Forging sanctity: the way Laiguo became a saint

ABSTRACT This article uses the analytical framework of hermeneutic hagiography to analyze the autobiography of the eminent Chan monk, Laiguo 來果 (1881–1953), in Modern China, showing how a monk with charismatic characteristics constructed his sacred image step by step from his childhood, to his enlightenment in Chan and his mastery of deacons. Laiguo was a Buddhist leader who could turn the tide in a time of crisis. In him, the typical charismatic personality shows the individual’s rebellion against the legitimacy of the external world. The experiences Laiguo suffered are just as typical an aspect as charisma is in the processes of ‘dilemma’ and ‘passion.’ Those who experience suffering are trying to find a new beginning in the desperate situation of life and determine the fundamental principles of human social relations through their struggles and efforts when facing desperate situations.