Chan and Modern Life
The Effects of Chan Meditation - Introduction
From the book: The Effect of Chan Meditation Chan is a school of Buddhist meditation that is found throughout East Asia. It is known as Zen in Japan, Thien in Vietnam, and Son in Korea. Its distinctive form first took shape in China some fifteen hundred years ago. The aim of Chan is to live life with wisdom and compassion through the realization of our interconnectedness with all things. Chan involves active awareness, participation, and engagement in daily life. The foundation of this goa...
The Wealth of Chan Meditation
From the book: The Effects of Chan Meditation Modern science has solved many problems encountered in the natural environment, as well as those found in physiology and psychology. Yet despite the advancement of civilization and technological innovations, the number of problems to be solved has increased. Up until the day the Earth ends, it will be impossible to completely overcome the problems posed by nature. Similarly, until the day we die, it will be impossible to completely control the ...
In the Spirit of Chan
From the book: In the Spirit of Chan Perhaps some of you have heard the sayings "Chan is not established on words and language" and "Chan is a transmission outside conventional teachings." But if Chan does not rely on words, why would anyone want to read a Chan book? Isn't that a contradiction? Although Chan is not established on words, it has, among the many sects of Buddhism in China, left behind the most writing. The primary goal of these writings, however...
The Origin of Chan
From the book: In the Spirit of Chan What is the source of Chan? According to the Chan lore, the monk Bodhidharma brought Chan from India to China in about 500 C.E., more than a thousand years after Shakyamuni Buddha's death. But Indian history contains few records of the interim period, so we know relatively little about the origins of Chan practice. We do know stories and legends that describe the origins of Chan. Most famous is the account of the transmission of the Dharma ...
Chan: The Gateless Gate
From the book: In the Spirit of Chan Chan is often referred to as the gateless gate. The "gate" is both a method of practice and a path to liberation; this gate is "gateless," however, in that Chan does not rely on any specific method to help a practitioner achieve liberation. The methodless method is the highest method. So long as the practitioner can drop the self-centered mind, the gateway into Chan will open naturally. The primary obstacle to attaining wisd...
Vexed Most by the Enemy within – Our Own Mind
We are vexed most by the enemy within – our own minds. Our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and perceptions change constantly. We can move from arrogance to regret, from joy to sorrow, from hate to love, in a matter of seconds. As time passes, our point of view changes, so that we look at something old in an entirely new way. But when we are caught in turmoil of thought and feeling, we feel conflicted and powerless to make decisions. We worry about gain or loss, right or ...
Chan and Anxieties in Modern Life
Modern communication being so rapid causes people much anxiety and nightmares; they cannot feel relaxed as long as there is social disorder throughout the world. This is true whether one experiences this directly or indirectly, whether it concerns the self, family, society, country, political/economic life, or religious belief. As long as the situation affects one’s personal safety or peril, gain or loss, success or failure, people cannot sit back and relax For Emotional Problems, ...
Eliminating Anxiety and Fear
Chen: Human suffer from two major psychological impediments: fear and anxiety. When caught up in fear and anxiety, people are often unable to make the right decision. Either they are indecisive, overly cautious, and lacking in resolution, or they are rash and impatient, often making hasty decisions. How can we eliminate anxiety and fear, and stay calm and unruffled? Let us ask Master Sheng Yen for guidance. The reason why fear and anxiety emerge Master Sheng Yen: In fact, ...
Where does the feeling of loneliness come from?
People who cannot connect themselves with the outside world in terms of space and time, who do not understand cause and effect, and causes and conditions, will feel lonely. When I was in solitary retreat, I knew that I was together with all sentient beings in innumerable worlds. Even though I seemed to be alone in a small, enclosed room, actually I was in the company of many ants who found their way inside, and insects outside of the hut created all kinds of sounds in the e...
Affirming, Developing, and Dissolving the Self
Dissolve the Self and Transcend Human Character At Dharma Drum Mountain meditation camp, I emphasize affirming and developing the self, but after we do that, we should dissolve the self and transcend our human character to perfect pure mind. We do not measure success or failure in terms of visible or invisible fame, fortune, power, or status. Who do you think will become a Buddha first? Will it be someone here in the audience, or will it be me? You might think it won't be one...