Shenhui Monk

Answer 1

" Monk Shenhui " was a famous Zen master in the Tang Dynasty. He was one of the founders of Heze Sect and a famous disciple of Huineng, the sixth ancestor.

Shen Huisu's surname was Gao. He was from Xiangyang, Hubei Province. He had studied Confucian classics since he was a child. Later, he had a strong interest in Buddhism, so he became a monk. The God Assembly came to Luoyang during the Kaiyuan period and began to preach in the Song Mountain area. His teachings emphasized that "the heart is Buddha", believing that everyone had Buddha nature in their hearts and that they could become Buddhas through cultivation. He also opposed some of the drawbacks of the Buddhist community at that time, such as excessive pursuit of luxury and fame, so he was respected and supported by many people.

During the Rebellion of An Lushan and Shi Lushan, Shenhui had gone to Xiangyang and Jingzhou to explain Buddhism to Emperor Suzong and help him quell the rebellion. Later, he was recalled to Chang 'an and became the abbot of Daxing Shan Temple. There, he continued to preach and nurtured many disciples. The thought of Shenhui had a profound influence on the development of Chinese Buddhism. He was honored as the seventh generation of the sixth ancestor of Zen, Huineng.

While waiting for the TV series, you can also click on the link below to read the classic original work of "Dafeng Nightwatchman"!