Rujing

Tiāntóng Rújìng (天童如淨; Japanese: Tendō Nyojō) was a Caodong Buddhist monk living in Qìngdé Temple[1] (慶徳寺; Japanese: Keitoku-ji) on Tiāntóng Mountain (天童山; Japanese: Tendouzan) in Yinzhou District, Ningbo. He taught and gave dharma transmission to Sōtō Zen founder Dōgen[1][2] as well as early Sōtō monk Jakuen (寂円 Jìyuán).

Tiāntóng Rújìng 天童如淨
Title	Chán master
Personal
Born	8 August 1163
Died	18 August 1228 (aged 65)
Religion	Buddhism
School	Caodong/Sōtō
Senior posting
Teacher	Xuedou Zhijian
Predecessor	Xuedou Zhijian
Successor	Eihei Dōgen
Students Eihei Dōgen Jakuen Wuwai Yiyuan

His teacher was Xuedou Zhijian[1] (雪竇智鑑, 1105–1192), who was the sixteenth-generation dharma descendant of Huineng.

According to Keizan, when Ruijing became a leader, he didn't put himself above the other monks. He wore the black surplice and robe of a monk. He was given a purple vestment of honor by the emperor of China, but he declined it. Even after reaching enlightenment, he was willing to clean the bathroom.[3]

He is traditionally the originator of the terms shikantaza[4] and shinjin-datsuraku ("casting off of body and mind").

References

1. Ferguson, Andrew E. (2000). Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings. Wisdom Publications. p. 454. ISBN 978-0861711635.
2. Warner, Brad (May 2007). Sit Down and Shut Up. New World Library. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-57731-559-9.
3. Keizan, Jōkin (6 June 1990). Transmission of Light. ISBN 0-86547-433-8.
4. "Caodong Family Tree". caodongzazen.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2012.

External links

• (in Chinese) 略述天童如净禅师的生平与禅学思想 a summary of some sources about Rujing