Hi Bill,
Thank you for asking.. Below are my comments for your reference.. I
have read this article awhile back..
Chan by definition is One and ALL. Meaning it is the absolute dharma
applicable to ALL things - body, mind and spirit. As well as it can
answer every question written in the sutra and bible. In other words,
with a simplest practice, it can rejuvenate our body, clear our mind and
let our spirit shine by eliminating all karma. And at the end of it all,
our spirit will stop reincarnating. We will be in heaven.
Most of the Chan teachings by an unenlightened master, stops at the mind
level, because they don't have the spiritual power to help people to
eliminate their karma. This article ends at the mind level. For most
of the people, if one can achieve ego-less, it would already deserve
celebration, because the world will be a better place. This is what we
call "Chan Living", or everyday Chan. Living by fulfilling each moment.
But you still reincarnate.
Most of the Chan teachings does not cover the spiritual practice,
because it deals with lights, chi and abstract phenomena. Yet, once you
experience consistent phenomena with lights and chi, you will know they
are the actual causes of everything. The world is really run by
energy. In other worlds, the spiritual practice is the practice
dictating our body and mind. Fundamental Chan practice is a spiritual
practice. If you recall, seven or eight years ago, when I first join
the forum, I asked, "is there spirituality in Zen?"
BTW, how do we know whether a person is enlightened or not? The proof
is in his dead body. If he dies at his preferred time without sickness,
and there are relics after he was cremated, then he is enlightened.
My Shifu said, "the parents of all my disciple, even though they do not
practice, they still will have relics when they die." I have witnessed
that every time.
In short, I like to suggest to the forum, instead of using your mind to
judge whether you wanted to try our way of meditation or not, just try
it diligently for six months, then you shall experience. There is
nothing worth any of us to hang on too, or to hold them with our life.
Chan is taught beyond words and through transmission.
Chan is about direct experience of ALL things. Using our mind to filter
or discriminate only narrows our scope resulting in practice with our
mind and not our spirit. Let our spirit soar and be free.
Thank you for the opportunity to share,
jm
On 5/22/2013 1:19 AM, Bill! wrote:
Mike and JMJM,
Mike, Thanks for this link. I pulled up the article will wait to read
it until JMJM says he thinks it's worthwhile doing so. I don't want to
have 3 or 4 versions of Ch'an rolling around in my head. The mix we
get here on the Zen Forum about zen is confusion enough, and I trust
JMJM's insight and knowledge on Ch'an.
JMJM, If you would please read the article cited below and tell me
what you think of it. It's looks pretty thorough. It's by Ch'an Master
Sheng-yen (1977) if that helps you make that determination without
reading it.
Thanks...Bill!
--- In [email protected] <mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com>,
uerusuboyo@... wrote:
>
>
Joe,<br/><br/>http://www.abuddhistlibrary.com/Buddhism/C%20-%20Zen/Modern%20Teachers/Sheng%20Yen/What%20is%20Ch%27an/What%20is%20Ch%27an%20-%20Master%20Sheng-yen.htm<br/><br/>Found
this online and thought you might be interested. It was originally
written as a pamphlet to be handed out, but was then lost. Someone
found one of these old pamphlets and thought it was so good it should
be shared. Even if you've read it before..
Enjoy!<br/><br/>Mike<br/><br/><br/>Sent from Yahoo! Mail for iPad
>
