A short biography of Venerable Minghai

Venerable Minghai was born in 1968, in Qianjiang, Hubei Province. His interest in Buddhism began in 1989, and in 1990 he met Chan Master Jinghui, the direct disciple of the great Chan Master Empty Cloud. Venerable Minghai graduated in 1991 from Beijing University’s Department of Philosophy, and in September of 1992 received novice ordination from Chan Master Jinghui at Bailin Temple, in Zhaoxian, Hebei Province. He received the full vows of a Bhikshu in 1993 at White Horse Temple in Luoyang. For many years he has energetically participated in the restoration of Bailin Temple, and also organized many programs designed to further understanding and practice of the Dharma. In 2000, he inherited the title of the forty-fifth holder of the Linji lineage from Chan Master Jinghui. He is currently abbot of Bailin Temple, founded by Chan Master Zhaozhou, and vice-president of the Hebei Province Buddhist Association.

A short biography of Chan Master Jinghui

Chan Master Jinghui was born in Xinzhou, Hubei Province, China, in 1933. In 1951, when he was eighteen years old, Chan Master Jinghui ordained as a Bhikshu in Yunmen Temple. After ordaining, he became the personal attendant of China’s eminent authority on Chan Buddhism, Chan Master Empty Cloud. In 1952, he became Chan Master Empty Cloud’s Dharma heir. From 1956 to 1963, Chan Master Jinghui studied in the newly founded Beijing Chinese Buddhist Studies Academy, belonging to the first group of graduates. In 1963, he was wrongly accused of being a “Rightest,” and was forced into “reform through labor” programs in Beijing, Guangzhou, Hubei and other places. In 1979, after a change in the Communist government’s policies, he returned to Beijing. From that time onward, Chan Master Jinghui has worked tirelessly to revive Buddhism within China. He is responsible for the rebuilding and restoration of many important temples, such as Bailin Temple, founded by the great master Zhazhou, and the Fourth Patriarch’s Temple. He is also responsible for founding many Buddhist studies programs, holding regular meditation retreats, and workshops for the ordained Sangha as well as the laity. Chan Master Jinghui is one of the driving forces of Buddhism’s revival in modern China today. He is currently abbot of the Fourth Patriarch’s Temple, and holds several other prominent positions, including vice-president of the Chinese Buddhist Association and president of the Hebei Province Buddhist Association.

A general note about romanization of Chinese terms

As the texts posted on this blog are translations of Chinese texts, and the translator has no Japanese teachers, and references no Japanese sources, the Hanyu pinyin system of romanization is used throughout the texts made available on this blog. The Japanese equivalents of the names of persons, places or practices are not used.

Acknowledgments

I wanted to say a few words of thanks to people who have contributed, helped or otherwise encouraged me along the way. This list will most likely continue to grow.

Thanks must first be given to Venerables Jinghui and Minghai for allowing me to translate their teachings.
A special expression of gratitude must be given to Cecily, who is acting as my copy editor, and helping me get my translations into readable condition.
Thanks must also be given to the following people: my mother, for helping me to study Chinese language; Bill Porter, for translation advice and encouragement; He Shanmeng, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, for helping with translation questions; Charles Muller for use of his Digital Dictionary of Buddhism, which has been referenced extensively during the translation process; Ven. Huifeng, yet another person who must be thanked for translation help; and whoever else I may have overlooked, but has supported or encouraged me in various ways throughout the last several years on my path!

Unless otherwise noted, the photography used on this blog is the work of Zhangwang, a noted Chinese photographer who specializes in Buddhist photography. He has kindly allowed me to use his work on this blog. 多謝! All rights to his photography are possessed by him.

Why?

I decided to use a blog format to post my translations of the teachings of modern Chinese Chan masters. My vision is to make the teachings of influential, modern Chinese Chan masters available for the English speaking world. Because of the lack of English translations available, the West's understanding of Chan is very limited. Japanese Zen has been the sole representative of Chan in the West for many years, and recently Korean Soen has also become more popular, but neither Japanese Zen nor Korean Soen adequately represent Chinese Chan. Despite the many similarities between the schools, Chinese Chan deserves to be represented in its own right, and there are differences in approach and view between the schools. The purpose of this website is not to encourage sectarianism, but simply to show how Chan is taught and practiced in Mainland China today.

The translations posted on this website will primarily consist of the teachings of Ven. Jinghui, a disciple of the renowned Chan master Empty Cloud, and Ven. Jinghui's disciple Ven. Minghai. Both are extremely active in the rebuilding and spreading of the Buddha-dharma within Mainland China, and I think that their approach to Chan Buddhism will appeal greatly to Westerners. I was planning to also translate teachings of Empty Cloud, and perhaps I will, but rumor has it that a Ph. D. student is working on a translation of the complete teachings of Empty Cloud. If this translation comes about, my time would be better spent working on teachings that have not yet been translated into English. There may also be copyright issues to consider, so for the time being I'm going to focus on the teachings of Venerables Jinghui and Minghai.