Ch An Buddhism Poem Analysis

The question of truth has haunted mankind for generations. Each and everyone of us on our journey to find truth will have brushed up against many obstacles. Whether it be a child struggling with the legitimacy of their childhood fairytales or a middle aged man fighting for his purpose in this world. Everyone will come across their own truth and be forced to grapple with it at some point in their lives. Through many sources of literature we can attempt to grasp the truth and become enlightened. Nothing says enlightenment quite like Ch’an Buddhism. In Ch’an Buddhism enlightenment comes suddenly. There is no warning as to when or necessarily how enlightenment is reached it just happens. There is also no scholarly prerequisite. While yes the tenants of Buddhism stress living a natural life and abiding by certain rules there is no need to be more intelligent or more skilled than another. This is exemplified when the poor peasant Hui Neng outshines the scholar Shen Xiu with his poem.

“Originally Bodhi has no tree,

Nor the mirror any stand.

Basically nothing can be;

Where can dust land?”(Building).

Hui Neng manages to reach enlightenment simply because he has been living his life the natural way. He has not been trying too hard. His poem simply shows his observations and states very matter of factly what happens. It claims no false sentiment. His poem exemplifies his enlightenment. The fifth patriarch notices this poem and claims that Hui Neng has achieved enlightenment. However he is forced to retract his statement due to his fears of the stirring crowd. Hui neng goes on with his life and continues living naturally “After Hui Neng took leave of the Patriarch, he set out on foot for the South. In two months he reached the Ta Yu Mountains.”(Building). Finally Shen Xiu manages to become enlightened and gain the title of sixth patriarch. He managed to acquire the