The 9 Character Sutra

The Nine Characters of Dharma Master Fa Chan

The Nine Character Sutra (九字真經 Jiǔzì Zhēnjīng) is not an ancient, or traditional text. Instead, it is a practical, condensed “essential formula” or “true teaching in nine characters” that Fa Chan presents as a fundamental practice (道基 dào jī) for cultivation on the path (道上 dào shàng). The number 9 is of course, a lucky number in the Taoist and Buddhist traditions, hence the 99 Tai Chi form etc.. As with most of master Fa Chan’s discourse this is an extremely condensed teaching.

The Nine Characters:

看得破、放得下、想得開

Penetrate all Illusion,
Totally Let Go,
Open your Heart

Expanded Translation

• 看得破
  Kàn dé pò — “See through / penetrate / illusions” This means gaining deep insight or wisdom (般若智慧 bōrě zhìhuì) to recognize the true nature of phenomena: impermanence (無常 wúcháng), emptiness (空 kōng), lack of inherent self (無我 wú wǒ), and how attachments/delusions arise from the five aggregates (五蘊 wǔ yùn) or conditioned arising. This one probably relates to the diamond sutra.
  
  It is not passive resignation or negativity — it’s actively seeing reality as it is (e.g., things are dream-like, illusory, like “flowers in the sky” or “moon in water”), without being fooled by appearances (相 xiàng), self-clinging (我執 wǒ zhí), or dualistic views.
  
  
  
• 放得下
  Fàng dé xià — “Let go / put down / release (attachments, burdens, afflictions, addictions (煩惱 fánnǎo), and mental holding on (執著 zhí zhuó). 放 Fáng is the same character used in fàng sōng (放鬆) the fundamental tai chi practice of letting go of tension.
  
  Letting go is not about abandoning responsibilities or things physically — it’s an inner attitude: nothing inner or outer can disturb or control the mind anymore.
  
  
  
• 想得開
  Xiǎng dé kāi — “Open your heart/min(xīn) / accept happily with an open mind” This means having a spacious, non-obstructed heart-mind (心量 xīn liàng): no narrow resentment, no fixation on gain/loss, right/wrong, success/failure. It involves forgiveness, acceptance, non-duality, and seeing all as part of the flow of conditions (緣起 yuán qǐ). The mind becomes vast like the sea (海納百川 hǎi nà bǎi chuān), embracing everything without being confined or afflicted. This all probably relates to the heart sutra.
  
  

Fa Chan’s Explanation

• A “true scripture” that is extremely important for laying the foundation of the path.
  
• In essence: For all inner and outer phenomena of body and mind (內外身心的一切 nèi wài shēnxīn de yīqiè), you can fully see through them, fully let them go, and fully think openly about them — so none of it affects this mind (影響不到你的那顆心 yǐngxiǎng bù dào nǐ de nà kē xīn).
  
• This is not about throwing away or abandoning anything externally (不必拋棄或放棄什麼 bùbì pāoqì huò fàngqì shénme) — it’s purely a shift in mindset/attitude (心態上的問題 xīntài shàng de wèntí).
  
• For ordinary people, it may be difficult; but for a true practitioner (真正的道者 zhēnzhèng de dào zhě), it’s natural and effortless — because they seek only return to original nature/self-nature (本源自性 běnyuán zìxìng). Having or not having things is irrelevant — so naturally see through, let go, and think open.
  
• Even for non-practitioners: If you apply these three, every day becomes a good day, every place a good place, and the heart fills with peace and joy (安詳喜悅 ānxiáng xǐyuè).

Context in Chan Buddhist Teachings

This three-part formula echoes core Chan / Zen & Mahayana ideas:

• Seeing through aligns with insight into emptiness (照見五蘊皆空 zhào jiàn wǔ yùn jiē kōng from Heart Sutra) and non-attachment to marks (from Diamond Sutra).
  
• Letting go is central to Chan: “put down” (放下 fàngxià) is a frequent instruction (e.g., in koans or teachings like “drop it!”).
  
• Open the Heart or Thinking openly relates to vast mind (廣大心 guǎngdà xīn), non-duality (不二 bù èr), and equanimity (平等心 píngděng xīn). Similar phrases appear in modern Chinese Buddhist teachers (e.g., from Chung Tai Chan lineage or others like Ven. Chin Kung / 淨空法師), often as practical wisdom for daily life: see through delusions → let go of clinging → open heart leads to freedom (自在 zìzài), peace, and reduced suffering.

In Master Fa Chan’s discourses this all ties directly into recurring themes like 全然隨順與完全放下 (complete accord and total letting go), non-grasping at appearances (不取於相), and returning to the unmoving suchness (如如不動 rú rú bù dòng). It’s presented as a simple yet profound “key” to liberation in daily function (日用中 rì yòng zhōng).