Nanyue Huisi's Sudden Enlightment Thought

Abstract

In the Meaning of the Course of Ease and Bliss of the Lotus Sutra (_??__??__??__??__??__??__??_), Huisi teaches sudden enlightenment (_??__??_) such that the Bodhisattva, with a single resolution (_??__??_) and a single course of practice (_??__??_) may attain the many diverse fruits of Buddhahood, by which is meant the infinite diversity of the Buddha's skilful teachings given for the benefit of sentient beings. Huisi's basis for this is the Sutra of Immeasurable Meanings (_??__??__??__??_), in which it is explained that the infinite diversity of teachings are produced from the Single Dharma (_??__??_) i. e., the Ultimate Reality (_??__??_). This is the meaning of sudden enlightenment. Both ‘a single course of practice’ (_??__??_) and the ‘Single Dharma’ (_??__??_) are tantamount to the ‘Single Vehicle’ (_??__??_). Therefore, both Huisi and the Sutra agree that the infinite diversity of teachings are produced from the ‘Single Vehicle’ (_??__??_) Huisi advises Bodhisattvas who have only just aroused the resolve to realise Buddhahood (_??__??__??__??_) to practise according to the principle of sudden enlightenment. The Sutra of Immeasurable Meanings seems to enable them to do so, for it teaches that upon relieving the suffering of various and diverse sentient beings, Bodhisattvas may attain a power equivalent to that of Great Bodhisattvas (_??__??__??_). Thus, the practice of sudden enlightenment, by which the suffering of all sentient beings is relieved, becomes possible.