The Patriarchs of the Lý Dynasty and the Development of Zen Thought

Abstract

Since the Lý dynasty, Zen (Thiền) thought commenced to experience a period of significant florescence when eminent patriarchs composed scriptures, made commentaries, and translations, and attempted to systematize Buddhist studies. Particularly, some of their works – most of them are verse compositions (gāthās) – express clearly Zen ideas, contributing to articulating Buddhist Dharma at that time and developing Vietnamese Buddhism in subsequent times. Some holy Buddhist patriarchs should be counted here include Khuông Việt, Định Hương, Vạn Hạnh, Viên Chiếu, Đạo Huệ, Huệ Sinh, Thường Chiếu, Thông Biện, and Diệu Nhân. Their Zen thought displays considerable diversity and multidimensionality, spreading various contents. This article concentrates on several core ideas: Mind transmission (Tâm tông), non-abiding (vô trụ), ideas about Mind, and the notion of emptiness (tính không).