The “Geliao Becomes a Buddha” Gongan and the Southward Spread of the Dongshan Lineage: Noteson the Dunhuang Version of the Platform Sūtra
ZHANG Xinmin
Professor,
College of Humanities, Guizhou University
Summary
The word geliao 獦獠 in the Platform Sūtraof the Sixth Patriarch has been explained in many ways throughout history, but there has not yet been a definitive interpretation. Recently, Pan Chonggui 潘重規 has argued that the character ge 獦 is the commoner variation of the character lie獵 (to hunt) and the character liao獠refers tothe “barbarian” yiliao夷獠peoples, who earn their livelihood by hunting and fishing. The meaning of geliao would thus be the Liao who hunt and fish. This is very near to the original meaning in the text; however, a fuller explanation is possible. The current paper agrees that geliao獦獠should indeed be read as lieliao 獵獠 (the hunting Liao), but adds that it should be interpreted as the "head-hunting Liao" (lietouliaoren 獵頭獠人). "Head-hunting" refers to the long-standing cultural custom of the Liao of taking human heads to offer in sacrifice to deities. There is a large amount of documentation proving that this custom of theLiao has existed for a long time. It originates in magical blood-sacrifice behavior, and is related to the extreme psychology in aboriginal culture relating to skull worship. It was also well-known by Han Chinese in northern China, and that is the reason for singling out this gruesome custom, and in dentifying the Liao with a special appellation. It was this custom that also caught fifth Patriarch Hongren's attention.
From the Buddhist perspective of “universal substance and great compassion,” (tongti dabei 同體大悲) if hunting and fishing are evil, then the hunting of human heads is the worst of evils, and it relates directly
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to the problems of whether or not Buddha-nature exists, and whether Buddha hood can be attained. Hongren had already considered the severity of this issue, and that is why he asked: “You are a native of Kwangtung, a barbarian (geliao). How can you expect to be a Buddha?” From the perspective of "there is not a single being without tathāgata-wisdom, but it is through false thinking, upside-downness, and attachments that it is not attained," sixth Patriarch Huineng's answer fully complies with the original intention of the Buddha, and it also possesses strong philosophical and universal components: "Although there are northern men and southern men, north and south make no difference to their Buddha-nature. A barbarianis different from Your Holiness physically, but there is no difference in our Buddha-nature." Even though they have the custom of head-hunting and are immersed in evil, the humanity within the Liao possesses the necessity and potential for self-purification and for self-transcendence. As soon as they put their mind to cultivating the path, there is enlightenment in that very thought, and the possibility that they can enter the path to Buddhahood is no longer excluded. They gain an awakening of their original nature and mental nature (mingxin jianxing 明心見性), and realize the existence of the possibility of achieving the ultimate goal, the attainment of Buddhahood.
What is more important, however, is that Hongren's intentional questioning indicates that he foresaw that Chan teachings were gradually moving south, the trend that, with Guangdong as its center, Chan was continually expanding its sphere of influence. However, if Buddhism were to spread in Lingnan (Guangdong), the important theoretical problem of whether the head-hunting Liao could attain Buddhahood must be resolved. Also, with equal consideration of the themes of Buddhism's universality and cultural specificity, a dimension
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This, and subsequenttranslated passages from the Platform Sūtra are from The Diamond Sutra and the Sutra of Hui-neng, translated by A.F. Price and Wong Mou-lam(Shambhala, 1990).
Rulaichuxian pin如來出現品, Huayan jing.
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of practice must be skillfully brought to the theoretical problems associated with the customs and behavior of peoples living in peripheral areas. Therefore, following this line of reasoning, the encounter between the fifth Patriarch, Hongren and the sixth Patriarch, Huineng contains an implicit discussion regarding the problem of whether the geliao can attain Buddhahood,a discussion which becomes very important. It is not only a question and answer gongan of crucial importance with regard to the theoretical requirements within the development of Chan, it is also a significant precursor to Chan's subsequent historical development of the encounter dialogue. Subsequently, Hongren gave his final instructions about transmitting the Dharma, “At Huai you stop and at Hui you seclude yourself,” and “You may start on your journey now. Go as fast as you can towards the South.” Huineng evaded the teams of hunters by going south for over ten years. When he preached Buddhism, he emphasized that “[T]he ignorant may attain sudden enlightenment, and their mind thereby becomes illuminated. Then they are no longer different from the wise men.” This proves in a historical manner the importance of the “geliao becoming a Buddha,” a gongan which fits the requirements of its circumstances and is consistent with the truth.
Key words: 1. Hongren 2. Huineng 3. geliao 4. head-hunting 5.equality of human nature in Buddhism 6. spread of Buddhism in southern China