The Concept of “Realizing the Mind and Seeing Self-nature†in The Platform Sutra

Abstract

The core teaching of The Platform Sutra is the concept of “realizing the mind and seeing self-nature†(shixin jianxing). A comparative study of The Platform Sutra shows that this concept deeply influenced neo-Confucianism during song and Ming dynasties. The purpose of this paper is to examine Huineng’s concept of “realizing the mind and seeing self-nature†in The Platform Sutra. The principal Buddhist philosophical foundation of this concept is the Mahayana teaching of Buddha nature and prajña (the perfection of wisdom).