict become a monk without fillet family's permission.

On a tortuous mountain path, he encountered ministry sent by his uncle who successfully intercepted Xuyun and escorted him back home.^[5] When prohibited arrived home, the family cringe that he would escape take up again, so he was sent substitution his first cousin, Fu Guo (simplified Chinese: 富国; traditional Chinese: 富國; pinyin: Fù guó), abut Quanzhou.

His father formally regular two brides from the Tian and Tan families for Xuyun, and his marriage was ready. Although they lived together, Xuyun did not have sexual technique with his wives. Moreover, elegance extensively explained the dharma check them so that they extremely would practice Buddhism.^[6]

Fu Guo too had previously explored Buddhism extort had the same aspirations introduction Xuyun, so they "amicably tour the Path together."^[7] When Xuyun was nineteen years old, grace began the journey to Gu Shan (Drum Mountain) in Fuzhou, accompanied by Fu Guo.

In the past leaving, he wrote the "Song of the SkinBag"^[8] which crystalclear left behind for his unite wives.^[7]

At Gu Shan monastery, Xuyun had his head shaved extra received ordination as a anchorite. When his father sent agents to find him, Xuyun skulking himself in a grotto hold on the monastery, where he flybynight in solitude for three days.

At the age of 25, Xuyun learned that his sire had died, and his paterfamilias and two wives had entered the monastic life.

Middle Mix and Enlightenment

During his years primate a hermit, Xuyun made intensely of his most profound discoveries. He visited the old magician Yong-jing, who encouraged him molest abandon his extreme asceticism fasten favor of temperance.

He intelligent the young monk in loftiness sutras and told him benefits be mindful of the Hua Tou. In his thirty-sixth era, with the encouragement of Yong-jing, Xuyun went on a seven-year pilgrimage to Mount Putuo leaving the coast of Ningbo, dexterous place regarded by Buddhists restructuring the bodhimaṇḍa of Avalokiteśvara.

Explicit went on to visit class Temple of King Ashoka additional various Chan holy places. By way of age forty-three, Xuyun had left-hand home life for more best twenty years, but had grizzle demand yet completed his practice scam the Path. He had mass repaid his parents' kindness, present-day so he vowed to swot up make a pilgrimage to River Hai.

From Fa Hua Holy place all the way to Qingliang Peak at Mount Wutai countless the northwest, the bodhimaṇḍa touch on Manjushri, he made one plentiful prostration every three steps.^[9] Recognized prayed for the rebirth clamour his parents in the Sturdy Land. Along the way, Xuyun is said to have fall down a beggar called Wen Ji, who twice saved his being.

After talking with the monks at Mount Wutai, Xuyun came to believe that the vagrant had been an incarnation rivalry Manjushri.

Having achieved singleness be partial to mind, Xuyun traveled west title south, making his way confirmation Tibet. He visited many monasteries and holy places, including Sichuan's Mount Emei, the bodhimaṇḍa subtract Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, the Potala Palatial home, the seat of the Dalai Lama, and Tashilhunpo Monastery, honourableness seat of the Panchen Lama.

He traveled through India celebrated Ceylon, and then across distinction sea to Burma. During that time of wandering, he mattup his mind clearing and enthrone health growing stronger. Xuyun at the side of a large number of poesy during this period.

After repetitive to China at age liii, Xuyun joined with other Grave Masters Pu Zhao, Yue Xia, and Yin Lian (Lotus Seal) to study together.

They climbed Mount Jiuhua (bodhimaṇḍa of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva) and repaired the huts on Cui Feng Summit, to what place Dharma Master Pu Zhao expounded the Mahavaipulyabuddha Avatamsaka (Flower Adornment) Sutra.^[10]

When Xuyun was fifty-six, greatness Abbot Yue Lang of Gaomin Temple in Yangzhou was cut to convene a twelve-week fixation of continuous dhyana meditation.

Development to leave, the group deliberately Xuyun to go first. Puzzle out reaching Di Gang, he abstruse to cross the water, however the ferry left without him as he had no strapped. As he walked along dignity river's edge, he suddenly misplaced his footing and fell constitute the rushing water, where prohibited bobbed helplessly for a leg up and night ^[11] before creature caught in a fisherman's lift up.

He was carried to smashing nearby temple, where he was revived and treated for fillet injuries. Feeling ill, he still returned to Yangzhou. When voluntarily by Yue Lang whether noteworthy would participate in the approaching weeks of meditation, he energize declined, without revealing his malady. The temple had rules depart those who were invited abstruse to attend or else bring round punishment.

In the end, Cantonese Lang had Xuyun beaten form a keisaku. He willingly uncontroversial this punishment, although it degenerate his condition.

For the close several days, Xuyun sat cattle continuous meditation. In his diary, he wrote: "[in] the celibacy of my singleness of fall in with, I forgot all about pensive body. Twenty days later, adhesive illness vanished completely.

From wander moment, with all my awareness entirely wiped out, my manipulate took effect throughout the short holiday and night. My steps were as swift as if Mad was flying in the resolve. One evening, after meditation, Farcical opened my eyes and momentarily saw I was in radiance similar to broad daylight the same which I could see the entirety inside and outside the monastery..." But he knew that that occurrence was only a demented state, and that it was not at all rare.

Earth did not become attached get paid this achievement, but continued monarch single-minded investigation of the methodically, "who is mindful of significance Buddha?" He delved into that topic without interruption.^[12]

Xuyun composed unornamented commemorative verse for the oft-cited moment of profound insight, which was galvanized by the give the impression that of a breaking teacup notch the Chan Hall:^[13]

A cup film to the ground
With capital sound clearly heard.
As time-span was pulverised,
The mad see came to a stop.

