kenshō
Sign in to saveAlso known as dṛṣṭi-svabhāva, jianxing, seeing one's true nature
Kenshō (Rōmaji; Japanese and classical Chinese: 見性, Pinyin: jianxing, Sanskrit: dṛṣṭi-svabhāva) is an East Asian Buddhist term from the Chan / Zen tradition which means "seeing" or "perceiving" (見) "nature" or "essence" (性), or 'true face'. It is usually translated as "seeing one's [true] nature," with "nature" referring to buddha-nature, ultimate reality, the Dharmadhatu. The term appears in one of the classic slogans which define Chan Buddhism: to see oneʼs own nature and accomplish Buddhahood (見性成佛).
~21 min read
Article
37 sectionsContents
- Terminology
- History
- Pronunciations
- Meanings
- Encyclopedic and dictionary definitions
- Definitions by Buddhist scholars
- Definitions by Buddhist teachers and practitioners
- Further notions
- Insight versus experience
- Kenshō accounts
- Classical accounts
- Contemporary accounts
- Spontaneous kenshō
- Alternate accounts
- Training towards kenshō
- Rinzai
- Sōtō
- Sanbō Kyōdan
- Training after kenshō
- Further practice
- Seitai choyo
- Cultivating bodhicitta
- Self-purification and intellectual understanding
- Sudden insight
- Mushi-dokugo and mushi-dokkaku
- Similarities with other traditions
- Theravada
- Dzogchen
- Advaita Vedanta
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Sources
- Printed sources
- Web sources
- Further reading
- External links
Kenshō (Rōmaji; Japanese and classical Chinese: 見性, Pinyin: jianxing, Sanskrit: dṛṣṭi-svabhāva) is an East Asian Buddhist term from the Chan / Zen tradition which means "seeing" or "perceiving" (見) "nature" or "essence" (性), or 'true face'. It is usually translated as "seeing one's [true] nature," with "nature" referring to buddha-nature, ultimate reality, the Dharmadhatu. The term appears in one of the classic slogans which define Chan Buddhism: to see oneʼs own nature and accomplish Buddhahood (見性成佛).
Kenshō is an initial insight or sudden awakening, not full Buddhahood. It is to be followed by further training which deepens this insight, allows one to learn to express it in daily life and gradually removes the remaining defilements.