Great Brahma Heavenly King Questions the Buddha Sutra (大梵天王問佛決疑經)

About 大梵天王問佛決疑經

18,808 · about 63 min

The Sutra of Mahabrahma Devaraja Inquiring the Buddha to Resolve Doubts is a Chinese Buddhist scripture, traditionally said to have been translated by the Song dynasty monk Shihu and others, though some suspect it to be a later work attributed to them. In mythological form, the sutra records how Mahabrahma Devaraja offered a golden *utpala* flower to the Buddha. The Buddha then held up the flower and showed it to the assembly. Only Mahakasyapa broke into a subtle smile, thereby initiating the Chan (Zen) lineage's mind-to-mind transmission outside the orthodox teachings. Although this sutra was not included in the traditional Buddhist canon, the story of "holding up a flower" it records is revered by the Chan school as the key basis for the origin of its transmission. It has had a profound influence on the establishment of Chan thought and lineage in China and remains an important text for understanding the origins of Chan Buddhism.