As a young man Huineng sold firewood in Guangdong; after hearing someone recite the Diamond Sutra, he went off to find a master and study Buddhism.
Tips
culture
He won the robe of the Fifth Patriarch 弘忍 with a verse that answered one by the senior monk 神秀: 菩提本无树，明镜亦非台, 'bodhi is no tree at all, the bright mirror has no stand'. His teaching of sudden awakening is recorded in the 《坛经》, the Platform Sutra.
usage
Also written 惠能. He was born in 新州, today's Xinxing in Guangdong, and taught at 南华寺 near Shaoguan, where his preserved body is still kept.
