REIGEN ETO (1721–1785)Reigen Eto was born near Kyoto and ordained by Kogaku at the temple of Zensho-ji. He later went to study with the great Zen master Hakuin, eventually becoming one of Hakuin’s most prominent disciples.
During his study with Hakuin, Reigen became close friends with Ishin, one of Hakuin's senior students. Their first meeting was significant. Upon seeing Reigen, Ishin knocked him down the stairs. This abrupt, unexpected experience, as was the case with so many other Zen masters, was the catalyst for a deep enlightenment.
At the news of his original teacher's death, Reigen left Hakuin and returned to Zensho-ji. He did not stay there long, but moved instead into the mountains where he lived as a hermit for over ten years. Then when he heard that Hakuin would be giving a lecture near his retreat, Reigen came out of the mountains to hear it. He was thus inspired to resume his studies under Hakuin, and after more hard training was awarded a certificate of enlightenment (inka) by Hakuin.
Reigen returned to his original temple, Zensho-ji, once more; this time as its chief priest. He was later invited to head a temple in one of the most important temple complexes in Japan, Tenryu-ji in Kyoto.
Reigen was one of the first monks to introduce Hakuin's innovative teaching methods into the Zen Buddhist establishment of the time.
PLEASE NOTE: ALL OF THE PAINTINGS BELOW HAVE BEEN SOLD
AND ARE FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES ONLY
"Mount Fuji"
by Reigen
Published: Stevens, John. The Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan. Japan, 1986.
