Chan Heart

- a reply to Jim -

To be a Buddha, there are three steps: Awaken Oneself, Awaken Others, Fulfillment of Awakened Acts, as literally translated from Chinese sutra.  In English I would say Nirvana is rid of all sufferings.  Awakened to Buddha Nature is just as is.  Enlightenment is the combination of Nirvana & Awakening. To reach Buddhahood, then abundant merits is needed.  There is a saying in our lineage, Buddha’s heart is the hearts of all sentient beings.

Chi is in the energy domain, while words, concept, logic, theory is in the word domain.  These two domains don’t intersect. The word domain tries hard to describe the energy domain, it is risky and incomplete.  The world actually operates only in the energy domain - the planets, our body, molecules, fire, water, sunshine, happiness, etc. This is what Huandi-Neijing is trying to tell us in scientific language, focus on the energy, which is the enabler.  Similarly, Chinese doctors focus on the flow of chi, while western doctors focus on organs.

My witness with chi based meditation is that I can connect with others.  Many of us can “physically sense” the transmission from my Teacher.  We all can heal at some degrees.  At medicare age, I have not seen a doctor for 10 years and takes no medication.  My body seems able to rejuvenate itself. I am able to live as closely as to as is.  Every two three month, I discovered something new about my body, mind or spirit.

All these are occurring without trying to comprehend, analyze, thinking about it.  Chan is nothing but the law of nature.  Everything will gradually unfold to us as we transform our body from physical form into energy form and quiet our mind. Only then can we live in the energy domain and not be misguided by our mind.  Chan is a total experience of body, mind and spirit.  They are inseparable. And not just during meditation, but 24/7 in every moment.

As we quiet our mind and enhance our chi, we live closer to the will of the universe.  Inspirations and intuitions surface, by then brain becomes our slave instead of our master. Every phenomenon becomes clearer. Every moment becomes unique.

When there is no expectation, no assumption, no memory, our hearts open to a fresh horizon.