Huang-po's Notion of Mind

Abstract

<p>The purpose of this study is to examine in detail the teaching of the ninth century Ch'an master, Hsi-yun of Mt. Huang-po, whose ideas were instrumental in determining the eventual course Ch'an Buddhism was fated to take. In this study, the teaching of Huang-po is considered within the context of the debate over the nature of "mind" current in Ch'an circles at this time. Within this context, Huangpo's understanding of "mind" is revealed, and the practice of "no-mind" is established. The thesis attempts to unravel the internal logic of Huang-po's thouqht, shedding some light on the central teachings attributed to him.</p>