Hsuan Hua

Hsuan Hua in Ukiah, California .

Hsuan Hua meditating in the lotus position , Hong Kong 1953.

Hsuan Hua ( Chinese  宣化 , Pinyin Xuānhuà ; also: An Tzu ( Chinese  安 慈 , Pinyin ān cí ), Tu Lun ; born April 16, 1918 , Shuangcheng, Jilin Wuchang , Harbin , Heilongjiang ; died June 7, 1995 ) was a Bhikkhu (monk) of Chan - Buddhism and a missionary of the Chinese Buddhism in the United States in the 20th century.

Hsuan Hua founded several institutions in the USA. these include the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association (DRBA) a Buddhist association with local groups in North America , Australia and Asia. The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas (CTTB) in Ukiah , California is one of the first Chan Buddhist monasteries in America. There, Hsuan Hua also founded the Dharma Realm Buddhist University and the Buddhist Text Translation Society , which specializes in translating Buddhist texts into English, Vietnamese , Spanish and other languages.

Life

youth

Hsuan Hua was born on April 16, 1918 in Shuangcheng County of Jilin ( Wuchang District , Harbin , Heilongjiang ) and was given the name Bai Yushu (白玉 書). His parents were devout Buddhists. Already in his early youth he became a vegetarian following the example of his mother and decided to become a monk. At the age of 15, he sought refuge in the Three Gems under the guidance of Chang Zhi . In the same year he also began to attend school and studied texts from the Hundred Schools as well as texts on medicine, fortune-telling, astrology and physiology. At the age of 19, Hsuan Hua became a monk and took the Dharma name An Tzu (安 慈).

vow

He wrote the following 18 vows:

1. I vow that as long as there is a single bodhisattva in the three time periods in the ten directions of the Dharma realm, until the end of the empty space that has not reached Buddhahood, I will not attain proper enlightenment either.
2. I vow that as long as there is a single Pratyekabuddha in the ten directions of the Dharma realm in the three time periods, until the end of the empty space that has not reached Buddhahood, I will not attain proper enlightenment either.
3. I vow that as long as there is a single shravaka in the ten directions of the Dharma realm in the three time periods, until the end of the empty space that has not reached Buddhahood, I will not attain proper enlightenment either.
4. I vow that as long as there is a single God in the threefold realm who has not attained Buddhahood, I will not attain proper enlightenment either.
5. I vow that as long as there is a single person in the worlds of the ten directions who have not attained Buddhahood, neither will I attain proper enlightenment.
6. I vow that as long as there is a single asura who has not attained Buddhahood, neither will I attain proper enlightenment.
7. I vow that as long as there is a single animal who has not attained Buddhahood, neither will I attain proper enlightenment.
8. I vow that as long as there is a single hungry mind who has not attained Buddhahood, neither will I attain proper enlightenment.
9. I vow that as long as there is a single inhabitant of Hell who has not fulfilled Buddhahood, I will not attain proper enlightenment either.
10. As long as there is a single God, immortal, human, asura, air-bound or water-bound creature, living or inanimate object or a single dragon, animal, spirit, spirit or the like from the spiritual realm that took refuge with me and has not attained Buddhahood, neither will I attain proper enlightenment.
11. I pledge that I will wholeheartedly dedicate all the blessings and bliss that I myself receive and enjoy to all living beings of the Dharma realm.
12. I vow to take full responsibility for all the sufferings and needs of all living beings in the Dharma realm.
13. I vow to accept innumerable bodies as a means of gaining access to the minds of living beings throughout the universe who do not believe in the Buddha-Dharma and to bring them to correct their mistakes and align themselves with wholeness, to repent of their mistakes and to start over so that they take refuge in the Triple Gem and eventually attain Buddhahood.
14. I vow that all living beings who see my face or hear my name should direct their thoughts to Bodhi and quickly attain Buddhahood.
15. I vow to respectfully follow the Buddha's instructions and to only eat one meal a day.
16. I vow to enlighten all sentient beings who respond universally to the multitude of different forces.
17. I vow to have the five eyes, six spiritual powers and the freedom to fly in this life.
18. I pledge that all of my vows will be safely fulfilled.

