Hi Joe, Yes, at first, it was like very embarrassing to me, as if 'I' was sharing 'my' experience and as you said, it is very personal. But then I quickly realised it was due to my perception of the experience then it felt alright.
I believe all teachers are good. The thing is, we don't usually connect to every teacher, just as we don't get close to every one of our friends. I somehow connect very easily to Guo Jun Fashi. If one day I get the chance to attend Guo Yan Fashi's session, I'll know if I connect to him too :) Siska -----Original Message----- From: "Joe" <[email protected]> Sender: [email protected] Date: Fri, 03 May 2013 15:56:52 To: <[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected] Subject: [Zen] Re: open mind? Evening, Siska, I felt a little funny as Guo Jun related his story. Almost as if it is really too personal for him to speak about, and in such an open medium as video to be placed on the internet. But I'm glad he did it. My first experience was exactly like his, but it went in just the opposite order. I think it's fortunate you had a chance to practice with him. I'd like very much to meet him and practice with him, and especially to have interview with him many times. I hope we can do this. He was very close to our Shifu. Yes, I think Guo Jun Fashi has been "posted" as Abbot somewhere, and maybe his duties are such that he does not travel as much as before. I know Guo Yan very well! I've sat with him on retreats with Shifu, and he was very helpful, and seems very much like Shifu, as well as like Thich Nhat Hanh. I also know Guo Gu, who has become a lay person, has a Princeton PhD now, and is married. He teaches academically in Florida at the highest level and is founder and head of the Tallahassie Chan Center. He is training a number of us original disciples of Sheng Yen in ways of holding Chan retreat, so we can be heads of Chan affiliate centers in the States (I was Shifu's #13 in USA: lucky). The 20 or so of us are not transmitted teachers, but are called officially, "Dharma Teachers", by Sheng Yen's organization, Dharma Drum. Guo Yan Fashi is a fine teacher, with a lot of experience. You have a "treat" in store, Siska. You'll be in very good hands. Consider him "authoritative" or not, as you please, but he is a natural leader, kind, and compassionate. And, authoritative. ;-) Best!, --Joe > siska_cen@... wrote: > > Morning Joe, > > Almost time for bed here :) > > I could relate with what he was describing, it was hard to describe how I > felt watching a master telling his experience. > > It has been a while since I take anyone as 'authoritative' figure of a > teacher. The way we practise, we are letting go even our teachers and their > teachings. I attended a few sessions by Guo Jun Fashi before. He IS > something. > > Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to come here anymore. Lately, it's Guo Yan > Fashi who comes. I've never attended any of his session so far.
