Hashang

Hashang, or Hva-shang Mahayana, was the Chinese abbot whom Kamalashila defeated in a famous debate at Samyé. He is said to have been a representative of a form of Ch’an meditation, but in a rather nihilistic form. He taught that meditation consists of not doing anything at all in the mind, and that this can bring about sudden enlightenment, without the need even to practise the six paramitas. Tibetan scholars throughout the centuries have often accused one other of adhering to Hashang’s system, and often put this down to the particular tendrel created when he “left his shoes behind” in Tibet following his defeat.