tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17693306334724691962024-03-12T21:37:18.068-07:00Sunshine Ch'an Temple (A memoir)A humble account of my encounter with Master Henry
& The Sunshine Ch'an Temple during the years
2005 -2021
El Vacio Cielo ~*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/02491206995949086696noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1769330633472469196.post-77174636822679250232021-03-31T00:00:00.001-07:002021-04-19T13:48:36.242-07:00 Being sincere and dedicated is paying back your Dharma obligation
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Today on Kuan Yin day , We commemorate 49 days since Master Henry passed away. The immeasurable gift of having met a True Dharma Teacher is beyond words or symbols. In order to honour Master's benevolence and compassion, I left a virtual footprint of this rare meeting. I humbly put together these few pictures , words and scatered thoughts that i gathered over the years. In all honesty I never witnessed Master comitting to writing any teachings related to Ch'an , the simple fact that I did not speak any Mandarin or Cantonese and that english was not our first native language was very helpful to find new dimensions to how we comunicated.
I do have a clear memory imprinted when after asked (fortunately because I wrote down on my Journal) a translator said Master was quoting the Wise Patriarchs of past when asked about the Prajnaparamita
during Ch'an Retreat :
The Perfection of Wisdom
What I can tell you is not esoteric. If you turn your light inwardly, you will find what is esoteric within.
To meditate means to realize inwardly the imperturbability of the essence of mind.
Those who train themselves for imperturbability should, in their contacts with all types of men, ignore the faults of others.
As to the dharma, [teaching, path] this is transmitted from heart to heart, and the recipient must realize it by his own efforts.
All depends on self-practice...
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Bowing with Respect
Jorge
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A True Dharma Master from Korea,
<b>Master Mangong once said :</b>
<b>I have been teaching Ch'an -Zen- Seon students on this mountain for almost forty years. Many people come to visit me thinking they are visiting a Zen Master but they only see my form body, the house where my true nature lives. They don’t see my true nature. That is not a problem but it means that they have not seen their true nature.
Because they haven’t seen their true nature, they cannot see their parents, siblings, wife, and children, or anybody. They wander through life in vain, like a crazy person. We have to say that this is truly a world of darkness. Students who receive my teaching must do it with sincerity and dedication, not forgetting the methods I used. Ultimately, being sincere and dedicated is paying back your Dharma obligation, so you will not waste your practice or suffer a mental loss.
By Seon - Ch'an - Zen Korean Master *ManGong 1871~1946</b>
*Mangong left behind not a single written work. The only thing left to us were his Seon teachings given to his many disciples. However, his disciples compiled a volume of his dharma talks, and from this we can catch a glimpse of Mangong’s thought.
In order to ascertain this "true self," Master Mangong stressed that we must practice Seon-Ch'an, Zen meditation. Therefore, he exerted all of his energy leading his disciples in proper Seon-Ch'an, Zen practice. It is perhaps because of this, and also because of the dangers inherent in the tendency for the meanings of words and letters to become fixed, that Master Mangong left behind no written works.
Therefore, he settled upon the "observing the hwadu" Hua Tou method of Seon, Ch'an , Zen, meditation that totally rejects theory and speculation and observes with the spirit of “no discriminating mind,” .
El Vacio Cielo ~*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/02491206995949086696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1769330633472469196.post-45309600177891961652021-02-13T22:00:00.001-08:002021-06-05T22:43:05.553-07:00Master Henry passed away suddenly at the Sunshine Ch'an Temple on the Sunshine Coast
All this decay. A Buddha can only point the way. Become a lamp unto yourself. Work out your salvation. Strive on diligently...Growing old is the dharma of all composite things."
