Dunwu

dunwu (J. tongo; K. tono 頓悟) is a Chinese term that is translated as “sudden awakening,” “sudden enlightenment,” etc.

[Dunwu refers to] the experience described in the Chan school that “seeing the nature” (jianxing) itself is sufficient to enable the adept to realize one’s innate buddhahood (jianxing chengfo).

The idea of a subitist approach (dunjiao) to awakening was also used polemically by Heze Shenhui in the so-called “Southern school” (Nan zong) of Chan to disparage his rival “Northern school” (Bei zong) as a gradualist, and therefore inferior, presentation of Chan soteriological teachings.

Dunwu is contrasted to “gradual awakening” (jianwu).

See also: wu

Sources

• Buswell, Robert E.; Lopez, Donald S. (2014), The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, Princeton University 

Further reading

• Sudden awakening, Wikipedia