Something a little different for this article and one which most definitely comes under the heading of religion. Hsu Yun was born in Fujian, China, on 2th August 1840 and died on 13th October 1959. If that’s dates are correct and there appears to be no reason they are disputed, Hsu Yen lived to the grand old age of 119. Many in the western world may well be unaware of Hsu Yun but he was the man who reinvigorated the Zen branch of Buddhism in the early 20th century.
Zen Buddhism Master Hsu Yun
To flesh out the background a little, Zen (also known as Chan) Buddhism began to wane in popularity from the middle of the 17th century as the more traditional Pure Land Buddhism gained in favour. Hsu Yun was an advocate and teacher of both branches but is credited with reviving Zen Buddhism almost single-handedly.
He chose to follow the Buddhist path in his early teens and seems to have dedicated himself to this choosing completely from that point on. His father had pressed him to study Taoism as well but Yun soon found this inadequate. Still trying to persuade him against a monastic life, his parents arranged a marriage but it was never consummated. By the age of 19 he was living, shaven-headed, at a monastery – at the same time hiding from his family.
In the next two decades, Hsu Yun continued to study and live as a hermit, striving to reach the higher states of enlightenment. During this period he also made a seven-year pilgrimage to the sacred bodhimandala of Avalokitesvara, as well as other important sites. He knew he was still learning and in his middle age spent years wandering through Asia and South-East Asia. It was not until he was 56 that he believed that he had achieved the highest state that he could hope to attain.
It was in his old age that he came to be regarded as the legendary teacher that history has shown him to be; his constant traveling and teaching spread the Zen Buddhism word once more and most contemporary Zen masters trace their lineage back to this one man.