Buddha Shakyamuni
Ashvagosha, 'Buddhacarita,' XXVI, 83-6, 88-106 reads: “Thereupon the Buddha turned to his Disciples, and said to them: 'Everything comes to an end, though it may last for an aeon. The hour of parting is bound to come in the end. Now I have done what I could do, both for myself and for others. To stay here would from now on be without any purpose. I have disciplined, in heaven and on earth, all those whom I could discipline, and I have set them in the stream. Hereafter this my Dharma, 0 monks, shall abide for generations and generations among living beings. Therefore, recognize the true nature of the living world, and do not be anxious; for separation cannot possibly be avoided. Recognize that all that lives is subject to this law; and strive from today onwards that it shall be thus no more ! When the light of gnosis has dispelled the darkness of ignorance, when an existence has been seen as without substance, peace ensues when life draws to an end, which seems to cure a long sickness at last. Everything, whether stationary or moveable, is bound to perish in the end. Be ye therefore mindful and vigilant! The time for my entry into Nirvana has now arrived. These are my last words!' , [Source: Edward Conze, in Conze (ed.), “Buddhist Scriptures” (Penguin Books, 1959), pp. 62-4
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Video
Master Henry meditating at the top of the Sunshine Cha'n Temple
Recording
Master Henry playing the conch at the Sunshine Ch'an Temple
September 10- 2010El Vacio Cielo ~*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/02491206995949086696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1769330633472469196.post-32555068227309480682011-10-07T21:59:00.000-07:002021-06-05T22:46:42.331-07:00Master Henry's Art Calligraphy 2007 -2021<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-QqDrO-J1XnxT_oFnRB1fTvMEQBSffLvpTYqSb_KU4P_PwzbV50v4P3D51WRJ399_sCnEtvt1qvvzl1YmSClCOuCObW01RlAYXP4skluzR_RfvgWvuhIVWmc3oIA8XY1YthjyN1hmDZc/s2048/20210515_213602.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-QqDrO-J1XnxT_oFnRB1fTvMEQBSffLvpTYqSb_KU4P_PwzbV50v4P3D51WRJ399_sCnEtvt1qvvzl1YmSClCOuCObW01RlAYXP4skluzR_RfvgWvuhIVWmc3oIA8XY1YthjyN1hmDZc/s400/20210515_213602.jpg"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9TXv_CIn6sQ4zT4pHCwEblUmhzNNsRwHKJudBidelD-rQWlb5G8SUNRrQ1ujV7PDN8eCoAIuzv5VYRP_xP3BNASbcyNVu4bicXt7HZv49ObE3Qh3EV9juVMSw7XiyyDdWwn6OsARDuKS/s2048/rocksutra.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9TXv_CIn6sQ4zT4pHCwEblUmhzNNsRwHKJudBidelD-rQWlb5G8SUNRrQ1ujV7PDN8eCoAIuzv5VYRP_xP3BNASbcyNVu4bicXt7HZv49ObE3Qh3EV9juVMSw7XiyyDdWwn6OsARDuKS/s400/rocksutra.jpg"/></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: right;">DharmaRain
Vacio Cielo
</div>
<span class="st"> <em>Rain</em> might be falling for ten thousand years, yet if our cup is upside down it will remain empty. <b>...</b></span>
Text From
<span style="font-family:Palatino;">Lectures by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua</span>
<span style="font-family:Palatino;">Edited and Translated by the Editorial Committee of the</span>
<span style="font-family:Palatino;">Buddhist Text Translation Society</span>
Edited by Xing-Kong
<p><i><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">When spring returns to the earth, the myriad things are born.</span></i> </p><p><i>Smashing empty space to pieces, one is free and at ease.</i> </p><p><i>One will never again become attached to self or others.</i> </p><p><i>Although the Dharma Realm is vast, one can encompass it all.</i> </p><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">
</span><b><span style="font-family:Times Roman;"><span style="">With Empty Space Shattered, the Mind Is Understood...</span></span></b>
<span style="font-family:Times Roman;">
</span><p><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">There are many different meditation topics that can be used in investigating Chan. Some people investigate "Who was I before my mother bore me?" Others may investigate the word "Nothing." "Nothing" means there isn't anything at all. Everything is nonexistent. Or does everything exist? They investigate "nothing" and "existence." They investigate how things cease to exist. Everything in the world is subject to coming into being, dwelling, decaying, and becoming empty. What is there that is not subject to coming into being, dwelling, decaying, and becoming empty? That's what they investigate.</span> </p><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">Some investigate "Does a dog have the Buddha nature?" Whether or not a dog has the Buddha nature can be a topic too. Others investigate "dried turd." You laugh when you hear that, but when you investigate it, there's a lot of flavor in it! Not smelly, though, so you don't need to laugh. Since it's dry it doesn't smell. There are many different meditation topics. Whichever topic you respond to best is the one for you.</span>
<span style="font-family:Times Roman;">
For instance:
When you investigate <span style="font-size:130%;">"Who is mindful of the Buddha?"</span> things may get vague. You keep on investigating, but you can't find out "who?" Unable to find the "who," you give rise to a "feeling of doubt." Once this feeling of doubt arises, great doubt will bring great enlightenment. Small doubt will bring small enlightenment. No doubt will bring no enlightenment. Continual doubt will bring continual enlightenment. Brief doubt will bring brief enlightenment. What is meant by a "feeling of doubt"? It's being unable to find out "who?" Hmm. "Who?" Sustained investigation of this word "who" for hours nonstop can bring you to the point that your breath ceases, your pulse stops, your thoughts come to a standstill, and you attain a profoundly great samadhi. With that kind of samadhi, you are in samadhi when you are walking; you are in samadhi when you are sitting; you are in samadhi when you are standing; and you are in samadhi when you are lying down. You neither enter it nor leave it, and so it's called a profoundly great samadhi. At that time, above, there will be no heaven; below, there will be no earth; in between, there will be no people; and afar, there will be no objects. Absolutely everything will be empty. Even emptiness will not exist. Once emptiness is obliterated, what kind of state remains? Take a look. Think about it. Do you still have false thoughts? Do you still have extraneous ideas? When there isn't even any emptiness, where could the false thoughts and extraneous ideas be located? Where could lust be found? At that time, it's very easy to become enlightened. It's very easy to return to the root and go back to the source, to understand your mind and see your nature. When you understand your mind and see your nature, nothing that happens presents any difficulties; there are no obstructions. Once you see your nature, you never worry.</span>
