Compendium of the Five Lamps

Behold! The Buddha's Dharma is radiant and clear, enduring for many thousands of kalpas original: "劫"; an eon or an unimaginably long period of cosmic time.. It makes manifest the Ancestral Wind original: "宗風"; the specific spirit, style, or tradition of a Zen lineage., and its source follows in unbroken succession.

This separate transmission outside the teachings original: "教外別傳"; a foundational Zen principle asserting that the ultimate truth is transmitted directly from heart to heart, rather than through the study of written scriptures. began within the smile of Mahakasyapa original: "迦葉"; the disciple of the Buddha who achieved enlightenment when the Buddha simply held up a flower; Kasyapa responded with a smile.. How could it ever branch off into two separate ways?

Since the Jingde era [1004–1007], the Record of the Transmission of the Lamp original: "傳燈錄"; specifically the Jingde Chuandeng Lu, the first great history of Zen lineages. has circulated in the world. This was followed by the Extensive Lamp, the Linked Lamp, the Continued Lamp, and the Universal Lamp. Thus, lamp after lamp has continued the flame. Though the lineages and branches differ, they all return to the same principle. We know that a "lamp" is that which shatters the darkness of ignorance in order to illuminate this Way.

Now, the Head Monk Huiming has gathered these five "Lamp" records into a single collection, titled the Compendium of the Five Lamps original: "五燈會元"; Wudeng Huiyuan., to make it convenient for viewing and study. The Layman Shen original: "沈居士"; a "layman" is a non-monastic follower of Buddhism. donated the funds to hire craftsmen and carve the woodblocks original: "鋟梓"; literally "to carve on catalpa wood," the traditional method of printing. at Lingyin Mountain original: "靈隱山"; the location of the famous Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou, a major center of Zen culture.. The masters Dachuan and Laolu, as well as the Monastic Superintendent, all assisted in bringing this to fruition.

When the work was quickly completed, the monk Fo'an brought a copy to me and repeatedly entreated me to write this preface. I replied: "The entire Great Treasury of Teachings is like using paper to wipe away filth. From this, one knows that the Buddha's Dharma does not reside in letters, nor does it exist within words. If one is a person of great resolve original: "大丈夫漢"; literally a "great husband" or "hero," referring to a serious practitioner., they must see clearly and awaken thoroughly. It is like a swift falcon seizing its prey—once caught, it is gone. If one turns their head or tilts their brain, hesitating even for a moment, they will find themselves 'passing by Silla in vain' original: "空過新羅"; a Zen idiom referring to the kingdom of Silla in Korea. It suggests that if you miss the moment of enlightenment, you have traveled a great distance but missed the destination entirely.."

As for those who merely search through chapters and pick out phrases, they only add to...