Furthermore:

• I vow to save countless living beings.
• I vow to remove inexhaustible suffering.
• I vow to study the unlimited Dharma doors.
• I vow to complete the unsurpassed Buddha-path.

Mission in the USA

In 1959, Hsuan Hua decided to make Chinese Buddhism known in the "West" (Far East). He urged his students in America to found a Buddhist association that was initially called The Buddhist Lecture Hall (later: Sino-American Buddhist Association), which is now known as the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association .

Hsuan Hua traveled to Australia in 1961 and taught there for a year, but then returned to Hong Kong in 1962. In the same year he traveled to the United States at the invitation of the American Buddhists with the will to train "Patriarchs, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas".

San Francisco

Hsuan Hua settled in San Francisco , where he founded a school. He began to rally young Americans interested in meditation, giving daily meditations and regular sutra readings. During this time the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred between the United States and the Soviet Union . Hsuan Hua then followed a thirty-five day fast, during which he prayed for an end to hostilities and for world peace. In 1967 he moved to the Buddhist Lecture Hall in Chinatown, which was located in the Tianhou Temple.

The first American Sangha

In 1968, Hsuan Hua held a summer seminar of Śūraṅgama Sūtra studies in which more than 30 students from the University of Washington in Seattle attended. At the end of the seminar five of them (Bhikṣu Heng Chyan, Heng Jing, Heng Shou; Bhikṣuṇīs Heng Yin, Heng Ch'ih) asked to be ordained. The seminar encompassed the complete Śūraṅgama Sūtra , the lectures were published in an eight-volume commentary and presented again by the original translators in 2003 at Dharma Realm Buddhist University.

Vision of an American Buddhism

After the first American Sangha was established, Hsuan Hua published his personal vision of Buddhism in the United States :

• Bring the true and correct teaching of the Buddha to the West and create a proper monastic community of the perfect Sangha.
• Organizes and supports the translation of the entire Buddhist canon into English and other Western languages.
• Promotes healthy education through the establishment of schools and universities.

Ordinations

More and more people asked to become monks / nuns, so Hsuan Hua decided in 1972 to hold ordination ceremonies in the Gold Mountain Dhyana Monastery . Two monks and a nun were ordained there. The following ordinations were held in the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery in 1976, 1979, 1982, 1989, 1991, and 1992. Hsuan hua ordained more than two hundred people in his lifetime.

Death & burial

On June 7, 1995, Hsuan Hua died suddenly in Los Angeles at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center . The funeral ceremonies ranged from June 8th to July 29th. On June 17, his body was transferred to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery in Northern California . The ceremonies were presided over by Ming Yang , Abbot of Longhua Temple (上海 龙华 寺) in Shanghai , a longtime friend of Hsuan Hua.

On July 28, a memorial service was held by monks of the Theravada and Mahayana traditions and the bodies were cremated. About two thousand students and admirers from America, Canada , as well as various Asian and European countries came to the funeral and among the condolences there was even a letter from President Bush . On July 29, the ashes of two of his disciples, Heng Sure and Heng Chau, were thrown from a hot air balloon over the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas . After the funeral, memorial services were held in different countries and his sarira (relics) were distributed to different temples and students.

Teaching

Theravada and Mahayana

After traveling to Thailand and Burma in his youth to study the southern tradition of Buddhism, Hsuan Hua's concern was to bridge the gap between Mahayana and Theravada . In an address to Ajahn Sumedho and the Sangha of the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery on October 6, 1990, he stated:

In Buddhism we should unite the southern and northern traditions. From now on we are not referring to Mahayana or Theravada. Mahayana is the "Northern Tradition" and Theravada is the "Southern Tradition". [...] Both the southern and northern members of the tradition are disciples of the Buddha, we are the descendants of the Buddha. As such, we should do what Buddhists should do. [...] Regardless of the southern or northern tradition, they both share the common goal of helping living beings to bring forth the Bodhi spirit, to end birth and death, and to overcome suffering and achieve happiness.