<p><b><span style="font-family:Times Roman;"><span style="">Carefully Investigate While Walking, Standing, Sitting, and Lying Down</span></span></b> </p><p><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">Now we are having a Chan session. Concentration is of vital importance in a Chan session. Your body, mind, and thoughts must be concentrated. Here, your body must walk when it's time to walk, sit when it's time to sit, and lie down when it's time to lie down. Walking, sitting, and reclining, you must follow the rules. Your mind must not give rise to false thinking; then the mind can be concentrated. Your thoughts should be devoid of greed, devoid of hatred, and devoid of stupidity. Single-mindedly investigate "Who is mindful of the Buddha?"</span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">Investigating is like using a drill to drill a hole. You drill and drill until you drill through the piece of wood. Once the drill penetrates, you can see through to the other side. That's what becoming enlightened is like. Prior to penetrating, we are only doing the daily work of drilling. Prior to becoming enlightened, we investigate "Who is mindful of the Buddha?"</span></p><p>
<span style="font-family:Times Roman;">Now we are putting in the work that it takes to become enlightened. During the period of working, you don't want to say, "Oh! This drill won't penetrate and make a hole." Then you don't want to drill any more. But if you don't drill, no hole will be made. You must drill the hole today, drill it tomorrow, and drill it the next day¡... drilling and drilling until your work is realized. After a time, you will penetrate. That penetration is enlightenment. That means what you weren't clear about before, you will be clear about. What you didn't understand, you will understand.</span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">What is this skill like? It's like a cat poised to catch a mouse. The cat waits beside the mouse hole. If the mouse comes out, the cat catches it with one swipe of its claws. Your investigation of "Who is mindful of the Buddha" is like a cat stalking a mouse. Your false thinking is the mouse, and the phrase "Who is mindful of the Buddha" is the cat. The cat is waiting to catch the mouse. That's what this analogy means.Investigation is also like a dragon guarding its pearl. A dragon is always protecting his dragon pearl. His attention never strays from it.</span> </p><p><b><span style="font-family:Times Roman;"><span style="">When One Solves the Meditation Topic, A Clue Appears</span></span></b> </p><p><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">The same principle applies when we investigate Chan. We must pay attention at all times and not have any discursive thoughts. As the saying goes,</span> </p><p><i><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">When not a single thought arises, the entire substance manifests.</span></i> </p><p><i><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">When the six senses suddenly move, one is covered by clouds.</span></i>
</p><p><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">When not a single thought arises, the vast functioning of the entire substance is seen. One's inherent wisdom manifests. When the six sense faculties--the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind--suddenly move, it is as if the sky were suddenly covered by clouds. When not a single thought arises, then "Inside there is no body or mind, and outside there is no world." When you reach that level in your meditation, your breath stops. Although you stop breathing, you are not dead. When your breath stops, not a single thought arises. But if you suddenly think, "Oh, my breath has stopped. It's gone!" Then it will come back. When you are devoid of thoughts, the breath stops; but as soon as you have a thought, the breath resumes. Actually, your breathing does not completely cease, or else you wouldn't be alive. Rather, an internal breathing begins to function, so you no longer need to rely on external breathing. This is known as turning the great Dharma wheel--singing the soundless song and turning the invisible Dharma wheel. However, you should not become attached to this state.</span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">Cultivators alternately advance and retreat in their practice. We may be vigorous for a few days, but then, feeling that we aren't getting any benefit, we slack off. After being lazy for a while, we become vigorous again. In cultivation, we should follow the Middle Way and be neither too hasty nor too relaxed.</span>
</p><p><i><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">Go too fast and you'll trip; dally and you'll fall behind.</span></i> </p><i><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">Never rush and never dally, and you'll get there right on time.</span></i>
<p><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">Don't be nervous and don't be lax. Don't go too fast means don't be nervous. Don't dally means don't be lazy. Enjoy developing your skill. Develop it to the point that you are free and at ease when walking, free and at ease when sitting, free and at ease when standing, and free and at ease when sleeping. Walking, standing, sitting and lying down, you have self-mastery. Self-mastery means that your skill is progressing. When your skill progresses, you will be able to truly investigate Chan. Then, even if you consider stopping, there will be no way to do so.</span> </p><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">Walking, standing, sitting, and lying down, you won't lose track of "who?" But even though you won't lose track of "who?" you still will not recognize "who?" You want to become familiar with "who?" You can't let the "who?" be cut off. At all times and in all places you investigate Chan until you become one with it. When you become one with it, then "you eat each day but it is as if you hadn't eaten a single grain of rice." It's not that you don't eat, but that you are not attached to eating. You eat but it's as if nothing had happened.</span>
