Tenkei Denson

Born: 1648

Death: 1735

Biography:

Tenkei Denson was a Japanese Zen master and teacher who was born in 1648 in Japan and died in 1735. He was one of the greatest Zen masters of early modern Japan and was known for his contributions to the Soto sect of Zen. Tenkei Denson was a contemporary of Hakuin Ekaku, another prominent Zen master of the time, and the two were known for their differing perspectives on Zen practice. Tenkei Denson was a proponent of the Soto sect's emphasis on seated meditation and the practice of 'just sitting,' while Hakuin Ekaku emphasized the use of koans and other methods to bring about insight and enlightenment. Tenkei Denson was also known for his commentary on the Blue Cliff Record, a classic text of Zen Buddhism, which he annotated with his own insights and interpretations. Tenkei Denson's teachings and writings have had a lasting impact on the Soto sect of Zen and continue to be studied and practiced today.