Chan Study Group

Learning about Chan Buddhism

Welcome to Study Group!

We're glad you found your way here. In addition to providing recordings of past sessions, this page serves as a brief introduction to our Chan Buddhism study group, led by Beishi Guohan. Below, you will find some context and resources to help you understand the material better.

What is Chan?

Chan is a Chinese school of Mahayana Buddhism that has been practiced in China since around the 6th century C.E. In the 12th century, it established itself as a separate school of Buddhism in Japan, know as Zen. Chan also spread to Vietnam as Thien Buddhism, and to Korea as Seon Buddhism. Today, interest in Chan and Zen is widespread in many countries in the West and continues to grow. The “Legacy of Chan” course below offers a quick introduction to the origins, history, and foundational principles of Chan.

Recommended Introductory Resources

What does Guohan teach?

Guohan teaches “Suddenness Chan,” as taught by his teacher, Master Sheng Yen. Suddenness Chan places emphasis on the “ordinary mind” or “mind of non-abiding awareness,” both in everyday activities and in sitting practice. The two primary meditative practices used are Silent Illumination and Hua Tou. Below is a searchable glossary with many of the important terms and teachings that Guohan uses.

Suddenness Chan Glossary

When and where?

Join us Saturdays at 5:00 pm Taiwan time (UTC +8) on Discord for a special ongoing Chan (Zen) Study Group!

What can I expect?

Beishi Guohan (Tsao) trained for 12 years with Chan Master Sheng Yen, who established the now-famous Dharma Drum organisation in Taiwan. In this ongoing study group, he discusses Chan (Zen) practice, meditation, mindfulness, and how to apply Chan teachings from ancient masters in the world of today.

Sessions last around one hour and are perfect for everyone, from beginners to advanced practitioners, with an interest in Eastern Philosophy. The teachings contain invaluable insights passed down from advanced meditators over thousands of years. The sessions are conducted using our Event Stage (voice) on Discord, with text-based interaction in the #study-group channel.

Important Texts

The audio recordings below discuss a variety of important texts, including the Diamond Sutra, which has been translated by Beishi Guohan. You can find the relevant texts here:

*Authorized by Dharma Drum Mountain Cultural and Educational Foundation, all rights reserved.

Audio Recordings

Various Topics (July 2020 - April 2021)

Beishi Guohan – About Interdependence, Independence and the Body of the Buddha (4-7-2020)

Beishi Guohan – The Method of Suddeness Chan Practice and Silent Illumination (11-7-2020)

Beishi Guohan – Heart Sutra Part 2 & The Four Statements of Nagarjuna (19-9-2020)

Beishi Guohan – The Realization of Effortlessness (5-11-2020)

Beishi Guohan – Self nature and no-self (9-1-2021)

