This work consists of introduction, translation, commentary, and historical study of the second chapter of the text “Long men xin fa” (“The Law of the heart / mind [according to the tradition of] Longmen”), namely the “Repentance of sins”. This text sets out the views of Kunyang-zi (Wang Changyue), a mentor of Taoist Quanzhen Jiao School. Wang Changyue was a prominent teacher and theoretician; his activities have contributed to the revival of not only the Longmen branch, but also the Quanzhen School in whole. The paper deals with Taoist doctrine of repentance and its Buddhist origins, as well as the terminology used in the second chapter of the text “Long men xin fa”. In the text we encounter with Taoist, Buddhist, and Confucian terms that are very typical of late-Taoist syncretic ideology.
Wang Changyue, being an abbot of White Cloud Monastery, systematized ordination system and monastic rules of the Longmen School, having divided them into three levels of: ordination rank, text of vows, and ritual vestments. Complete ritual process of taking vows in Taoist school of Perfect Truth includes three steps: 1) “The initial vows of Truth”, or “the initial vows of True Man” (chu zhen jie); 2) “The vows of the Central Limit” (zhong ji jie); 3) “The vows of Heavenly xian (the immortal)” (tian xian jie).
Second chapter of «Long men xin fa» includes a model text of confession. The list of sins peculiar to monks is particularly interesting part of the text of confession. These are: misappropriation of donations, and thus bringing chaos in the regular line of karmic cause and effect; making mistakes during the recitation of sacred texts due to the lack of concentration; lecherous thoughts; doubts and discontents in words of spiritual teachers; hasty attempts of returning to the monastic life after previous violation of the precepts and living in the world; multiple violations of vows made.
Key words: Taoism, Buddhism, Quan Zhen Jiao (The Doctrine of the Perfect Truth), Long men xin fa, repentance.
About the author
 |
Pavel D. Lenkov – PhD (History), Assistant Professor at the Department of Sociology and Religious Studies, Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia; 48 the Moyka embankment, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 191186; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
|