<p><b><span style="font-family:Times Roman;"><span style="">Smash the Black Barrel and Reveal the Source</span></span></b> </p><p><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">Smashing the black lacquer barrel refers to enlightenment. Although the thought of investigating "who" is also a false thought, this one false thought is used to defeat all the other false thoughts. Investigation should be done in every moment; it is not that you investigate on the out-breath, and then don't investigate on the in-breath; or that you investigate on the in-breath and then not on the out-breath. No, counting your breaths is of no use because it creates a duality. It adds a head on top of a head--it is superficial. The true and proper method for investigating chan meditation is the method for entering deeply. Thus, our patriarchs investigated their meditation topic breathing in as well as breathing out; their one thought of investigation continued on forever without interruption.</span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">Those who truly know how to work do not lose track of the topic "who?" Little by little they inquire into "who" until mind, intellect, and consciousness all vanish. The mind becomes empty; the body is also empty; the intellect is empty, and the consciousness is empty. When you strike up false thoughts, it is the sixth consciousness that they come from. The sixth consciousness causes you to strike up false thought, causes you to register pain, and causes you to be unable to bear any more. All of those are distortions of the sixth consciousness. If you are able to smash the mind, intellect and consciousness--if you investigate until you break through them, so that you can't be turned by such thoughts--then you are one who truly knows how to work. Not to mention gaining responses every day in your application of effort, if you gain a response for even the space of a thought, you can open your wisdom, which is another way of saying you can become enlightened.</span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">There's an old proverb that goes,</span>
</p><p><i><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">If someone sits quietly for an instant,</span></i>
<i><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">Then that is better than building pagodas made</span></i>
<i><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">of the seven jewels in number like the Ganges' sands.</span></i> </p><p><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">If you can genuinely enter samadhi--stay quiet--for an instant, for just a moment in time, then that in itself can eradicate infinite kalpas of offenses that bind us to birth and death.</span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">Those who know how to practice are always in samadhi, while those who don't are constantly in the midst of falseness. Within samadhi, one produces wisdom, while within falseness one's stupidity increases. How can one obtain samadhi? One must return the false to the true. We, however, are ever eager to pursue false conditions and unwilling to return to a state of samadhi. That's why we constantly indulge in discursive thoughts and cannot return to the truth. As a result, the truth becomes false. If you didn't have so many discursive thoughts, but instead reflected within at all times and worked on your own nature, you would be able to return to the truth. Our Chan session is also for the purpose of turning the false back into the truth, getting rid of the false and keeping the truth. That's why we have set everything aside to come here to walk and sit. Walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, we must not be apart from "this." To separate from this is a mistake. "This" is just the meditation topic, which we must always bring to mind.</span>
</p><p><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">We should resolve to meditate until we figure out what we are all about. We were born in a confused way, and life would be meaningless if we also have to die in confusion. We need to find out how we were born and how we will die. Can we be free and independent when we die? The goal of our practice is to attain freedom over birth and death, which is true freedom--the ability to come and go whenever we want, without afflictions or worries. If we wish to go to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, we can simply get into full lotus posture, bid farewell to everyone, and go.</span> </p><p><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">That's true freedom over birth and death.</span>
</p><p><i><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">In order to escape death</span></i>
<i><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">One must have death-defying skill.</span></i> </p><p><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">To gain freedom from birth and death, you must practice without fear of death. You must not be afraid of pain, difficulty, suffering, or anything else.</span> </p><span style="font-family:Times Roman;">Chan is the essence of all Buddhas. The Buddhas of the ten directions were born from Chan samadhi.</span><p>Full Text at:
</p><a href="http://online.sfsu.edu/%7Erone/Buddhism/VenHua/Chan.html">http://online.sfsu.edu/~rone/Buddhism/VenHua/Chan.html
http://vimeo.com/6518109</a>El Vacio Cielo ~*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/02491206995949086696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1769330633472469196.post-40939531482383907672011-06-05T16:56:00.000-07:002011-06-29T21:45:39.894-07:00Summer Retreat August 18th to August 25 2011<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">A 7 day Cha'n Retreat will start on August 2011,</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">under the instruction of Master Chieh Harne aka Master Henry, </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Pre-registration is not required, if you wish to come for a short time drop ins will be welcome.<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;">Sunshine Zen Centre<br />11148 Sunshine Coast Highway 101<br />Tel 604 883 1167<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oR6KFWL9foDX0p0h4NoC9dFswbbSGpAaA12Yip5ysQd9xep4y8tlT5t0JO8rflCQ3GZ0n4NlOECgztUF_dnOOw4gfgfAggbUqQcr1AcMAA6bMR356zJNG_L7iu_3mW9fxwH5bnm4GMr5/s1600/flowers2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oR6KFWL9foDX0p0h4NoC9dFswbbSGpAaA12Yip5ysQd9xep4y8tlT5t0JO8rflCQ3GZ0n4NlOECgztUF_dnOOw4gfgfAggbUqQcr1AcMAA6bMR356zJNG_L7iu_3mW9fxwH5bnm4GMr5/s400/flowers2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614898041273023298" border="0" /></a><br />~*~<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Thousands of years ago, the Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.