Donald,
Good, that you had come to know Sheng Yen, while he still lived. The other
Dharma Drum successors are available, and you can still consult. Just to have
another opinion about Chan and its practice may be worthwhile to you.
"Picking and choosing" while we are awake is not necessary; and if we do it, it
is a symptom that we are not awake. That's the meaning of the line from
Xinxinming.
But if, at the beginning, one chooses to practice a path which isn't Chan, and
which is instead, "buji-Zen", in which people say that "Everything is Zen", and
there is no need to practice since we are all "already" this-and-that, well,
...that's a poor choice at the outset. One can, and should, do better, by
choosing a true path to enter. That choice is a necessary choice.
It's one thing to hear, let's say, Sheng Yen's Dharma talk, or public talks, in
a large public auditorium;
It's another thing to personally consult a Dharma Drum teacher, and have a
private chat. Just see how one of them may reply when you discuss your vision
or version of Chan with one of them. There may be many points of agreement. I
am not worried for you about the points where there is agreement. So I can
nonetheless, and again, advise and encourage such a private meeting, if you
like, and if you are interested, and if you are not for some reason prejudiced
against them, and attached to something else. These people may be close-by, to
you. You can just talk.
best,
--Joe
> <chan.jmjm@...> wrote:
>
> Actually Joe. I have been to many of Sheng Yen's teachings. As my
> practice, I don't comment on his teaching. I only share my experience and
> witness.
>
> Thank you for your heart felt recommendation.
>
> If I may share one sharing that I did in 2008...
> "Even the notion of 'I understood.' is from the conscious mind... and not
> from our heart."
>
> The key to enlightenment is seeing the light being emitted from our
> heart. It is a state of being where every description is trying to
> name. If you do, then congratulations, if you did not, then try to
> experience it. Chan is simply an experience. All of us can.
>
> Don't select your journey. Pick or choose is not recommended as stated in
> Xinxinming. :-)
>
> When you experienced all, then you'll know what to share and when to share it.
>
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