Beishi Guohan – Four Dharma Realms (Dharmadhatu) of Huayan (24-4-2021)
Series: Awakening on the Chan Path (August 2021 - November 2021)
Beishi Guohan – Brief Introduction to Chan (Zen) Practice (28-8-2021)
Beishi Guohan – Chan (Zen) Enlightenment (4-9-2021)
Beishi Guohan – Five Levels of Lord and Vassal, and the First Dream-Awakening Picture (18-9-2021)
Beishi Guohan – The Second Dream-Awakening Picture (25-9-2021)
Beishi Guohan – The Third Dream-Awakening Picture (9-10-2021)
Beishi Guohan – Suddenness Chan: Silent Illumination, Absolute Contemplation, and Huatou (16-10-2021)
Beishi Guohan – The Fourth Dream-Awakening Picture (23-10-2021)
Beishi Guohan – The Fourth Dream-Awakening Picture, Third Level of Lord and Vassal, and Non-Abiding Awareness (30-10-2021)
Beishi Guohan – The Fifth to Ninth Dream-Awakening Pictures (06-11-2021)
Beishi Guohan – The Ninth to Tenth Dream-Awakening Pictures (13-11-2021)
Beishi Guohan – The Essential Principles of the Diamond and Vimalakirti Sutras – The Prajna and Skilful Ways (20-11-2021)
Retreat: December 2021 Daylong
Dec 2021 Daylong Chan Retreat: Opening Dharma Talk (18-12-2021)
Dec 2021 Daylong Chan Retreat: Closing Dharma Talk (18-12-2021)
Series: Diamond Sutra (November 2021 - April 2022)
Diamond Sutra Parts 1 and 2: Ultimate Tathagata Chan and the Chan Path (27-11-2021)
Essential Principles of the Chan Path – The Prajna Way – Part 1 (04-12-2021)
Essential Principles of the Chan Path – The Prajna Way – Part 2 (11-12-2021)
Essential Principles of the Chan Path – The Prajna Way – Part 3 (15-01-2022)
Essential Principles of the Chan Path – The Prajna Way – Part 4 (22-01-2022)
Essential Principles of the Chan Path – The Prajna Way – Part 5 (29-01-2022)
Essential Principles of the Chan Path – The Prajna Way – Part 6 (19-02-2022)
Essential Principles of the Chan Path – The Prajna Way – Part 7 (26-02-2022)
Essential Principles of the Chan Path – The Prajna Way – Part 8 (05-03-2022)
Essential Principles of the Chan Path – The Prajna Way – Part 9 (12-03-2022)
Essential Principles of the Chan Path – The Skillful Way – Part 1 (19-03-2022)
Essential Principles of the Chan Path – The Skillful Way – Part 2 (02-04-2022)
Essential Principles of the Chan Path – The Skillful Way – Part 3 (09-04-2022)
Essential Principles of the Chan Path – The Skillful Way – Part 4 (16-04-2022)
Essential Principles of the Chan Path – The Skillful Way – Part 5 (23-04-2022)
Essential Principles of the Chan Path – The Skillful Way – Part 6 (30-04-2022)
Series: Chan Meditation (May 2022)
Huatou – That Which Occurs Just Before Thoughts Arise (07-05-2022)
Five Universal Mental Activities (14-05-2022)
Silent Illumination (Absolute Contemplation) Meditation (21-05-2022)
Meditation Instructions: Huatou and Silent Illumination (28-05-2022)
Series: On the Tip of a Ripple (June 2022 - November 2023)
Introduction – What is Chan (Part 1): What is Mahayana Chan? (11-06-2022)
Introduction – What is Chan (Part 2): What, Ultimately, is Chan? What is the Ultimate Reality of Everything? (18-06-2022)
Chapter 1: Beginning Chan Practice – “Sudden Approach” – Chan Master Xu Yun’s (Empty Cloud’s) Essentials of Chan Investigation (28-08-2022)
Chapter 1: Beginning Chan Practice – Suddenness Chan and Gradualness Chan (10-09-2022)
Chapter 1: Beginning Chan Practice – Silent Illumination and Huatou Chan (01-10-2022)
Chapter 1: Beginning Chan Practice – Ordinary vs. Enlightened Beings; Mahayana Samadhi (08-10-2022)
Chapter 1: Beginning Chan Practice – Discourse of Dahui Zonggao; Mind Is the Essential Principle | Chapter 2: Realizing Chan – Intro (12-11-2022)
Chapter 2: Realizing Chan – Ultimate Tathagata Chan is Suddenness Chan (19-11-2022)
Chapter 2: Realizing Chan – Stepping Forward From the Top of a Hundred-Foot Pole; Non Obstructing Emptiness (26-11-2022)
Chapter 2: Realizing Chan – Ordinary Mind is Chan; The Genuine Buddha is Everywhere and Nowhere (17-12-2022)
Chapter 2: Realizing Chan – What is the meaning of the Patriarch’s coming from the West? (07-01-2023)
Chapter 3: Manifesting Realization – Han Shan’s Poem; What is “One Thought for Ten Thousand Years”? (04-02-2023)
Chapter 3: Manifesting Realization – Mind’s Great Function (11-02-2023)
Chapter 3: Manifesting Realization – Zhaozhou’s Genuine Buddha | Chapter 4: Bodhisattva Activity – The Great Spirit of Bodhisattva; Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (18-02-2023)
Chapter 4 Interlude: A Cool & Nourishing Medicine of Life (25-02-2023)
Chapter 4: Bodhisattva Activity – Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara’s Function; Venerable Chan Master Huikong Shengyen’s Verse on “Great Action of Bodhisattva” (11-03-2023)
Chapter 5: The Guiding Concept of Non-Abiding Awareness – Seeing, Hearing, Perceiving and Knowing; Don’t Know Mind is Non-Abiding Awareness (18-03-2023)
Chapter 5: The Guiding Concept of Non-Abiding Awareness – All things in all daily activities are themselves [Suddenness] Chan; Do Not Abide Where There Is Buddha (25-03-2023)
Chapter 5: The Guiding Concept of Non-Abiding Awareness – Discipline, Samadhi and Wisdom of Self-nature; Every Day is a Good Day (01-04-2023)
Chapter 5: The Guiding Concept of Non-Abiding Awareness – Ordinary Mind of Non-Abiding Awareness (22-04-2023)
Chapter 5: The Guiding Concept of Non-Abiding Awareness – All Forms Are of No Form (13-05-2023)
Chapter 5: The Guiding Concept of Non-Abiding Awareness – All Experiences of Everything are Chan (20-05-2023)
Chapter 6: The Present Moment – Living In the Present Moment (28-05-2023)
Chapter 6: The Present Moment – Living In the Present Moment at Each And Every Thought (01-07-2023)
Chapter 7: Interdependence of everything/every being – Living In the Present Moment at Each And Every Thought; Yangshan’s Buddha in a Circle (22-07-2023)
Chapter 7: Interdependence of everything/every being – Realizing Interdependence, Manifesting Wisdom and Compassion (05-08-2023)
Chapter 7: Interdependence of everything/every being – Seeing a World in a Pure Flower, And a Buddha in a Pure Leaf; Let All the Mind’s Juggleries Take a Full Rest (12-08-2023)
Chapter 8: Reality – Samsara Is Itself Nirvana; The Ultimate Reality of Interconnectedness (19-08-2023)
Interlude: Introduction to Chan Practice (07-10-2023)
Chapter 8: Reality – Heart Sutra: Genuine Realization of the Middle Way (14-10-2023)
Chapter 8: Reality – The True Reality of Life in the Universe (28-10-2023)
Chapter 8: Reality – The Ultimate Reality of the Middle Way (04-11-2023)
Chapter 8: Reality – The Ultimate Reality of the Middle Way (11-11-2023)
Series: Sword of Wisdom (In Progress)
First Retreat – Day 1 – Non-Opposition (Part 1) (18-11-2023)
First Retreat – Day 1 – Non-Opposition (Part 2) (25-11-2023)
First Retreat – Day 2 – Only the Present Moment (Part 1) (09-12-2023)
First Retreat – Day 2 – Only the Present Moment (Part 2) (16-12-2023)
First Retreat – Day 3 – Awakening From the Dream of Existence (Part 1) (06-01-2024)
First Retreat – Day 3 – Awakening From the Dream of Existence (Part 2) (13-01-2024)
First Retreat – Day 4 – Letting Go (Part 1) (20-01-2024)
First Retreat – Day 4 – Letting Go (Part 2), Day 5 – The Inexplicability of Enlightenment (Part 1) (27-01-2024)
First Retreat – Day 5 – The Inexplicability of Enlightenment (Part 2) (03-02-2024)
Second Retreat – Day 1 – Purifying the Six Senses (24-02-2024)

