Istruzioni del maestro Chan Laiguo 來果 (1881-1953) sulla tecnica di meditazione del kan huatou 看話頭 (penetrare la frase critica)
Daniela Campo
December 22, 2022 DOI: 10.30687/978-88-6969-640-4/003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis |
|---|---|
| Duration | Ten-week meditation retreat (1942) |
| Key points | The chapter argues that the kan huatou method, formulated by Song master Dahui Zonggao and spread across East Asia, remains the most popular form of Chan meditation in mainland China. Laiguo's 1942 retreat instructions are presented as evidence that both the method and the Chan school's vernacular linguistic and literary strategies persist in contemporary China. |
Abstract
The kan huatou 看話頭 method (‘observing’ or ‘contemplating the critical phrase’) represents one of the many examples of sinization of Buddhism. Formulated and popularized by Song master Dahui Zonggao 大慧宗杲 (1089-1163), it spread to Japan, Vietnam and Korea, and is nowadays the most popular form of Chan meditation practice in mainland China. This chapter provides some background on the history and functioning of this method, and includes the translation of the religious instructions delivered by Chan master Laiguo 來果 (1881-1953) during one meditation session within a ten-week meditation retreat at Gaomin Monastery in 1942. Characterized by an incisive, vernacular style, Laiguo’s oral instructions attest to the continuity of both the kan huatou method, and the linguistic and literary strategies of the Chan school, in contemporary China.