Foyan Qingyuan (1067–1120) was an important master of Chan Buddhism in the Yangqi branch of the Linji School.Robert E. Buswell Jr. and Donald S. Lopez Jr., The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, page 1021, Princeton University Press, 2014 He was a student of Wuzu Fayan (d. 1104), and was known as one of the "three Buddhas of East Mountain" (the mountain whose famous former resident had been the 5th Chan patriarch Hongren), along with his dharma brothers, Yuanwu Keqin and Taiping Huiqin (1059–1117).Robert E. Buswell Jr. and Donald S. Lopez Jr., The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, page 1007, Princeton University Press, 2014
Teachings Foyan emphasized independence and autonomy in his teachings. According to Cleary, Foyan "made no attempt to recruit disciples," wishing instead for people to be able to stand on their own feet.Instant Zen: Waking Up in the Present, translated by Thomas Cleary, pages xviii–xix, North Atlantic Books, 1994 For example, Foyan said, "What do you go to a 'Zen center' for? You should make a living on your own, and not listen to what others say."Zen Essence: The Science of Freedom, translated and edited by Thomas Cleary, page 42, Shambhala Publications, 1989 He was critical of over-dependence on teachers, as can be seen in the following story, told by Foyan thus: In addition to his emphasis on independence and autonomy, Foyan was also critical of reliance on public cases and gong'an stories, arguing that such things did not exist during the time of Bodhidharma.Cleary, Thomas. Instant Zen: Waking Up in the Present, pp. 13, 39. North Atlantic Books, 1994. He said, "In other places they like to have people look at model case stories, but here we have the model case story of what is presently coming into being; you should look at it, but no one can make you see all the way through such an immense affair."Cleary, Thomas. Instant Zen: Waking Up in the Present, pp. 6–7. North Atlantic Books, 1994.
An important theme repeated throughout Foyan's teachings is that of "saving energy." For example: Similarly, Foyan said:
On the other hand, Foyan taught that while seeking was no different from "pursuing sounds and chasing forms," nonseeking made one no different from inert matter. Thus, Foyan taught that one should harmonize seeking and nonseeking. He said, "You must seek, and yet without seeking; not seek, yet still seek. If you can manage to penetrate this, you will then manage to harmonize seeking and nonseeking."Instant Zen: Waking Up in the Present, translated by Thomas Cleary, page 78, North Atlantic Books, 1994 Notes
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