DESCRIPTION
Lineaged Buddhism refers to a form of Buddhist practice that emphasizes the teacher-student relationship; the teacher being regarded as a present embodiment of a lineage of teachers going back to the historic Buddha (who is also regarded as having been the embodiment of an ancient lineage of awakened beings stretching back kalpas upon kalpas).
Although this understanding can be found in the earliest forms of Buddhism, as a refined form of practice it is one of the foundations of Zen Buddhism. Session 7 gives a brief summary of the emergence of the Chan/Zen 禪 (dhyāna or jhāna, ‘meditation’) schools in China and Japan during the 7th - 9th Century.
Primary Texts
The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch
The Lankavatara Sutra and/or the Vajra Sutra
Suggested Reading
The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch, trans. Philip B. Yampolsky
The Story of Shenhui
Shenhui 神會 (684–758) Chinese monk of the so-called "Southern School" of Chan/Zen who claimed to be the 7th Patriarch, having studied under Huìnéng.
6th Patriarch Huìnéng 惠能 (638 – 713), semi-legendary figure in early Chinese Chan/Zan.
5th - Hóngrěn 弘忍 (601–674), the 5th Patriarch – whose senior disciple was Shénxiù 神秀
4th - Dàoxìn 道信 (580–651)
3rd - Sēngcàn 僧璨 (c. 536)
2nd - Huìkě 慧可 (487–593) 2nd Chinese Patriarch and the 29th since Gautama Buddha.
1st - Bodhidharma 達磨 (c 5th century), transmitter of Chan/Zan to China, 28th Indian Patriarch
27th Indian Patriarch – Prajñātārā
… …
21st - Vasubandhu
… …
14th - Nāgārjuna
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3rd - Śāṇavāsa
2nd - Ānanda
1st Patriarch - Mahākāśyapa