Gradual Study and Epiphany

Gradual study and epiphany were important ideas in Buddhist philosophy and related to the method and form of knowledge. Gradual study meant one realized truth after long study. Epiphany meant one realized truth in an instant.

In the history of Chinese Buddhist thought, Zhu Daosheng was the first who discussed gradual study and epiphany. He said, "Epiphany means one obtain the idea. Believing means one believes what he hears. Believing is not real. Epiphany comes from the understanding of truth. Epiphany does not appear by itself. When epiphany comes out, believing will be replaced." (Hui Da, Zhao Lun Shu) In Dao Sheng's view, there were two kinds of knowledge. One was believing (Xin) or understanding by learning (Wen Jie) and characterized with gradualness. It covered the knowledge one obtained through learning Buddhist classics. The other was epiphany (Wu) or realizing instantly (Jian Jie) and characterized with enlightenment. It covered the deep understanding of truth in an instant. Dao Sheng stressed the latter.

Afterward, Zen Buddhism inherited Zhu Daosheng's thought. Of course, Zen Buddhism valued epiphany as it viewed that one's nature could be indicated by heart. Hui Neng clearly stated, "One's nature is Buddha. There will be no Buddha without human nature." (Platform Sutra [Tan Jing], Bo Re Pin) Since Buddha existed in one's heart, knowledge was nothing but Buddha in heart. Therefore, gradual study became insignificant and the epiphany of Buddha in an instant mattered. Hui Neng said, "If prajna (wisdom) appears, one's wrong ideas disappear instantly. One can realized Buddha if he understands his nature." (Platform Sutra [Tan Jing], Bo Re Pin) Shen Hui, disciple of Hui Neng, explained it vividly, "Epiphany happens in a moment... it is like the threads of hemp that form a rope. When they are put on a wood, they will be cut off by a sharp sword. Numerous as the threads, they cannot stand the sword. It is true for one who bears Buddha. " (The Analects of Shen Hui) Here, Shen Hui compared the understanding of truth to cutting off the hemp thread that happened instantly. In the record of Huai Rang, disciple of Hui Neng, gradual study was neglected while epiphany was stressed:

Ma Zu lived in a temple in Hengshan Mountain. He meditated and neglected all who came to visit him, even his tutor... One day, his tutor was grinding a brick in front of the temple and Ma Zu did not see this. After a while. Ma Zu asked "What are you doing?" His tutor said, "Grinding it to make a mirror." Ma Zu said, "How can a brick made to a mirror?" His tutor, "Since a brick cannot be made to a mirror, can you realize Buddha through meditation?" (The Analects of Eminent Monks, Vol. 1)

Epiphany embodied what we call intuition or inspiration today. It enabled us to realize the fundamental progress in knowledge and involved the relationship between gradual study and fundamental progress; therefore, it was of great importance . In other words, although Zen Buddhism tended to neglect the gradual study of knowledge, its focus on epiphany inspired the future philosophy.