On the occasion of the opening of Dharma Realm Buddhist University , Hsuan Hua awarded an honorary doctorate to K. Sri Dhammananda , a representative of the Theravada tradition and also donated a large piece of land for the Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery , a Theravada monastery in the Thai forest tradition of Ajahn Chah in Redwood Valley, California .

Hsuan Hua also regularly invited bhikkhus of both traditions to attend high ordinations .

Sino-American Buddhism

Hsuan Hua organized the Water, Land, and Air Repentance Dharma Assembly from July 18 to July 24, 1987 in the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and invited more than 70 Buddhists from China . The centuries-old ritual is considered the "Queen of Dharma Rituals" in Chinese Buddhism and was first performed in North America. On November 6, 1990, Hsuan Hua sent students to Beijing to bring the Dragon Treasury Edition ( Chinese  龍 藏 , Pinyin lóngzáng ) of the Buddhist canon to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and thereby make Buddhism a home in America.

Works

lectures To Prevent A Nuclear Holocaust, People Must Change Their Minds The Heart of Prajnaparamita Sutra Without the Stand Should One Be Branch Guanyin Bodhisattva is Our Brother Master Hsuan Hua on Stupidity Versus Wisdom In An Emergency Doing It Just Right is the Middle Way Chan The Dharma Door Of Mindfulness Causes and Conditions The Efficacious Language Exhortation to Resolve Upon Bodhi In Read the Treasure Trove Listen to Yourself, Think Everything Over Water Mirror Reflecting Heaven Why Should We Receive And Uphold The Five Precepts?

Fonts The Fifty Skandha Demon States The Intention of Patriarch Bodhidharma's Coming from the West Commentary on The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra Commentary on The Sutra in Forty-Two Sections Commentary on The Sixth Patriarch's Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra Chan: the Essence of All Buddhas Guanyin, Guanyin, Guanshiyin The Professor Requests a Lecture From the Monk in the Grave Venerable Master Hua's Talks on Dharma, Volumes I-XI Buddha Root Farm News From True Cultivators

