User talk:Joshua Jonathan/Zhongfeng Mingben

Additional info

Additional info is very welcome! Joshua Jonathan (talk) 04:21, 14 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

It took awhile to remember how to get back to this page -- I'll let you know if I find anything useful (or maybe not so useful). ~Eric F 74.60.29.141 (talk) 05:56, 14 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

He received tonsure at Shizi-yuan (Shi Zi-yuan?) Monastery on Mount Tienmu (Tianmu, T'ien-mu) in 1287. However, contrary to the norm, he grew long hair in (presumed?) accordance with his teacher, Gaofeng Yuanmai.
He declined a number of titles, appointments and positions, temporarily choosing instead a life of wandering and solitary meditation. (Koan follows)
(See portrait) His left hand became mutilated when, in his youth he burned the little finger as a sacrifice to the Buddha.

Above loosely paraphrased from:

Patry Leidy, Denise; (2009); The Art of Buddhism: An Introduction to Its History and Meaning; Shambhala Publications; ISBN: 9781590306703; pp. 352, P. 202

There's some potentially useful info re: Genju line and the unification of the Rinzai school; but I am unfamiliar with context; from:

Dumoulin, Heinrich ; Zen Buddhism : a History: Japan; P. 197-198
~E 74.60.29.141 (talk) 04:05, 16 October 2012 (UTC)74.60.29.141 (talk) 04:35, 16 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

'Jpn.' vs 'Jap.'

A minor inconsistency: in the lead, 'Japanese' is abbreviated 'Jpn.' and later in the article, 'Jap.' - (Some may find the latter to be offensive). ~E 74.60.29.141 (talk) 15:20, 14 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]
(Perhaps I should keep my mouth shut while this is a work-in-progress; I'm sure I'd be annoyed at unsolicited comments on one of my "draft" versions.) ~E 74.60.29.141 (talk) 04:15, 15 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks! By the way, I like your style :) Joshua Jonathan (talk) 05:47, 15 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]