inka

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There was a time when I too aspired to "inka," a word that can mean transmission of mind in Zen Buddhism, a state attested to from teacher to student.

Here's some of wikipedia on the topic:

Inka Shōmei (印可証明?), (Korean: Inga) is a term used in Zen Buddhism to denote a high-level of certification, and literally means "the legitimate seal of clearly furnished proof."[1] In ancient times inka usually came in the form of an actual document, but this practice is no longer commonplace.[2] A qualified Zen master bestows inka only upon his or her students that have demonstrated themselves as leaders and capable of teaching.

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According to Peter Matthiessen, "In the Rinzai tradition, inka is equivalent to dharma transmission."[5]

In other schools, such as the Harada-Yasutani school, inka is approval that goes beyond Dharma transmission—granted to a master who is confirmed to be, "an enlightened successor of the Buddha."[6] In the Kwan Um School of Zen, inga is not associated with Dharma transmission at all. Rather, it denotes that the individual is a Ji Do Poep Sa Nim and can lead retreats and teach koan practice to others.[1] The Japanese Soto school also confers inka shōmyō (or inshō) upon students—meaning "'[granting] the seal of approval to a realization of enlightenment'"[7]—and the student must undergo a shiho ceremony to receive Dharma transmission.[8]

The word and my own aspiration had not crossed my mind in years, but this morning it did again and it was with relief that I realized:

"I'm too old for inka."

One of the advantages of age, I imagine.
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