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.

In addition to health benefits, what makes Chan meditation so effective, is its ability in cultivating focused and undisturbed awareness.

By observing on each chakra with undivided attention, we become more aware to our physical sensation.  And this well-focused awareness will also make us more aware of our thoughts, emotions, intentions, words, actions and spiritual well-being.

Then, this awareness will turn, beyond ourselves, to realize the true needs of others penetrating the veils of languages, logical minds, delusions and defense systems.

This awareness will allow all of us to be awakened to realize that we all have it, just some of us did not realize it.

That’s how Buddha is also called the Awakened One.

Just practice the original, traditional, orthodox, Chan meditation from China.

Buddha is enlightened while he was meditating under a Bodhi tree.  Not while he was reading.  Not while he is walking.  Not while he is talking or listening.

Perhaps, the key to enlightenment is sitting or meditation.

Perhaps, a solid understanding and technique, as well as relentless dedication and sacrifice, true abandonment of ego, absolute and constant detachment from all thoughts and forms, is just the beginning.

In Chan, we were taught “Purity, Wisdom, Fulfillment and Enlightenment.”

The first two words can be combined into just “detach from all forms”.  The second two words can be combined into just “in sync with Buddha”.

Then these last two phrase can be just “Be Buddha”.  Any teaching short of this state of being, is partial and incomplete.  

“Be Buddha” is not a mental state of attainment or visualization.  Be Buddha is a complete, total, integrated being of body, mind and spirit.  Or as our Teacher would say, the body, mind and spirit of all six trillion cells in everyone of us.

When they are all enlightened, then we are.

As we all know, the universe is nothing but a single harmonious energy. Matters are just energies in vibration.  The universe, as is, is perfect, beautiful and true.

Life is like waves in the ocean.  We only see the waves, but not the current below or the wind on top.

Chan teaches us to be directly in sync with the wind and the under current and be complete detached from the waves.

Or in Buddhist term, detach from all forms and be in sync with the Heart Of Buddha. Heart of Buddha is where both the life energy and the wisdom resides.

This way, we’ll be directly in sync with the waves.  No more need to rationalize, theorize, explain, comprehend, yell or whip.

Chan practice is the absolute practice, the direct practice, the most effective practice to let our heart shine through.