Tiantong Rujing (1163–1228) was a Caodong Buddhist monk living in Jingde Temple (; romaji: ) on Tiantong Mountain (; romaji: ) in Yinzhou District, Ningbo. He taught and gave dharma transmission to Sōtō Zen founder Dōgen as well as early Sōtō monk Jakuen ().

His teacher was Xuedou Zhijian (, 1105–1192), who was the sixteenth-generation dharma descendant of Huineng.

According to Keizan, when Ruijing became a leader, he didn't put himself above the other monks. He wore the black surplice and robe of a monk. He was given a purple vestment of honor by the emperor of China, but he declined it. Even after reaching enlightenment, he was willing to clean the bathroom.

He is traditionally the originator of the terms shikantaza and shinjin-datsuraku ("casting off of body and mind").

References

External links

• 略述天童如净禅师的生平与禅学思想 a summary of some sources about Rujing