Definition
Reading: Hōgyō / Reading (ZH): fàngxíng
Hogyo (放行) is the Zen means of "letting go" or "setting free." It guides practitioners toward actual actions and practice in reality, after taking away their selfish thoughts. This is a means for Koge (向下 / moving from truth toward concrete actions in reality). Its antonym is Haju (把住).
Haju (把住) is the Zen means of "holding tight" or "restraining firmly." It takes away mistaken views and attachments that practitioners hold deeply inside their hearts, leaving no selfish thoughts at all. This is a means for Kojo (向上 / going toward and deepening truth).
By freely combining Hogyo (放行) and Haju (把住) in various ways (殺活自在/ the freedom to take away and give life freely), Zen masters guide themselves and others to awakening.
Q&A
- Q: Why are there two words, Hogyo (放行) and Hoge (放下)?
- A: Because there is a subtle difference in meaning between them. Hoge (放下) means "to let go" or "to throw away." On the other hand, Hogyo (放行) means "to set free" or "to use freely." It is a teaching means to set practitioners free toward actual practice and concrete actions, and to make good use of them.