See also

• Buddhism in the United States
• Buddhism in the west

Individual evidence

1. ↑ DRBA Founder's Bio ( Memento of the original from January 13, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
2. ↑ # I vow that as long as there is a single Bodhisattva in the three periods of time throughout the ten directions of the Dharma Realm, to the very end of empty space, who has not accomplished Buddhahood, I too will not attain the right enlightenment .
   1. I vow that as long as there is a single Pratyekabuddha in the three periods of time throughout the ten directions of the Dharma Realm, to the very end of empty space, who has not accomplished Buddhahood, I too will not attain the right enlightenment.
   2. I vow that as long as there is a single Shravaka in the three periods of time throughout the ten directions of the Dharma Realm, to the very end of empty space, who has not accomplished Buddhahood, I too will not attain the right enlightenment.
   3. I vow that as long as there is a single god in the Triple Realm who has not accomplished Buddhahood, I too will not attain the right enlightenment.
   4. I vow that as long as there is a single human being in the worlds of the ten directions who has not accomplished Buddhahood, I too will not attain the right enlightenment.
   5. I vow that as long as there is a single asura who has not accomplished Buddhahood, I too will not attain the right enlightenment.
   6. I vow that as long as there is a single animal who has not accomplished Buddhahood, I too will not attain the right enlightenment.
   7. I vow that as long as there is a single hungry ghost who has not accomplished Buddhahood, I too will not attain the right enlightenment.
   8. I vow that as long as there is a single hell-dweller who has not accomplished Buddhahood, I too will not attain the right enlightenment.
   9. I vow that as long as there is a single god, immortal, human, asura, air-bound or water-bound creature, animate or inanimate object, or a single dragon, beast, ghost, spirit, or the like of the spiritual realm that has taken refuge with me and has not accomplished Buddhahood, I too will not attain the right enlightenment.
   10. I vow to fully dedicate all blessings and bliss which I myself ought to receive and enjoy to all living beings of the Dharma Realm.
   11. I vow to fully take upon myself all sufferings and hardships of all living beings in the Dharma Realm.
   12. I vow to manifest innumerable bodies as a means to gain access into the minds of living beings throughout the universe who do not believe in the Buddha-dharma, causing them to correct their faults and tend toward wholesomeness, repent of their errors and start anew, take refuge in the Triple Jewel, and ultimately accomplish Buddhahood.
   13. I vow that all living beings who see my face or even hear my name will fix their thoughts on Bodhi and quickly accomplish the Buddha Way.
   14. I vow to respectfully observe the Buddha's instructions and cultivate the practice of eating only one meal per day.
   15. I vow to enlighten all sentient beings, universally responding to the multitude of differing potentials.
   16. I vow to obtain the five eyes, six spiritual powers, and the freedom of being able to fly in this very life.
   17. I vow that all of my vows will certainly be fulfilled.
   • I vow to save the innumerable living beings.
   • I vow to eradicate the inexhaustible afflictions.
   • I vow to study the illimitable Dharma doors.
   • I vow to accomplish the unsurpassed Buddha Way. The Eighteen Great Vows of theVenerable Master Hsuan Hua
3. ↑ Ronald Epstein: "The Venerable Master Hsuan Hua Brings the Dharma to the West." In Memory of the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua, Volume One. Burlingame, CA: Buddhist Text Translation Society, pp. 59-68. 1995. Reprinted in: The Flower Adornment Sutra, Chapter One, Part One “The Wonderful Adornment of the Rulers of the Worlds”; A Commentary by Venerable Master Hsuan Hua. Burlingame, CA: Buddhist Text Translation Society, 2004, pp. 274-286.
4. ^ "Come to America to create Patriarchs, to create Buddhas, to create Bodhisattvas". Charles Prebish: " Ethics and Integration in American Buddhism ". Journal of Buddhist Ethics , Vol. 2, 1995.
5. ↑ * Bringing the true and proper teachings of the Buddha to the West and establishing a proper monastic community of the fully ordained Sangha here.
   • Organizing and supporting the translation of the entire Buddhist canon into English and other Western languages.
   • Promoting wholesome education through the establishment of schools and universities.
   Ronald Epstein: The Heart Sūtra and the Commentary of Tripiṭaka Master Hsüan Hua. Master's Thesis, University of Washington 1969. Ronald Epstein: The Śūraṅgama-sūtra with Tripiṭaka Master Hsüan-hua's Commentary An Elementary Explanation of Its General Meaning: A Preliminary Study and Partial Translation. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of California at Berkeley 1975.
6. ↑ Hsuan Hua. The Shurangama Sutra with Commentary, Volume 7. 2003. p. 261
7. ↑ In Buddhism, we should unite the Southern and Northern traditions. From now on, we won't refer to Mahayana or Theravada. Mahayana is the "Northern Tradition" and Theravada is the "Southern Tradition." [...] Both the Southern and the Northern Traditions' members are disciples of the Buddha, we are the Buddha's descendants. As such, we should do what Buddhists ought to do. [...] No matter the Southern or the Northern Tradition, both share the common purpose of helping living beings bring forth the Bodhi-mind, to put an end to birth and death, and to leave suffering and attain bliss.

Web links

• Tripitaka Master Hsuan Hua
• Dharma Realm Buddhist Association
• Buddhist Text Translation Society
• City of Ten Thousand Buddhas
• [1]
• Institute for World Religions & Berkeley Buddhist Monastery
• Buddhanet
• Venerable Master Hsuan Hua : His Life - His Legacy
• Teachings from Master Hsuan Hua

Note: This article places the family name before the person's first name. This is the usual order in Chinese. Hsuan is the family name here, Hua is the first name.