The “Platform Sutra” is a foundational text in Zen Buddhism in Japan & Chan Buddhism in China. It was written by Hui Neng, the Sixth Patriarch of the Chan (Zen) school in China. Born a poor woodcutter, Hui Neng's profound realization upon hearing the Diamond Sutra propelled him from obscurity to becoming the Sixth Patriarch of Zen, forever altering the course of Buddhist thought with his teachings on sudden enlightenment.
The Platform Sutra contains Hui Neng's teachings on sudden enlightenment, emphasizing direct experience and the inherent Buddha-nature of all beings. The sutra, notable for its insights into meditation, the nature of mind, and the essence of Buddhist practice, is a cornerstone of Zen literature and philosophy.