Wúyì Yuánlái 無異元來 / Bóshān Yuánlái 博山元來 (1575–1630), zì Wúyì 無異 (“Without-Difference”). Late-Ming Cáodòng 曹洞宗 master, dharma-heir of Wúmíng Huìjīng 無明慧經 (1548–1618, DILA A003828) in the lineage that also produced Yǒngjué Yuánxián (1578–1657); the two together are the most influential 17th-century Cáodòng masters. Native of Shūchéng 舒城 (modern Ānhuī), lay surname Shā 沙.
Entered monastic life at 16 (1590); studied Lotus Sūtra at Jīnlíng Wǎguān sì 金陵瓦棺寺 under Xuělàng héshàng 雪浪; tonsured at Jiànwǔ 建武 under Jìng’ān Tōng héshàng 靜菴通和尚 of the Wǔtái 五臺. Practised kōng guān 空觀 (emptiness-contemplation) for five years. Received full precepts at Chāohuá shān 超華山 under Hóng fǎshī 洪法師. Met Shòuchāng Jīng 壽昌經 (= Wúmíng Huìjīng) and received Cáodòng dharma-transmission; received the bodhisattva vinaya at 27 (1602) at the Éhú Xīn héshàng 鵞湖心和尚.
Held successive major abbacies, most famously the Xìnzhōu Bóshān Néngrén sì 信州博山能仁寺 (whence his Bóshān epithet); also Jiànzhōu Dǒngyán 建州董巖, Jiànzhōu Yǎngshān 建州仰山, Fúzhōu Gǔshān 福州鼓山, and Jīnlíng Tiānjiè 金陵天界. Died Chóngzhēn 3.9.18 (23 October 1630), aged 56, sēnglà 41.
Major works:
- Wúyì Yuánlái chánshī guǎnglù 無異元來禪師廣錄 (35 juan) — his complete yǔlù and writings;
- Bóshān Wúyì dàshī yǔlù jíyào 博山無異大師語錄集要 (KR6q0417, J27 B197, 6 juan) — abridged yǔlù edited by his dharma-brother Yǒngjué Yuánxián at Fúzhōu Gǔshān Yǒngquánsì, preface dated Chóngzhēn 16.1.15 燈節日 = 4 February 1643, pared to approximately 30% of the full guǎnglù;
- Bóshān chán jǐng yǔ 博山禪警語 (KR6q0148, X63 n1257, 2 juan) — his celebrated practice-admonition compendium on the experiential pitfalls of kànhuà 看話 practice.
Principal dharma-heirs include Yíngshān Xuěguān Zhìyǐn 灜山雪關智誾 (A011738), Chángqìng Zōngbǎo Dàodú 長慶宗寶道獨, Dúfēng Zhúshān Dàoyán 獨峯竹山道嚴, Huílóng Gǔháng Dàozhōu 迴龍古航道舟, Bóshān Xuějiàn Dàofèng 博山雪磵道奉, Yěfǔ Xīngláng Xióng 冶父星朗雄, and the layman Kāifǔ Jíshēng Yú Dàchéng 開府集生余大成 jūshì.
Works in the Kanripo corpus: KR6q0148 Bóshān chán jǐngyǔ; KR6q0365 Wúyì Yuánlái chánshī guǎnglù (X72 n1435, 33-juan per Xuzangjing / 35 per DILA, compiled by his fǎsūn 法孫 弘瀚 Sùrú Hónghàn and 弘裕 Yuánzuò Hóngyù); and KR6q0417 Bóshān Wúyì dàshī yǔlù jíyào (J27 B197, the Yuán-xián-edited jíyào selection).
Per DILA A000114: birth Wànlì 3.11.29 (9 January 1576 Gregorian); death Chóngzhēn 3.9.18 (23 October 1630); lay surname Shā; native of Shūchéng. Cáodòng lineage.