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Zen (Chan)master


Old Man Cheng (attributed)

Tradition: Zen (Chan) | Era: Tang Dynasty (approximate context of Chan sayings) | Lineage: Chan (Zen)
Episodes analyzed: 1 | Average depth: 5.0/10

Compiled Truth

Original Spirit is ever-present and requires no acquisition; it is obscured only by the mind's striving, conceptualization, and reliance on external authority.

Key Teachings

1. Original Spirit is ever-present and requires no acquisition; it is obscured only by the mind's striving, conceptualization, and reliance on external authority.

Key Concepts

  • Non-striving (Wu Wei) -- Allowing things to depart or arise without intervention or the desire to modify the course of events.

  • Direct Seeing -- Perceiving reality without the mediation of scriptures, teachers, or conceptual thought.

  • The Trap of Merit -- The error of seeking spiritual progress through accumulation of knowledge, rituals, or good deeds rather than immediate recognition of nature.

    • Paradoxes

  • To find Original Spirit, one must stop seeking it.

  • The teacher breaks props to leave the student with nothing, which is everything.

  • Scriptures and masters are necessary pointers that become obstacles if clung to as truth itself.

    • Cross-References

  • Tradition: Zen (Chan)

  • Related masters in same tradition: Huang Po (Huangbo Xiyun), Hui Neng (Wei Lang)

    • Timeline

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