Shōyōroku
The Book of Serenity
Wansong Xingxiu (1166–1246) · Jin · China
Wansong Xingxiu (1166–1246) · Jin · China
The Shōyōroku (従容録, "Book of Serenity", in Chinese Congronglu) is a collection of one hundred kōans compiled and commented on by the Caodong master Wansong Xingxiu (万松行秀, 1166–1246). Along with the Hekiganroku (碧巌録, "Blue Cliff Record"), it is one of the two great kōan collections of the Chan tradition.
The Shōyōroku is particularly important for the Sōtō school as it belongs to the Caodong lineage. Each case includes the main kōan, a commentary by Wansong, and a poem. The title "Serenity" evokes the quality of the mind resting in its fundamental nature — a central theme of shikantaza practice.
The text is preserved in the Taishō Tripiṭaka (T48n2004, CBETA).
第一則 釋迦迦葉
【本則】世尊昔在靈山會上，拈華示眾。眾皆默然，唯迦葉破顏微笑。世尊云：「吾有正法眼藏，涅槃妙心，實相無相，微妙法門，不立文字，教外別傳，付囑摩訶迦葉。」
Case 1: Shakyamuni and Kāśyapa
The Blessed One, once at the assembly on Vulture Peak, picked up a flower and showed it to the assembly. All remained silent, only Kāśyapa broke into a smile. The Blessed One said: "I possess the Treasury of the True Dharma Eye, the Mind of Nirvāṇa, the Formless Reality, the Subtle Dharma Gate. Not established on words, transmitted outside the teachings, I entrust this to Mahākāśyapa."
Source: CBETA T48n2004 · Public Domain (Taishō Canon) · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0