According to the Chan-tradition, he was the foremost student of Dajian Huineng,[1] the 6th Patriarch of Ch'an (Zen) and teacher of one of his Dharma heirs, Mazu Daoyi.

Dissatisfied with his own progress, Huairang found Dajian Huineng in Shaozhou and became his disciple, which is recorded in various traditional biographies.

[2] Based on a critical reading of the textual evidence, the scholar John McRae notes that it is unlikely that Huairang actually practiced with Huineng.

In the oldest version of the Platform Sutra found among the Dunhuang manuscripts, which dates to about 850 CE, Nanyue is not listed as a student of Huineng at all.

An even earlier source, the Transmissions of the Treasure Grove of 801, states that Huairang was enlightened under Lao'an, a teacher with connections to Shenxiu of the so-called Northern School.