Chan Buddhism

Propagating Chan Buddhism to the West for 20 yrs Editor Notes Gilbert Gutierrez, an attorney in U.S., also a seeker all his life, studied various martial arts and mind arts but couldn’t be satisfied until encountering with Master Sheng Yen. He received Master’s teachings as w

Poland  In 1993, Master Sheng Yen transmitted the Dharma to Dr. John Crook, a British national, who vowed to practice the Master’s teachings and sow the seeds of Chinese Buddhism in Europe. Practitioners in Poland invited Master Sheng Yen to give guidance on Chan practice for the first time in 1997. Twenty years on, these Polish disciples have continued to practice diligently under the guidance of Ven. Chi Chern and Dr. Simon Child, constantly honing their faith in Chan teachings.     Before encountering Shifu, Master Sheng Yen, we firstly began Buddhist practice in a group that had roots in the Japanese Zen tradition (Anna in 1975, Paweł in 1984). In the early 1990s, the group experienced difficulties due to improper behavior of the teacher, which prompted us to look for a new teacher. In 1994, a couple of its members got in touch with Master John Crook, the first Western Dharma heir of Master Sheng Yen, took part in one of his retreats, and in 1995, also with Shifu himself, in the United Kingdom. Impressed by the personalities and teaching of both teachers, they inspired several other Polish practitioners, and together they invited John Crook to come to Poland in 1996. John accepted the invitation, and gave a public lecture and led a retreat in Warsaw.   Chinese Chan Buddhism vs. Japanese Zen John Crook would later come to Poland almost every year until his passing in 2011. His visits and guidance were of great importance to us. He showed us a slightly different taste of meditation than the one we had been used to. We saw that Chan offers more natural forms of meditation than Japanese Zen does, emphasizing such aspects as relaxation, not pushing for achievements, respect for the natural rhythm of practice, and acceptance of the present moment. It does not force anything. What it considers important is penetrating attention rather than intention.   Master Sheng Yen's Visit Master Shen

Chinese Chan Buddhism blossoms discreetly    From Editors: Former Swiss pediatrician, Hildi Thalmann, deeply felt the anguish of this transient life, and turned to Chan meditation. In 2004, after participating in Chan meditation guided by Master Sheng Yen, she took refuge in the

Q1:What motivated you to learn Chan and Buddhism in the first place? Sasha: I started taking interest in Buddhism in my youth already, when I began practicing martial arts. At that time during my practice I found my mind and psyche in states that could not be appropriate for an advanced Wushu practitioner. My interest led me to understand that the state of calmness, clarity and concentration is the subject of Chan practice. Later my motivation became somewhat broader as I started thinking about such intrinsic values of the European culture as love. The question presented itself: how does it happen that my love to other people and their love to me can cause us so much suffering? When a certain notion of wisdom and compassion started emerging at that place, my understanding of practice expanded to seeing the Teaching as multifaceted and comprehensive. Rinya: I became interested in Buddhism as part of the Chinese culture. Having met Sasha I understood that it was not only about reading books and thinking, but practice in the first place. At some moment, thinking about what was really valuable for me in life, I found out that it was a state of calmness, of a quiet and steady mind. Or, to be more honest, – that what induces that state. Сhan practice brings up exactly this type of mind. Besides, in my opinion to have a conscious life a person should take pains to clarify and form a personal view of the world, with the corresponding principles and values, which could be relied upon in a day-to-day life. Now the Teaching helps me moving towards a conscious life.   Q2:What changes do Chan and Buddhism bring to your own life? Sasha: I am sure that without accepting the practice to become a part of my life I would be a completely different person. I believe, had I not encountered the Teaching in due time, my relations with myself and the world would be much harder and more destructive than the ones I have being a practitioner. Rinya

Q1:How do you practice Chan, being a couple? Sasha: The latest period of our joint practice started on October 18, 2016, with the simultaneous addition of two masculine pusas to our family. Our practice became ensuring their life sustenance and our own survival. I had thought that it would be very difficult for me to quit my usual life mode which included Chan practice, my Wushu and calligraphy. All that together with teaching was taking practically all my time. Now my practice is the absence of such articulated practice.    Rinya: Sasha has always been my mentor in the practice, my senior friend, sharing my experiences, doubts and understandings with him were highly significant for me. The strength of his practice has always been a basis for my own moving-on. I am endlessly thankful to the world that there is a man by my side whose essential interest in life is so resonant with mine and so beneficial for it. And the kids… I had been joking that with their birth I would be on a personal retreat. This is exactly what happened. And the fact that this is a path of any woman living a lay life and becoming a mother, gives me the happiness of being a part of this huge family. While the presence of my husband and companion by my side helps me moving on in a calmer and more confident way.   Their interviews show that it is never easy to spread Chan Buddhism in countries other than Eastern Asia. However, once the seeds of aspiration are sowed, results will come to fruition when conditions are ripe, one way or another. As Master Sheng Yen said, grasp the opportune conditions when they come, create them when there are none, and ere conditions ripen, never force a thing to be done.