Huineng · Theology

No-Thought, No-Form, No-Abiding

The three pillars of Huineng&rsquo;s method - <em>wunian</em> (thought that does not cling), <em>wuxiang</em> (freedom in the midst of forms), and <em>wuzhu</em> (a mind that abides nowhere) - which together describe a way of being awake within ordinary life, not apart from it.

What you'll be able to recall

You learned Huineng&rsquo;s three interlocking principles: no-thought (wunian) as the doctrine, no-form (wuxiang) as the substance, and no-abiding (wuzhu) as the foundation - none of them meaning blankness or withdrawal, but a mind that flows freely without grasping. Explain all three and how they fit together.

Leads to Zhuangzi.

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