Hakuin

Hakuin Ekaku (1686–1769) was a Japanese Zen master of the Rinzai school whose reforms helped revitalize Zen practice in the Edo period. He is widely regarded as a central figure in the revival of Rinzai Zen, particularly through a renewed emphasis on koan study, disciplined meditation, and experiential realization.

Life and teachings

Hakuin studied with several Rinzai teachers and developed a distinctive approach that integrated vigorous koan inquiry with sustained zazen. He advocated a rigorous, experiential path in which students confront the koan directly and cultivate a clear, uncompromising awareness of their own mind. His method sought to balance disciplined practice with practical instruction and motivational guidance, aiming to keep practice grounded in daily life.

Practice and pedagogy

A hallmark of Hakuin’s method was the systematic use of koans as central training tools, paired with explicit instruction, meditation, and examination. He emphasized perseverance and direct investigation into one’s true nature, while also providing clarifying teaching that could be transmitted across generations. He wrote extensively for students and lay practitioners, and his writings helped standardize aspects of Rinzai training.

Legacy

Hakuin established and reinforced monastic and teaching networks that spread his lineage throughout Japan. His students carried on his methods, contributing to a lasting renewal of Rinzai practice. In addition to his pedagogical work, Hakuin was an accomplished artist and calligrapher; his Daruma (Bodhidharma) paintings and inscriptions remain influential in Zen iconography.

Overall, Hakuin is remembered as a key figure in modern Zen for reviving rigorous koan practice and shaping the way Rinzai Zen is transmitted and practiced today.