More Information

If you’d like to find out more about Beishi Guohan, check out the Cosmos Chan Community.

On the Tip of a Ripple is a small collection of Guohan’s teachings that covers much of what he speaks about, compiled by Shen Yun.

Suddenness Chan Glossary

Word/PhraseDefinition
AbidingAttaching
Act of PrajnaAct of Buddha Wisdom
BodhiEnlightenment or awakening
Bodhisattva Vows
  1. I vow to deliver innumerable sentient beings of self-nature.
  2. I vow to dissolve endless vexations of self-nature.
  3. I vow to master limitless approaches to Dharma of self-nature.
  4. I vow to attain supreme Buddhahood of self-nature.
BodhisattvaA person who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so through compassion for suffering beings.
Buddha Wisdom

Buddha Wisdom has two components:

  • Fundamental wisdom is the function of buddha wisdom to use for yourself.
  • Skillful wisdom is the function of Buddha wisdom to help sentient beings.
BuddhaBuddha is the state of awakening but can also refer to the historical figure Shakyamuni Buddha. Also referred to as World Honored One.
Buddhadharma (Chan Dharma)

The teachings of the Buddha

Chan Mind / Buddha Mind / Straightforward Mind / Ordinary Mind / Beginner’s Mind / Bodhi Mind / Pure Mind / Wisdom Mind / Compassion Mind / Mind of Pure Awareness of Self-nature

No Mind 無心

The Mind of non-abiding awareness

Chan PathBuddha Path or Bodhisattva Path
Dharma/dharma

Ultimate Truth when used with capital ‘D’

Phenomena when used with small ‘d’