<br />He realized that all sentient beings possess inherent Buddha nature with the potential to achieve ultimate freedom, eternal peace and perfect enlightenment<br /><br />Ch'an, widely known as Zen in the West, is directly seeing one's true mind, which is the mind of the Buddha.<br /><br />The object of ch'an training is to realize the mind for the perception of (self-)nature.<em><br /></em><br /></div><br /><br /><u style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;" >No Attachment to Dust</span></u><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;" ><p>Zengetsu, a Chinese master of the tang dynasty, wrote the following advice for his pupils:</p> <p>Living in the world yet not forming attachments to the dust of the world is the way of the true Zen student.</p> <p>When witnessing the good action of another encourage yourself to follow his example. Hearing the mistaken action of another, advise yourself not to emulate it.</p> <p>Even though alone in a dark room, be as if you were facing a noble guest. Express your feelings, but become no more expressive than your true nature. </p> <p>Poverty is your treasure. Never exchange it for an easy life. </p> <p>A person may appear a fool and yet not be one. He may be only guarding his wisdom carefully.</p> <p>Virtues are the fruit of self-discipline and do not drop from heaven themselves as does rain or snow. </p> <p>Modesty is the foundation of all virtues. Let your neighbours discover you before you make yourself known to them.</p> <p>A noble heart never forces itself forward. Its words are as rare gems, seldom displayed and of great value.</p> <p>To a sincere student, everyday is a fortunate day. Time passes but he never lags behind. Neither glory nor shame can move him.</p> <p>Censure yourself, never another. Do not discuss right or wrong.</p> <p>Some things though right, were considered wrong for generations. Since the value of righteousness may be recognized after centuries, there is no need to crave an immediate appreciation.</p> <p>Live with cause and leave the results to the great law of the universe. Pass each day in peaceful contemplation.</p> </span><br /><em><br /></em>El Vacio Cielo ~*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/02491206995949086696noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1769330633472469196.post-8023878273839974882011-05-22T15:06:00.000-07:002021-03-30T00:22:11.364-07:00from Heart to Heart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe class="BLOG_video_class" allowfullscreen="" youtube-src-id="ciYO7mWq3Og" width="400" height="322" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ciYO7mWq3Og"></iframe></div><h3>Om Homage to the Perfection of Wisdom, the Holy !</h3> <p>Avalokita, the Holy Lord and Bodhisattva, was moving in the deep course of the Wisdom which has gone beyond.</p> <p>He looked down from on high, He beheld but five heaps, and He saw that in their own-being they were empty.</p> <p>Here, O Sariputra,</p> <p>form is emptiness and the very emptiness is form ;</p> <p>emptiness does not differ from form, form does not differ from emptiness, whatever is emptiness, that is form,</p> <p>the same is true of feelings, perceptions, impulses, and consciousness.</p> <p>Here, O Sariputra,</p> <p>all dharmas are marked with emptiness ;</p> <p>they are not produced or stopped, not defiled or immaculate, not deficient or complete.</p> <p>Therefore, O Sariputra,</p> <p>in emptiness there is no form nor feeling, nor perception, nor impulse, nor consciousness ;</p> <p>No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind ; No forms, sounds, smells, tastes, touchables or objects of mind ; No sight-organ element, and so forth, until we come to :</p> <p>No mind-consciousness element ; There is no ignorance, no extinction of ignorance, and so forth, until we come to : There is no decay and death, no extinction of decay and death. There is no suffering, no origination, no stopping, no path.</p> <p>There is no cognition, no attainment and no non-attainment.</p> <p>Therefore, O Sariputra,</p> <p>it is because of his non-attainmentness that a Bodhisattva, through having relied on the Perfection of Wisdom, dwells without thought-coverings. In the absence of thought-coverings he has not been made to tremble,</p> <p>he has overcome what can upset, and in the end he attains to Nirvana.</p> <p>All those who appear as Buddhas in the three periods of time fully awake to the utmost, right and perfect Enlightenment because they have relied on the Perfection of Wisdom.</p> <p>Therefore one should know the prajnaparamita as the great spell, the spell of great knowledge, the utmost spell, the unequalled spell, allayer of all suffering, in truth -- for what could go wrong ? By the prajnaparamita has this spell been delivered. It runs like this :</p> <p>gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha.</p> <p>( Gone, gone, gone far beyond, gone altogether beyond, O what an awakening, all-hail ! -- )
</p> <p>This completes the Heart of perfect Wisdom.</p> <p align="center">(Translated by E. Conze)</p>
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"Avalokiteshvara proclaimed the pith of the prajnaparamita, the essence of the rug-pulling-out experience, the essence of the fearless, open state of mind. It came in the form of a mantra: "OM GATE GATE PARAGATE PARASAMGATE BODHI SVAHA." Just as a seed contains the tree, this mantra contains the entire teachings on abiding in prajnaparamita, abiding in the fearless state.
"OM gone, gone, gone beyond, gone completely beyond, awake, so be it." This is a description of a process, a journey, of always stepping out further and further. We could also say, "OM groundlessness, groundlessness, more groundlessness, even beyond groundlessness, fully awake, so be it!"
No matter where we are on the bodhisattva path, whether we are just beginning or we've practiced for years, we're always stepping further into groundlessness. Enlightenment is not the end of anything. Enlightenment, being completely awake, is just the beginning of fully entering into we know not what.
When the great bodhisattva finished teaching, the Buddha came out of his meditation and said, "Good, good! You expressed it perfectly, Avalokiteshvara." And those in the audience who hadn't walked out or died from heart attacks rejoiced. They rejoiced at hearing this teaching on stepping beyond fear."
From <span style="font-style: italic;">The Places That Scare You:
A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times</span>.
