Definition
Reading: shingi
清規 (Pure Rules) is the set of regulations governing communal life in a Zen monastery. These are not mere manners or penalties; they are guidelines that transform every aspect of daily life—including cleaning, eating, and sleeping—into a meditative practice. In Japanese, it is pronounced as "Shin-gi." Its origin is attributed to the "Pure Rules of Baizhang," established by the Tang Dynasty master Baizhang Huaihai.
Q&A
- Q: Why is so much importance placed on detailed lifestyle regulations (Pure Rules) in Zen, which is supposed to value freedom?
- A: Because true freedom exists within non-freedom.
While worldly freedom may be perceived as the mere indulgence of one's desires, one must practice self-discipline to avoid becoming a slave to those desires and to become truly free from them.
