JMJM,

No, no.  To me, that's like saying that food, or sleep, is the most efficient 
medium.  They must be in balance.

The Ch'an way is just to apply Ch'an methods in our practice.  Steer clear of 
Attachments!, like food, sleep, or Chi.  But don't eschew them!: Eat, sleep, 
and let energy flow; and be healthy.

I'm sure we don't disagree, Donald.  It's just a matter of degree of emphasis.  
My Shifu was very pure and conservative, and did not wish to emphasize 
folk-religion, nor Taoist influences.  He was all done with that, as a 
long-time monk, and could see the way ahead for Ch'an in Taiwan and the world 
for the future.  He could see it needed reform, and so he set about providing 
it.  Yet, we all knew a good deal about Chi, by personal experience with our 
traditional and original practice of Ch'an, and awakening.  We had no need to 
speak about it, ever.  Except perhaps in cases where people became sick, or who 
were very feeble when they first came to practice, and our Shifu helped them 
rebuild their health impressively.

Still, physical practice, along with Zazen, is the most effective route toward 
awakening, when working with Teacher and sangha.  And, when practicing at home. 
 I teach these methods as Sheng Yen taught, and have put good emphasis on them 
since 1980, in New York and elsewhere.  Hail!

I'm still in training, to be better at leading 7-day Ch'an retreat.

--Joe

> 覺妙精明 (JMJM) <chan.jmjm@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Joe,
> 
> Here is some information about my teacher and lineage.  85th patriach 
> since Shakyamuni. 58th since Bodhdharma, 48th Linji. 
> http://www.buddhachan.org/en/
> 
> Me in the organization: http://www.buddhachan.org/en/sharings
> 
> Yes, like everything else, chi is just a medium.  But chi is the most 
> efficient medium.




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