Eight negations of the Middle Way
  • Non-duality and Non-oneness
  • Non-arising and Non-perishing
  • Non nihilistic and Non-permanent
  • Non-coming and Non-going


Additional negations from the Heart Sutra:

  • Non-impurity and Non-purity (from Heart Sutra)
  • Non-increasing and Non-decreasing (from Heart Sutra)
EnlightenmentInsight/Awakening/Seeing into self-nature
Five Bodhi’s

Nagarjuna talked about the Diamond Sutra by using the two ways and five Bodhi’s:

  1. Bodhi of generating the vow
  2. Bodhi of taming the Mind
  3. Bodhi of insight into Mind
  4. Bodhi of departing from transformed transmigration & arriving at supreme enlightenment
  5. Ultimate Bodhi
Five kinds of eyes
  1. Ordinary eye/physical eye
  2. Heavenly eye
  3. Wisdom eye (Arhatship)
  4. Dharma eye (Boddhisattva)
  5. Buddha eye
Five levels of Chan Enlightenment
  1. Recognizing Vexation
  2. Thinness of Vexation
  3. Tameness of Vexation
  4. Dissolution of Vexation
  5. Full Dissolution of Vexation
Five Levels of Lord and VassalStructure for describing levels of enlightenment by the Caodong school
Five precepts
  1. Abstain from taking life
  2. Abstain from taking what is not given
  3. Abstain from sensuous misconduct
  4. Abstain from false speech
  5. Abstain from intoxicants as tending to cloud the mind


We follow the precepts, but we do not attach to anything.

Five Skandhas

The five skandhas are the division of matter and mind into five categories:

  1. forms
  2. sensation
  3. perception
  4. volition
  5. consciousness
Five universal mental activities
  1. Attention
  2. Contact
  3. Sensation
  4. Perception ((includes labeling, describing, comparing, analyzing, discrimination)
  5. Volition (include attachment, decision, action)
Four essential principles of Chan/Zen
  1. Suddenness Chan does not depend on words and languages
  2. Suddenness Chan is the special transmission of the Mind Dharma outside of the Dharma of teachings
  3. Suddenness Chan is pointing directly to the practitioners Mind (Dharma)
  4. Suddenness Chan is to see directly into self-nature
Four gates of Buddha Wisdom
  1. Revealing; if you can let go of your self-centered attachment in this one moment, you reveal your inherent Buddha wisdom. In one moment or in one thought.
  2. Manifesting; if in many moments you can let go of your self-centered attachment, you can manifest your Buddha wisdom. In many moments or in many thoughts.
  3. Realizing; in every thought, every moment you let go of self-centered attachment.
  4. Penetrating; In every thought you completely let go of self-centered attachment and tame the habit.
Four kinds of Bodhi Mind
  1. The Mind of Great Vow
  2. The Mind of Direct Transference
  3. The Mind of Great Wisdom
  4. The Mind of Great Compassion
Four kinds of confidence
  1. Initial confidence
  2. Confidence of comprehension
  3. Confidence of mind training
  4. Confidence of realisation (pure confidence)
Four kinds of Nirvana
  1. Nirvana of pure nature; all sentient beings including all Bodhisattva’s and Buddha’s have the inherent Nirvana of pure nature.
  2. Nirvana with remainder 有餘涅槃; when Bodhisattva’s reach ultimate complete enlightenment with transmigration.
  3. Nirvana without remainder 無餘涅槃; when the effects of transmigration ended.
  4. Non-abiding Nirvana; although they enter into Nirvana, they do not stay in Nirvana; patient rest in non-arising.
Four levels of Samadhi
  1. Momentary concentration (khanikasamadhi)
  2. Preliminary concentration (parikammasamadhi)
  3. Access concentration (upacarasamadhi)
  4. Absorption concentration (appanasamadhi)
Four Statements of Chan
  1. Existence (delusion) [Is]
  2. Emptiness (purity) [Is not]
  3. Existence is Emptiness [Both is and is not], non-duality
  4. No Existence, No Emptiness [Neither is or is not], non-oneness
Gateless GateThe Way to liberation, through the method of no-method, refers to the letting go of the concept itself.
Gong’an‘Koan’ in japanese. An anecdote or story to provoke insight/enlightenment
Guest Host principle

Guest host principle by Chan Master Linji Yixuan:

  1. Guest amidst guest
  2. Host amidst guest
  3. Guest amidst host
  4. Host amidst host


1. Guest amidst guest means when a Chan practitioner still has self-centered attachment and the Chan teacher has not reached deep enlightenment, they give the Chan practitioner more attachment by the teaching.


