Hakuin Ekaku 白隠慧鶴

1686 – 1769 CE

A monk at just 15, Hakuin soon became dissatisfied with the teachings available, left the monastery, began wandering and met a Taoist hermit, Hakuyu. One of the most influential figures in the Zen tradition, Hakuin included teachings from many different traditions and brought these to the illiterate. Although not beginning to paint until almost 60, he’s now recognized as one of the greatest Zen painters with works displayed in some of the world's leading museums. In a famous story, when unjustly accused of fathering a child and also when the mother later confessed to the lie and the child was taken away from him, his only comment was “Is that so?”

Lineages
Artists Japanese Trickster Zen

Eras

Western

The Age of Reason: The Enlightenment (1620 – 1800 CE)

Chinese

Qing dynasty (1644 – 1912 CE)

Unlisted Sources

Quotes by Hakuin Ekaku (7 quotes)

“At these words the samurai… sheathed his sword and bowed. ‘Here open the gates of paradise,’ said Hakuin.”

Chapters: 74. The Great Executioner

Themes: Openness

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“Taking hold of the not-thought that lies in thoughts, in their every act they hear the voice of Truth… As the Truth reveals itself in its eternal tranquility, this very earth is the Lotus-Land of Purity, and this body is the body of the Buddha.”

Chapters: 51. Mysterious Goodness

Themes: Sacred World Non-Thought Reason

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“This very earth is the Lotus Land of purity,
And this very body is the Body of the Buddha.”

Themes: Rising Sun World Enlightenment

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“The limitless sky of meditation, the clear moonlight of wisdom; the truth revealed as eternal stillness.”

Themes: Meditation Silence and Stillness Moon

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“Find the silence that contains thoughts.”

Themes: Ordinary Mind

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