Ming · by 元賢述
16,650 · about 56 min
The Essentials of Pure Compassion is a Buddhist text composed by the eminent Ming dynasty monk Yongjue Yuanxian. Chan Master Yuanxian belonged to the Caodong lineage and was active during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, a period of Buddhist revival and synthesis. The work was completed during this era. Its primary content elucidates the essentials of the Pure Land method and the Chan school, emphasizing the dual cultivation of Chan and Pure Land, with purifying the mind as the foundation. It harmonizes the teachings of various schools, guiding practitioners to recite the Buddha's name with sincerity and to realize the true nature of mind. The text employs concise language while conveying profound principles. It serves as an important document for studying the confluence of Chan and Pure Land thought in Ming and Qing Buddhism, holding a pivotal position in Chinese Buddhist history that bridges past and future, and has exerted a profound influence on later generations of students and practitioners.