©2001 by Pema Chödrön.El Vacio Cielo ~*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/02491206995949086696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1769330633472469196.post-66524158620581555492009-07-23T18:28:00.001-07:002009-07-24T07:41:41.058-07:00Meditation Retreat 2009A university professor visits Master Nan-in to find out about Zen. <br />Nan-in serves him tea, but keeps pouring even tho' the cup is full. <br />"Master, the cup is overflowing. Please stop.".... "you are like this cup, <br />full of your own views. If you do not empty your cup how can i show you Zen?"<br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xc9XupC8k74&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xc9XupC8k74&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />The non-dwelling mind is the mind of the Buddha, it is the mind of liberation, it is the mind of Bodhi, and it is the mind of non-birth. So, if you really want meditation to come about, sit properly erect and close your eyes. Then purify your mind, lay down everything and think of neither good nor evil. Just observe your thoughts. As you look for their place of origin, you discover that they suddenly rise up and just as suddenly disappear, and that this process goes on and on. Be patient and continue to observe them, and you will, in time, know the thoughts to be devoid of any self-nature; also you will, thereby, know original emptiness. Do not attempt to follow the thoughts, to trace them in any way or have any intention of getting rid of them, and, in time, awareness will manifest as your mind illumines a thought. Then, there will suddenly be a stillness that becomes suchness. At some point, another thought will arise, and you will observe it in the same way.<br /><br />Do this at least once a day, sitting from fifteen minutes to an hour. As your concentration deepens, your thoughts slow down and diminish in number, and your power of illumination increases until you eventually find out that not a single thought arises. Then, there is only stillness and voidness, for then the mind is clear and pure. This is your self-nature as known directly through wisdom (Prajna)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Author by<br /><br />Dharma Master Lok To<br />based on the meditation manual <br />of Ting Chen <br /></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZGr-OXg1v-kaiak6aLkDIz4VzaAmAr-6iNKeNHVzpMfVyyF6jPoRf4lbuNRs-X0cZCu4WcgJm3kSklfa8fioruBm7DW0NKx0i0TGZAEYFXnKamQ6skkfVZze1va1rZYxbwiaCIty-sR_/s1600-h/00480001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZGr-OXg1v-kaiak6aLkDIz4VzaAmAr-6iNKeNHVzpMfVyyF6jPoRf4lbuNRs-X0cZCu4WcgJm3kSklfa8fioruBm7DW0NKx0i0TGZAEYFXnKamQ6skkfVZze1va1rZYxbwiaCIty-sR_/s400/00480001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361834187042583506" /></a><br /><br /><br />A 30 day meditation retreat will take place in the Sunshine Zen Centre, under the guidance of Master Henry, if you require further information please contact the Monastery by phone or e-mail us at sunshinezencenter@gmail.com <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Dates<br /><br />August 20 2009<br /><br />to <br /><br />Sept 20 2009<br /><br /></span><br /><br />Namo AmituofoEl Vacio Cielo ~*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/02491206995949086696noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1769330633472469196.post-11484961293869154482008-11-16T09:48:00.000-08:002008-11-22T18:27:01.377-08:00Winter Retreat Dec 17th 2008 Feb 4th 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKNp_np5I6a-v8pl6Bc8sY4wwyyr-Gd4rXcNWQZA7jKHzdq4tJKiuuizJLOZ5L7wetfNnrvkiBTbQTXkCFjXNnL4etKCYmjCNnWnBXI36292dg2MbGpYe7qZ-Bwwfu1L1aCnYxCApJ62y/s1600-h/budhaawood.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKNp_np5I6a-v8pl6Bc8sY4wwyyr-Gd4rXcNWQZA7jKHzdq4tJKiuuizJLOZ5L7wetfNnrvkiBTbQTXkCFjXNnL4etKCYmjCNnWnBXI36292dg2MbGpYe7qZ-Bwwfu1L1aCnYxCApJ62y/s400/budhaawood.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271672153227427794" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Fundamentals of Meditation Practice</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Originally, one's own mind and nature are pure, and there is nothing to accept and nothing to refuse; there is neither existence nor non-existence; there is only clear understanding without attachment and with no dwelling. One who wants to know the no-attachment, no-dwelling mind can find it through meditation, because it is only then that the mind does not think of right and wrong, of good and evil or of self and others. <br /><span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span<br /><br />A new 49 day Winter Retreat will start on December 17, led by Master Henry. We will be following the ‘standard’ retreat programe with plenty of meditation, & periods of silence as well as the opportunity for one-to-one practice reviews, pre-registration is highly suggested, if you wish to come and practice for a shorter period of time drop ins will be welcome, please phone in advance.<br /><br />What to bring:<br /><br />Sleeping Bag<br />Comfortable & warm clothing<br />Winter Boots<br />FlashlightEl Vacio Cielo ~*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/02491206995949086696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1769330633472469196.post-76983934419577999082008-07-08T14:43:00.000-07:002021-03-29T21:14:05.603-07:00THE SIXTH PATRIARCH HUI NENG<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXWr2fGpVSRBLKttlD5PUc4D_utte_7wcBSpR2-GkyioZpX7VYpJU-_mqvwpDhpoWX4nBkZw4cXl-X6nAFn3WNpel7Mj979Xs4-mP0i8xevhOAwb9nfgINyAq2EzlRD2cA0Eez8hm_h-b/s1600-h/meditationhall.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXWr2fGpVSRBLKttlD5PUc4D_utte_7wcBSpR2-GkyioZpX7VYpJU-_mqvwpDhpoWX4nBkZw4cXl-X6nAFn3WNpel7Mj979Xs4-mP0i8xevhOAwb9nfgINyAq2EzlRD2cA0Eez8hm_h-b/s400/meditationhall.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363581520210189826" /></a>