2. Host amidst guest means a Chan teacher has not seen into his self-nature or has shallow understanding, the Chan practitioner gives a shout to the teacher and the teacher cannot distinguish the state of the practitioner, therefore the teacher focuses on the state and plays a game, Chan practitioner gives a shout again and teacher cannot let go of it.


3. Guest amidst host, Chan Master has seen into self-nature and tried to snatch away delusion from practitioner, but practitioner still attaches to it.


4. Host amidst host, Chan practitioner has some level of insight and realizes state of purity and comes to see the Master, the Master can snatch away the delusion. “You are a great fellow practitioner”, the Chan Master says, “I don’t realize good or bad”, then the Chan practitioner prostrates to pay respects.

Hua TouA Hua Tou can be a short phrase that is used as a subject of meditation to focus the mind.
KalpaA regular kalpa is approximately 16 million years long, and a small kalpa is 1000 regular kalpas, or 16 billion years. Further, a medium kalpa is 320 billion years, the equivalent of 20 small kalpas. A great kalpa is four medium kalpas, or 1.28 trillion years.
KarmaResults of the actions driven by intention
MahaprajnaparamitaPerfection of Wisdom Sutra. Maha-prajnaparamita-sastra (“the treatise on the great virtue of wisdom”) by Nagarjuna (c. 2nd century A.D.). The Diamond Sutra is called the essential part.
MarrowEssence
Mind DharmaRealization of the Dharma (Moon). Dharma of teachings point to the Dharma (Moon).
Mind-Dharma TransmissionThe transmission of understanding from Master to Student
Nagarjuna BodhisattvaThe 14th Chan Patriarch in ancient India who talked about the Diamond Sutra by using two ways and five Bodhi’s
NirvanaThe other shore, liberation from suffering
No Thought

When you are profoundly aware of all things with pure mind which is free from the defilements of self-centered attachment, then this is no thought

Ordinary Mind of non-abiding awareness‘Ordinary Mind is the Way’ meaning, the mind that does not abide (attach) to anything.
ParamitaTo the other shore of emancipation
Patient restAble to help all sentient beings
Patriarch/MatriarchChan lineage holder who received Dharma transmission
Platform Sutra

The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch (Chinese: 六祖壇經; pinyin: Liùzǔ Tánjīng or simply: 壇經 Tánjīng) is a Chan Buddhist scripture that was composed in China during the 8th to 13th century.

PotentialitySomeone’s ability to “realize” or “awaken to” the Dharma.
PrajnaUnderstanding/Wisdom
Pure Land

There are different kinds of pure land:

  • Buddha land
  • Amitabha Buddha
  • Medicine Buddha
  • Pure land on earth
  • Pure land of the mind
  • Pure land 3rd heaven of desire realm


3 levels of Pure Land:

  1. Realm of eternal silence and light, related to the Buddha of the Dharma Body.
  2. Realm of Buddha reward in reality and adornment (Dharma Body of the Buddha is the self-nature)
  3. Realm of skillfulness where beings have completely let go of deluded views and thoughts, related to the Transformation Body of the Buddha. Action of compassion/wisdom.
SamadhiA state of meditative consciousness referred to as unification of Mind. In Buddhism, it is the last of the eight elements of the Noble Eightfold Path.
Samatha

tranquility of the mind, or mind-calmness

Self-nature / Original nature / True nature/ Buddha nature/ Dharma nature/ Nature of emptinessAwakened nature / No self-nature
Sense facultiesEye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind
Sense objectSight, sound, smell, taste, touch, thought
Silent IlluminationThe Chan practice originated from the Caodong school. ‘Silent’ is samadhi and ‘Illumination’ is wisdom.
Six Paramitas
  1. Generosity
  2. Precepts (Major Bodhisattva precepts or 5 lay precepts)
  3. Endurance (patient rest)
  4. Diligence
  5. Samadhi
  6. Wisdom
Statement
  • Before the statement = before their master say/do something to help, they get enlightened.
  • At the statement = upon hearing the sentence from their master, they reached enlightenment.
  • After the statement = When helped by their master, they still not get enlightened.
Sudden EnlightenmentSudden means to suddenly put all deluded thoughts into full rest. Enlightenment means enlightenment to non-attainment.
Suddenness ChanAwakening is spontaneous and there is no need to practice in stages
Supreme BodhiFinal destination of the Skillful path
SutraA Buddhist scripture
TathagataAn honorific title of a Buddha
Tathagatagarbha

Mind only school. Classic Mahayana Buddhadharma system. The teaching of the mind only (Tathagatagarbha) system has 2 parts:


  • The Buddha nature conceals the genuine Buddha
  • The Buddha nature manifests the genuine Buddha


Ancient Chan Masters said Chan is part of the third system (Tathagatagarbha).

