Zhengdao ge
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Zhengdao ge (J. Shōdōka; K. Chŭngdo ka 證道歌). Translated as: “Song of the Attainment of the Way”, "Song of Enlightenment", "Song of Awakening", "Song of Actualizing the Way", etc.
A Chan text written in the first half of the 8th century C.E. and usually attributed to Yongjia Xuanjue (675–713). Along with the Xinxin ming, the Zhengdao ge is cherished by the Chan tradition as one of the classic texts on the process of meditation and the experience of enlightenment.[1]
The Princeton Dictionary states:
- The [text] describes enlightenment as the realization that the true nature of all things is in fact the buddha-nature (foxing), which is emptiness itself, transcending all the dichotomies of existence or nonexistence or truth and falsity. This enlightenment is said to occur suddenly, “in a snap of the fingers” (danzhi), the [text] says, and it is this sudden enlightenment (dunwu) that has been transmitted through the twenty-eight Indian and six Chinese patriarchs (zushi) of the Chan tradition.[1]
Title variations
Title variations include:
- Zhengdao ge (證道歌)
- Yongjia zhengdao ge (永嘉證道歌)[2]
- Chanmen biyao jue (“Secret Essentials of the Chan Tradition”).[1]
Versions of the text
The Digital Dictionary of Buddhism states:
- There are slightly variant versions of the text in a few different collections, including in the Jingde chuandeng lu 景德傳燈錄, starting at T 2076.51.460a14. There is also a Dunhuang manuscript of the text contained in P2104 and P2105, in the Chanmen miyao lu 禪門秘要錄.
- According to Enninʼs 圓仁 catalog, it is also known by the titles Foxingge 佛性歌, Caoxi Chanshi Zhengdao ge 曹溪禪師證道歌, Zuishangsheng foxing ge 最上乘佛性歌, and Jiandaoxing ge 見道性歌.[2]
Commentaries
Due to its great popularity in the Chan tradition, there are many commentaries and expositions of the text available.[2]
Notes
Sources
Buswell, Robert E.; Lopez, Donald S. (2014), The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, Princeton University
External links
Song of Enlightenment, Wikipedia
