“Passing on the Lamp” Two-Day Retreat was Held in Commemoration of Master Sheng Yen

On January 28 and 29, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm EST, Chan Meditation Center hosted the "Passing on the Lamp" two-day retreat in person, led by Venerable Chang Hwa, the Director of CMC, in commemoration of Master Sheng Yen's passing 14 years ago. 20 participants gathered in the temporary Chan hall of CMC, picking up the beginners' mind again through diligent meditation practice, expressing gratitude towards the Buddha Dharma and our teacher, and lighting up the compassion and wisdom mind within everyone's self-nature.

 

During the retreat, Noble Silence should be followed. There were 5 sessions of sitting meditation daily, interspersed with eight-form moving meditation, standing and sitting yoga, and slow walking meditation, combining movement and stillness.

 

Regarding the method of meditation practice, Venerable Chang Hwa explained the essentials of counting the breath, Silent Illumination, and Huatou, helping everyone review them and practice with facility. She also emphasized the importance of focusing on a specific practice and explained how to deal with the illusory mind and attachments from the three levels of the heart (Citta), mind (Manas), and consciousness (Vijnana). Venerable reminded everyone that when illusory thoughts arise, don't follow or repress them. We should be clearly aware and come back to the method.

 

Venerable Chang Hwa shared that in the Shastra, The Path of Purification (Visuddhimagga), practitioners are divided into six types according to their characteristics. The most obvious are "greedy practitioners," "hating practitioners" and "ignorant practitioners". Each type has specific temperaments. Their living habits and their way of expressing vexation are also quite different. 

 

However, after practicing and overcoming their respective attachments, 

"greedy practitioners" transform into "faithful practitioners"; 

"hatred practitioners" transform into "aware/wise practitioners"; 

"ignorant practitioners" transform into "seeking practitioners". 

 

Venerable encouraged everyone to reflect on which type they belong to and make improvements based on their characteristics in daily life, especially when practitioners encounter a "bottleneck" in practice. Observe and know themselves accurately, thereby breaking through barriers and achieving better balance.

 

In the meantime, volunteers from different committees worked together. Meditation Committee volunteers acted as assistant timekeepers. Receptionists assisted with registration and responded to the needs of the attendees. The kitchen prepared nutritious and delicious vegan lunch boxes for everyone. Despite limited conditions, the volunteers arranged the site neatly and brightly and adjusted the temperature appropriately and comfortably, helping participants to be physically and mentally stable and concentrate on cultivation.

 

Text：Hang Yeung
Photo：Yin Ting, Chan Meditation Center