Huineng

Huineng

Dajian Huineng or Hui-neng (traditional Chinese: 大鑒惠能; pinyin: Dàjiàn Huìnéng; Cantonese Jyutping: daai6 gaam3 wai6 nang4; 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 Huineng was an uneducated layman who suddenly attained awakening (Chinese: 見性, jianxing) 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. 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. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Huineng is the 681st most popular religious figure (down from 609th in 2019), the 151st most popular biography from China (up from 157th in 2019) and the 3rd most popular Chinese Religious Figure.

Huineng is famous for his role in the development of the Chan (Zen) school of Buddhism and for his emphasis on the importance of direct experience in spiritual practice. Huineng is also known for his teachings on the nature of mind and consciousness, which emphasized the fundamental emptiness and impermanence of all phenomena. His teachings had a profound influence on the development of Buddhism in China and throughout East Asia.