Linji

Linji Yixuan was a Chinese Chan Buddhist master who lived during the Tang Dynasty (816-867 AD). He is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of Chan Buddhism, and his teachings and practices continue to be studied and practiced around the world today.

Linji was born in Henan Province, China, and was educated in Confucian classics and Buddhist scriptures. At the age of 25, he renounced his family and worldly attachments to pursue a monastic life. He practiced intense meditation and asceticism, eventually encountering his teacher, Huiguang, with whom he shared many of his deepest questions and doubts.

According to legend, Linji discovered his spiritual attainments through fierce and unorthodox methods, including using slops and ignoring convention. His practice focused on direct experience and intuition, rather than gradual cultivation and staged spiritual achievements, which contrasted with traditional methods of Buddhist practice. Linji's teachings emphasize recognizing causality, discriminating reality, confronting the thoughts and experiences of attachments and emancipating oneself.

Linji was renowned for his royal temper, direct manner and sparse use of words, delivering a wide variety of unwavering and passionate persuasions during his sermons. His fiery spirit can be found in such teachings as, "What I call your 'sincere intention' is sodden stupidity. It's just food for otherworldly dragon jars."

The Linji tradition holds a special place in the Chan tradition as a turning point in Chinese forms of Zen. His sayings and practices span recognition of causality and Zi fang fu (humorous irreverence) withdrawing to spirited instruction text on abrupt zaji (vernacular/tradierial expression as insight).