Connecting to Chan Roots: DM Yanzhen

From March 29 - April 5, 2025, we had the honor of hosting DM Yanzhen. As a college student at Beijing University, he was deeply influenced by the teachings of Venerable Master Xuyun, Elder Master Guangqin, and Venerable Master Hsuan Hua, as well as the bowing journals of Reverend Heng Sure and Dharma Master Heng Chau (Dr. Martin Verhoeven). His final decision to become a monk came from reading a line of teaching from Master Hua's Dharma talks. His own teachers, Venerable Master Manjue and Venerable Master Yicheng, were disciples of Venerable Master Xuyun and inherited the Weiyang Chan lineage.

DM Yanzhen took novice ordination in 1993 and full Bhikshu ordination in 1994 at True Suchness Monastery. In 2000, he was asked to facilitate the revival of Jiangxi Buddhist Academy. Today, with over 30 years in the monastic life, he serves as Vice President of Jiangxi Buddhist Academy and Abbot of Baofeng Chan Monastery.

During his visit to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, DM Yanzhen expressed his deep respect and gratitude to Master Hua for his teachings and inspiration. When he visited the Wordless Hall to pay respects to the sharira of Buddha Shakyamuni, VM Xuyun, and VM Hsuanhua, he was moved to tears. Later, he visited classes at Dharma Realm Buddhist University where he saw lively conversations around the meaning of the Sutra texts. 

DM Yanzhen emphasizes the importance of integrating scholarship and practice. For many years, he has taught the pure regulations of Chan monasteries and has supported the revival of traditional Chan Session practices in over ten monasteries and Buddhist academies across China. Meanwhile, he equally values the study of Theravada Buddhist teachings such as the Visuddhimagga and Abhidhamma. He finds that these Theravada texts serve as a solid foundation for Dharma practice grounded in the Noble Eightfold Path.

During his visit to Abhayagiri, he shared, "As disciples of the Buddha, regardless of our country, language, or tradition, we are all connected through the shared foundation of the Noble Eightfold Path." He compared this to the redwood trees, whose roots form a vast underground network: when one tree is weak, others can send nourishment through their roots. He returned to this metaphor again and again, seeing in the spirit of the redwoods a reflection of the Dharma community worldwide.

DM Yanzhen also visited Redwood Vihara where he taught us the simple act of washing hands. He asked, “Has anyone washed their father’s hands or helped him bathe before?”  

“No,” was our response. We explained how in America, there is an emphasis on self-reliance and individualism, so usually children do not care for their parents so directly unless they are old and sick.

DM Yanzhen then led one of the laymen in the monastery in washing the hands of the monks. This practice exemplifies the monastic tradition of mutual service, where junior monks tend to seniors' needs while receiving guidance in return. Through these relationships, teachings naturally flow throughout the Sangha community. Such reciprocal care prepares monastics for all life stages—seniors learn graceful acceptance while juniors develop attentive service. The monastic path involves joining a “noble family” rooted in compassion, learning deep mutual care beyond individual practice. When he left, DM Yanzhen emphasized the importance of this practice: filiality embodied.

DM Yanzhen was a good and wise friend who brought many teachings and insights from China. It was also a chance for him to see how Master Hua’s Dharma efforts have put down roots in America. Like the redwoods, may our roots continue to intertwine, nourishing each other for the well-being of everyone everywhere.

2025年3月29日至4月5日，我们有幸迎请接待衍真法师的来访。法师早年就读于北京大学，他深受虚云老和尚、广钦老和尚、宣化上人的教法影响，亦从恒实法师与恒朝法师（马丁·韦尔霍文博士）的朝山日记中深受启发。最终促使他出家的契机，是读到宣化上人一场开示中的一句话。他的师父满觉长老和一诚长老是虚云老和尚的法子，继承了沩仰宗法脉。

衍真法师于1993年在真如寺受沙弥戒，1994年受具足戒成为比丘。2000年，他受命协助复办江西佛学院。如今，他僧腊已逾三十载，现任江西佛学院副院长兼宝峰禅寺住持。 

在万佛圣城参访期间，衍真法师深切表达了对宣化上人教法启迪的尊敬与感恩。当他在「无言堂」顶礼释迦牟尼佛、虚云老和尚与宣化上人的舍利时，深深感动至落泪。随后，他前往法界佛教大学旁听课程，见到师生们围绕经典的义理展开热烈讨论的场景。

衍真法师强调“学修并重”的重要性，他长期从事禅宗寺院清规的教学，曾经帮助国内十余座寺院或佛学院恢复传统的禅七仪轨。同时，他亦重视南传佛教教理的学习，如《清净道论》和《阿毗达摩》等。他认为这些典籍能为八正道的修行奠定扎实的基础。

在无畏山寺参访时，他说：「身为佛弟子，无论来自哪个国家、持何种语言或宗派传统，我们都因八正道这一共同的基石而彼此相连。」他以红木树为喻，其根系在地下交织出巨大的网络：若一株羸弱，其它红木树便通过根脉为其输送养分。法师反复回到红木树的比喻，他看到红木精神恰似全球佛法共同体的映照——根系相连，彼此滋养。

衍真法师还走访了红木禅林，在这里他亲身示范「洗手」这一简单服务的深意。他问道：「可有人为父亲洗过手、或帮助他沐浴？」 

「没有，」我们回答，并解释美国文化中强调独立自主，所以子女通常不会如此直接照料父母，除非他们年老患病。

衍真法师作为善知识，不仅从中国带来了许多禅门的教导与智慧，也亲见了宣化上人的法脉如何在美国扎根。愿我们如红木树林般，根系交织，彼此滋养，为普天下一切众生创造福祉。