Ancient Forest Zen Master's Recorded Sayings (古林如禪師語錄)

About 古林如禪師語錄

Qing · by 機如說　全威等記錄

18,094 · about 60 min

The Recorded Sayings of Chan Master Gulin Ru is a collection of Dharma teachings transmitted by the eminent Qing Dynasty Chan master Gulin Ru, compiled by his disciples such as Quanwei. Active during the late Ming and early Qing periods, Gulin Ru belonged to the Linji lineage. His recorded sayings emerged against the backdrop of Chan Buddhism’s emphasis on actual practice and the tempering of mind-nature. The contents encompass formal hall discourses, sharp exchanges of dialogue, commentaries on old cases, and epistolary instructions, vividly presenting his Chan style of pointing directly to the human mind and cutting off conceptual attachments. This work serves as an important document for the study of Chan thought and practice in the early Qing period, particularly revealing the transmission lineage and skillful means of guidance employed by the Linji school at that time. It holds significant value for understanding the historical development of Chan Buddhism and its methodology of cultivation, providing later generations of practitioners with a precious basis for contemplation and investigation.