<span style="font-style:italic;">His Holiness Hui Neng (638-713) </span>, who became the great Sixth Patriarch of Ch'an (Japanese Zen) was a poor illiterate peasant boy from Hsin Chou of Kwangtung. One day, after he had delivered firewood to a shop, he overheard a man reciting the following line from the "Diamond Sutra" - "Depending upon no-thing, you must find your own mind." Instantly, Hui Neng became Enlightened. The full verse said: "All Bodhisattvas (Compassionate Ones) should develop a pure mind which clings to no-thing whatsoever; and so he should establish it."<br /><br />The man who recited this sutra encouraged Hui Neng to meet the Fifth Zen Patriarch, Hung Jen, at the Tung Chian Monastery in the Huang Mei District of Chi Chou. Hui Neng said to the Fifth Patriarch: "I am a commoner from Hsin Chou Kwangtung (today, near Canton in the south of China). I have traveled far to pay you respect, and I ask for nothing but Buddhahood." "You are a native of Kwangtung, a barbarian? How can you expect to be a Buddha?" asked the Patriarch. "Although there are northern men and southern men, north and south make no difference to their Buddha Nature. A barbarian is different from Your Holiness physically, but there is no difference in our Buddha Nature." Master Hung Jen immediately accepted Hui Neng as his disciple, but he had to hide this fact from the very educated northern monks at the monastery. At the time of the Fifth Patriarch, Ch'an was still influenced by Indian Buddhism, which did not emphasize direct awakening, but the importance of study and metaphysical debates. To protect Hui Neng, the Patriarch sent him to the kitchen to split firewood and pound rice for eight months.<br /><br />One day the Fifth Patriarch told his monks to express their wisdom in a poem. Whoever had true realization of his original nature (Buddha Nature) would be ordained the Sixth Patriarch. The head monk, Shen Hsiu, was the most learned, and wrote the following:<br /><br />The body is the wisdom-tree,<br />The mind is a bright mirror in a stand;<br />Take care to wipe it all the time,<br />And allow no dust to cling.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The poem was praised, but The Fifth Patriarch knew that Shen Hsiu had not yet found his original nature, on the other hand, Hui Neng couldn't even write, so someone had to write down his poem, which read:<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Fundamentally no wisdom-tree exists,<br />Nor the stand of a mirror bright.<br />Since all is empty from the beginning,<br />Where can the dust alight<br /></span><br /><br />The Fifth Patriarch pretended that he wasn't impressed with this poem either, but in the middle of the night he summoned Hui Neng. The Fifth Patriarch gave him the insignia of his office, the Patriarch's robe and bowl (source). Hui Neng was told to leave for the South and to hide his enlightenment and understanding until the proper time arrives for him to propagate the Dharma.
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To meditate means to realize inwardly the imperturbability of the essence of mind. <br /><br />Those who train themselves for imperturbability should, in their contacts with all types of men, ignore the faults of others. <br /><br />As to the dharma, [teaching, path] this is transmitted from heart to heart, and the recipient must realize it by his own efforts. <br /><br />All depends on self-practice.... "</span></span><br /><br /><br />The Sutra Spoken by the Sixth Patriarch on the High Seat of the Treasure of the Law, otherwise known as The Platform Sutra of Hui-neng. <br /><br />Hui-neng's life-story was fortunately preserved for us in the sutra text, in the record of his first public talk, which he began as follows:<br /><br />Learned Audience, our essence of mind [literally, self-nature], which is the seed or kernel of enlightenment [bodhi], is pure by nature, and by making use of this mind alone, we can reach buddhahood directly. Now let me tell you something about my own life and how I came into possession of the esoteric teaching of the Dhyana school.<br /><br />Hui-neng said that when he heard the sentence "One should use one's mind in such a way that it will be free from any attachment," he "at once became thoroughly enlightened and realized that all things in the universe are the essence of mind itself."El Vacio Cielo ~*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/02491206995949086696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1769330633472469196.post-64296129803909848382008-06-30T10:00:00.000-07:002021-04-04T21:50:41.968-07:0049 day Ch'an retreat July 13th August 30th 2008Thousands of years ago, the Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. <br />He realized that all sentient beings possess inherent Buddha nature with the potential<br />to achieve ultimate freedom, eternal peace and perfect enlightenment <br /><br />Ch'an, widely known as Zen in the West, is directly seeing one's true mind, which is the mind of the Buddha. <br />The object of ch'an training is to realize the mind for the perception of (self-)nature.