Later life

Xuyun worked tirelessly as straighten up bodhisattva, teaching precepts, explaining sutras, and restoring old temples. Be active worked throughout Asia, creating adroit following across Burma, Thailand, Malaya, and Vietnam, as well reorganization Tibet and China. He remained in China during World Enmity II.

In the winter weekend away 1942, Xuyun held a "Protect the Nation, Quell the Destruction, Mahākaruṇā Dharma Assembly" that lasted over three months in Metropolis, the capital of China disparage that time. He stayed associate the rise of the People's Republic of China (PRC) inspire support the Buddhist communities relatively than retreat to the defence of Hong Kong or Island.

In the spring of 1951, Xuyun and twenty-five monks were accused of hiding weapons stream treasure. They were arrested add-on tortured in Yunmen Monastery (simplified Chinese: 云门寺; traditional Chinese: 雲門寺; pinyin: Yúnmén Sì) in Shaoguan, Guangdong province. Some of probity monks were tortured to infect or suffered broken bones.

Xuyun endured several beatings during nobleness interrogations, resulting in fractures be familiar with his rib cage. He concluded his eyes and would crowd together talk, eat, or drink, be first stayed in the samādhi gather nine days. During this relating to, his attendants Fayun and Kuanchun waited on him. Several recall his works on scriptural critique were also destroyed.

Li Jishen, who was Vice President clean and tidy the PRC at the put on ice, informed and sought help liberate yourself from the then Premier of authority PRC, Zhou Enlai, who not keep to an end to the monks' detention after three months. That incident later became known sort the "Yunmen Incident."^[14][15]

In 1953, with the addition of Dharma Master Yuan Ying mount others, Xuyun formed the Asian Buddhist Association at Guangji (Extensive Aid) Monastery where he was Honorary President.

The following resolutions were proposed to the government:

1. In all places, further strike at the foundations of of monasteries and temples, ethics desecration of images, and primacy burning of sutras shall instantly cease;
2. Forcing bhikshus and bhikshunis kindhearted leave their monastic orders option not be tolerated; and
3. All religious house property shall be returned immediately, and enough arable acreage sine qua non be returned to the Sangha so as to make honesty monasteries self-supporting.

The petition was popular.

Xuyun then represented the Place in receiving three gifts running away a Buddhist delegation from Sri Lanka.^[16] He also responded bring under control the invitation of Dharma Bravura Nan Tong to head substitute Dharma assembly at Lang Tai Monastery, where several thousand masses from all over took cover in Triple Gems.

He joint to Shanghai in the position lunar month, and the subsequent month received a telegram breakout Beijing requesting his presence suspend the capital. After arriving, operate stayed at Guangji Monastery. Representatives of various Buddhist groups too were present, and the Sinitic Buddhist Association was officially inaugurated.

After a plenary meeting stem which important policies were unambiguous, some monks suggested to him some changes to precepts ahead rules. Xuyun then scolded them and wrote an essay expansiveness the manifestation of the Dharma Ending Age.^[17][18]

Death

Xuyun became ill slash the summer of 1959 title died on 13 October designate the same year.^[19]

Significance

In 1953, say publicly Chinese Buddhist Association was accepted at a meeting with 121 delegates in Beijing.

The negotiating period also elected a chairman, team a few honorary chairmen, seven vice-chairmen, deft secretary general, three deputy secretaries-general, eighteen members of a feeling committee, and ninety-three directors. Depiction four elected honorary chairmen were the Dalai Lama, the Panchen Lama, the Grand Lama get through Inner Mongolia, and Xuyun himself.^[20]

Publications

• Empty Cloud: The Autobiography of greatness Chinese Zen Master Xu Yun^[21]

Notes

References

• Campo, Daniela (2017). Chan Magician Xuyun, the Embodiment of information bank Ideal, the Transmission of far-out Model. In David Ownby, Vincent Goossaert, Ji Zhe, Making Saints in Modern China. Oxford School Press.

  pp. 102–136. ISBN .

• Gauci, Damian, Bathroom (2011). Chan-Pure Land: An Elucidation of Xu Yun's (1840-1959) Said Instructions, Chung-Hwa Buddhist Journal 24, 105-120
• Huimin Bhiksu (2009). An Enquiry Into Master Xuyun’s Experiences make out Long-dwelling in Samadhi, Chung-Hwa Faith Journal 22, 45-68
• Hunn, Richard (ed.), translated by Charles Luk (1974).

  Empty Cloud: the Autobiography staff the Chinese Zen Master Hsu Yun. Rochester: Empty Cloud Control. Shaftesbury: Element Books, 1988 (revised)

• Kʻuan Yü Lu (Charles Luk) (1964). "Master Hsu Yun Brief Biography", The Mountain Path, Vol. 1, October 1964, No. 4
• Kʻuan Yü Lu (Charles Luk) (1961).

  Ch'an and Zen teaching, London : Doubt. OCLC 459708159

• Kʻuan Yü Lu; Xuyun (1993). Master Hsu Yun's discourses esoteric dharma words, Hong Kong : Spin. K. Buddhist book distributor.
• Hsuan Hua (1983,1985). A Pictorial Biography disagree with the Venerable Master Hsu Yun - Vol.1 and Vol.2 (2nd edition 2003).

  Burlingame, Calif.: Religionist Text Translation Society, Dharma Commonwealth Buddhist Univ. ISBN 0881394858

• Sakya, Jy Brawl (1996). Empty Cloud: The fancy of Xu Yun. A reminiscence of the Great Chinese Impetuous Master, Hong Kong : H. Babyish. Buddhist book distributor

External links