Ten Ox-Herding Pictures
  1. Looking for the Ox
  2. Seeing the tracks
  3. Glimpsing the Ox
  4. Getting hold of the Ox
  5. Herding the Ox
  6. Riding the Ox home
  7. The Ox is forgotten, yet the Ox-Herder is still present
  8. Herder & Ox both forgotten
  9. Reverting to the Origin and returning to the source
  10. Entering the market with open hands
The Middle WayNon-duality and not oneness
The Ultimate Reality of All ThingsAll things have interaction (interdependence and interconnectedness) and all things have non-interaction (independence). Every dharma embraces all dharmas, all realms and all of totality.
The Way

The Way to liberation.

No Mind is the Way / Ordinary Mind is the Way / Everyday activity is itself the Way.

Way with capitol “W”, in Chinese, literally "Dao"/"Tao"

Three Barriers of Doushuai

Barrier means obstruction. The three barriers are:

  1. The “Initial Barrier”: “Making one’s way through weeds and investigating Chan; The purpose is only to realize one’s self-nature.”
  2. The “Multiple Barrier”: “When one has seen into one’s self-nature; One is just then able to liberate oneself from transmigration.”
  3. The “Prison Barrier”: “When one has liberated oneself from birth and death; One is able to know where to go.”
Three Bodies
  1. Dharma Body= Self-nature
  2. Reward Body= Wisdom
  3. Transformation Body = Act of compassion
Three Chan Sicknesses
  1. Abide in the mind to contemplate purity (True Mind)
  2. Abide in the mind to contemplate illusory (opposite of purity, Illusory Mind)
  3. Abide in the mind to contemplate immovability (Samadhi only)
Three kinds of almsgiving
  1. Fortune; money/charity
  2. Almsgiving of the Dharma of teachings
  3. No fear; to become free from fear
Three Levels of Chan practice
  1. Seeing mountains as mountains and rivers as rivers Seen from the perspective of (small)self
  2. Seeing mountains not as mountains and rivers not as rivers Unification of inside and outside/previous and following thought/universe
  3. Seeing mountains as mountains again and rivers as rivers Seen from the perspective of no-self
Three No’s (Huineng)
  1. No Thought
  2. No Form
  3. No Abiding
Three No’s
  1. No seeking for the goal; practice itself is the goal
  2. No attainment; not attaching to attainment
  3. No effort; effortless effort, no attaching to the effort
Three prerequisites to Chan practice
  1. Great Confidence
  2. Great Vow
  3. Great Determination
Three Realms
  1. Realm of desire
  2. Realm of form
  3. Realm of no form
Three stages of Silent Illumination practice
  1. Unification of mind and body
  2. Unification of mind with outer environment (inside and outside)
  3. Unification of mind with whole universe


The stages referred to here are not to be approached as gradual and don’t need to be taken one after the other.

Three systems of Mahayana Buddhadharma
  1. Madhyamaka (Name only) Focusses on emptiness
  2. Yogacara (Consciousness only) Focusses on consciousness
  3. Tathagatagarbha (Mind only) Focusses on Mind only
TransmigrationCycle of birth and death. There are 2 kinds of transmigration, (1) sectional and (2) transformed. Sectional means bound by the cycle of birth and death, life by life, divided in sections. Transformed means when you finish the sectional and reach ultimate complete enlightenment, the Bodhisattva is not bound to the sectional transmigration anymore.
Ultimate Tathagata ChanSuddenness Chan or Patriarch/Matriarch Chan.
VexationsThe inability to understand the nature of suffering (dukkha) and its causes (the three poisons) due to our own karma/delusions.
VipassanaInsight
Wu‘Mu’ in Japanese. Used in the famous Gong’an, ‘What is Wu?’. Literal translation would be ‘no’ or ‘nothing’, but this is not pointing to the realization of the Gong’an.