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Zen Buddhism (Chan)master


Niutou Farong

Tradition: Zen Buddhism (Chan) | Era: 7th century (Tang Dynasty) | Lineage: East Mountain Teaching / Oxhead School (early Chan)
Episodes analyzed: 1 | Average depth: 5.0/10

Compiled Truth

The mind's nature is originally pure, non-arising, and self-illuminating; any effort to purify, attain, or understand it conceptually creates a dualistic obstruction that obscures this inherent reality.

Key Teachings

1. The mind's nature is originally pure, non-arising, and self-illuminating; any effort to purify, attain, or understand it conceptually creates a dualistic obstruction that obscures this inherent reality.

Key Concepts

  • Non-effort (Wu-wei) -- The realization that spiritual striving reinforces the ego; true practice involves ceasing to manipulate the mind.

  • Non-knowing -- A state of wisdom that transcends intellectual discrimination and conceptual knowledge.

  • Original Nature -- The uncreated, timeless essence of being that exists prior to the distinction between sacred and profane.

  • Mind-Environment Non-duality -- The understanding that the internal mind and external environment arise together; when one ceases, the other dissolves.

    • Paradoxes

  • Knowing dharmas is non-knowing; non-knowing is true knowing.

  • To seek the real is to give up the true.

  • Enlightenment arises from non-enlightenment; enlightenment is non-enlightenment.

  • No need to eliminate vexation; vexation has never existed.

    • Cross-References

  • Tradition: Zen Buddhism (Chan)

  • Related masters in same tradition: Bodhidharma, Shitou Xiqian (Sekito Kisen), Yoka Daishi (Yongjia Xuanjue), Yongjia Xuanxue (Yoka Daishi)

    • Timeline

  • [2026-04-11] 1 episodes imported from Wisdom of Masters analysis