Description
A new translation of this classic sutra by Red Pine. The teachings of Hui-neng, the sixth patriarch, who is revered as one of the two great figures in the founding of Ch'an or Zen Buddhism. This sutra occupies a central place in Ch'an Buddhist instruction. It is often linked with the Heart Sutra and the Diamond Sutra to form a trio of texts that have been studied for centuries. However, unlike the other sutras, which transcribe the teachings of the Buddha himself, the Platform Sutra presents the life and work of Hui-neng, the controversial sixth patriarch of Zen, and offers his understanding of the fundamentals of a spiritual and practical life. Hui-neng's instruction still matters - the seventh-century school of Direct Awakening that he founded still flourishes today, continuing to influence the Rinzai and Soto schools of contemporary Zen.