<br /><br />At Sunshine Zen Centre, one learns Buddha's teachings, Introduction to Chan Meditation and advanced meditation methods to experience Cha'n. All classes are free of charge and open to public. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Regular Meditation Schedule open to all public <br />Thursday 7- 9 pm and Sunday's from 9 -12 am <br /></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizATJ8ZDVski7ZqvfaTnLH-38Nj5s0WUrzT9Cwvv4qXUDUImOfhdJaGDYoTEDtEKL4mE4yuhI-Rf-TsCQwEaj1pftkixCo91uyFEsrormt1ruNxCzRBenFa7mW2D3QXt3BlD0fXHXl26T_/s1600-h/buddha.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizATJ8ZDVski7ZqvfaTnLH-38Nj5s0WUrzT9Cwvv4qXUDUImOfhdJaGDYoTEDtEKL4mE4yuhI-Rf-TsCQwEaj1pftkixCo91uyFEsrormt1ruNxCzRBenFa7mW2D3QXt3BlD0fXHXl26T_/s320/buddha.0.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217720857984979954" /></a><br /><br /><br />A 49 day Summer Retreat will start on July 13th 2008, under the instruction of Master Chieh Harne aka Master Henry<br />pre-registration is highly suggested, if you wish to visit for a short time drop ins will be welcome <br />please phone in advance<br /><br />The Monastery is located is located near Pender Harbour off Highway 101 on the Sunshine Coast of BC. <br />The Sunshine Coast is accessible from the rest of the Lower Mainland only by boat or airplane. Travellers aboard BC Ferries leave Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver for the 45-minute ride to Langdale on the Sechelt Peninsula. Highway 101 links Langdale with Pender Harbour, approximately 31 miles (50 km) to the northwest.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtUJLX3lyEqSmMDOTUdvZgRSGpiuey1fyVQD_lsD98NvmSuwjh_VIKNrm8d7GIPzfCaOERomF5R2eC1evG1g59wtRcILJzGGfuZegNExSIH_yDKtkoRp9pp6xilHYkh3Tu-H8Df3gw3CD/s1600-h/sunshinecoast.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtUJLX3lyEqSmMDOTUdvZgRSGpiuey1fyVQD_lsD98NvmSuwjh_VIKNrm8d7GIPzfCaOERomF5R2eC1evG1g59wtRcILJzGGfuZegNExSIH_yDKtkoRp9pp6xilHYkh3Tu-H8Df3gw3CD/s200/sunshinecoast.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217744536219455570" /></a><br /><br />We are supported by your generous donations.<br />For registration/inquiries <br />please contact <br /><br />Sunshine Zen Centre<br />11148 <br />Sunshine Coast Highway 101<br />Canada V0N 1Y2 <br />Tel/Fax:604 883 1167<br />sunshinezentemple@gmail.com<br /><br />Come and experience Cha'n with us!
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Picture
Master Henry at the
<br>Chan Hall on the opening day ceremony for the first 49 day Ch'an Retreat at the Sunshine Ch'an Temple July 13th 2008
Photo Credit
JorgeEl Vacio Cielo ~*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/02491206995949086696noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1769330633472469196.post-48083006663382536542008-06-28T15:06:00.000-07:002021-04-04T21:48:29.676-07:00Ch'anTHUS I HAVE HEARD
<br>An Ancient Master once said...<br /><br />Self-Cultivation has no other method;<br />It requires but knowledge of the Way.<br />If the Way can only be known<br />Birth and death at once will end<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK50MNLF9FmcC0zyZA0hJRNHOroiWzJh49kbG7p5xyvehogVHf4eiOfYPeI7e5DNBcJaDcRX1hzxs1GPBSUrPCkKIiZHVsIGcckGHMzAeFXFxch6LGsxM7jO0pF_ADNKwthyjis6LLVqkc/s1600-h/ChanTemple.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK50MNLF9FmcC0zyZA0hJRNHOroiWzJh49kbG7p5xyvehogVHf4eiOfYPeI7e5DNBcJaDcRX1hzxs1GPBSUrPCkKIiZHVsIGcckGHMzAeFXFxch6LGsxM7jO0pF_ADNKwthyjis6LLVqkc/s400/ChanTemple.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217059220188068130" /></a>
Ch'an began with the historical Buddha, Sakyamuni, when in his "now" famous “Flower Sermon.”
One day the Buddha took his seat before his assembled monks and, instead of speaking, remained silent while holding a single flower aloft in his hand.
Of those assembled, only one disciple Mahakashyapa (Sanskrit: “Great Kashyapa”), understood the meaning of the Buddha’s actions.
The Buddha publicly recognized Mahakashyapa’s realization and he, in turn, passed the wordless teaching along to his disciples.
Eventually the transmission passed to Bodhidharma
Bodhidharma transmitted his Mind-Seal of Dharma to China: " When Master is pointing out the Mind directly, you discover your own Original Nature is no different from Buddha's"
The Teaching given by Bodhidharma to his Dharma Heir, the Second Patriarch Hui Ko (487-593), also known as Sheng Kwang is"
<b>"Drop all discursive thoughts and all attachments. Rest your mind. Like a wall, don't be influenced by internal and external factors; only then, can you enter the Buddhist Path."
</b>
<b>According to earlier translators "Ch'an derives its name from the Chinese term channa, an attempted transliteration of the Sanskrit term dhyana (meditation, concentration)"</b>
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Master Henry & the Author of the Blog Jorge
Sunshine Ch'an Temple September 2005El Vacio Cielo ~*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/02491206995949086696noreply@blogger.com0