Bodhidharma’s mission was to ‘point directly to the Mind’ for outright cognisance of the Dharmakaya or Buddha-body without passing through the gradual stages mentioned in the teaching school.’ [3]Richard Hunn edited the English translation of the Chinese text of the autobiography of Hsu Yun in 1987, which was subsequently published through Element Books in 1988.

This is an ancient tradition dating back to Song China (960–1279) that recognises the importance of the laity and lay practice within Chan Buddhism[citation needed] and follows the "enlightened lay-person" example of Vimalakirti.

[7][8] He concentrated on newly published works of the Buddhist genre, but also commented on books within his own particular areas of expertise: Chinese philosophy, Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism.

Richard Hunn dedicated his life to the preservation of the English translations of Chinese Buddhist texts created by his teacher, Charles Luk, for whom he wrote an obituary in 1980.

[citation needed] From all the Chinese Ch’an records, it is easy to determine that at least 80% of the “awakening experiences” in fact took place during apparently mundane activities…working in the fields, cooking rice, hearing one’s name called, a slap, a kick!

One then sees that seemingly conditioned events…one’s own self…all surroundings…arise in this marvellous emptiness…’ [11]To this end Richard Hunn advocated a broad appeal coupled with the exactness of study.

In recent years, work inspired by Richard Hunn has continued with the translation of Chinese texts relating to Chan masters who have lived into the modern age.

The obituary for Richard Hunn was written by his British disciple Adrian Chan-Wyles and appears in the Buddhist Society's Journal The Middle Way.