Thank You!

For the last two weeks, I had the opportunity to lead the student meditation group at George Mason University's Center for Consciousness and Transformation. This was an education for me, and I am delighted to have met some earnest and committed practitioners.

Thank you CCT for inviting me.

Contemplation: Mind Before Thinking

After reviewing the guidelines for practice, take this as your object of contemplation:

The Mahaparinirvana-sutra says, "All formations are permanent; this is the law of appearing and disappearing. When appearing and disappearing disappear, then this stillness is bliss." This means that when there is no appearance or disappearance in your mind, that mind is complete stillness and bliss. It is a mind utterly devoid of thinking. This is your mind before thinking arises.

Seung Sahn, The Compass of Zen, p. 231

Contemplation: Pure Lands

After reviewing the guidelines for practice, take this as your object of contemplation:

The Pure Lands mentioned in the sutra include the world we inhabit now. Buddhas and bodhisattvas view this world as a Pure Land. Ordinary sentient beings are unable to see it as such because they cannot overcome their addictions to negative patterns of self-attachment and discover this intrinsic samadhi. On the other hand, practitioners who enter the door of Ch'an would not view the world as impure, miserable, or chaotic. To them it would be a beautiful place. People who reach this level in their practice recognize beauty in everything.

Actually, it is not necessary to enter samadhi to experience such feelings. If you can put aside, for a moment, all anxieties and concerns in your mind, and just gaze upon something without discrimination, you may experience the world as a lovely place--a world that is fresh and alive. But if you have a mind that is plagued with attachment and aversion, then you will always be filled with turbulent and disturbing thoughts; nothing will appear beautiful and serene. Your mind will project an image or atmosphere of agitation which eclipses, engulfs, and keeps you from perceiving the serenity all around you.

From Master Sheng-Yen's commentary on the Sutra of Complete Enlightenment, p. 79.

If you're at GMU next week & the next...

The Center for Consciousness and Transformation at George Mason University has invited me to lead their student meditation group for the next two weeks. If you happen to be on the Fairfax campus of GMU on the 19th or the 26th of April (Tuesdays), and you would like to learn more about meditation as we practice it in the Tendai school of Buddhism, you are welcome to come on by at 12:30pm in the Multi-purpose room of Piedmont Hall.

Contemplation: the Waves and the Water

After reviewing the guidelines for practice, take this as your object of contemplation:

Someone once said, "Our sect values illuminating the mind and seeing one's nature, but [you] master are always preaching on the sutras and commentaries. Isn't that at variance with the teaching of 'direct pointing [to the mind, seeing one's nature and becoming a Buddha]?'" Tetsugen laughed and said, "Isn't what you said a little simplistic? Meditation (zen) is the water and the teachings (kyo) are the waves. When you seize onto meditation and throw away the teachings, it is like seeking the water while rejecting the waves. The teachings are the vessel and the meditation is the gold. When you seize onto the teachings and throw out meditation, it is like casting off the gold and looking for the vessel. The waves and the water are not separate. The vessel is itself the gold. Meditation and the teachings are not two things."

from The Deeds of Tetsugen, quoted in Iron Eyes by Helen J. Baroni, p. 60

Tendai Buddhism in the United Kingdom

Seishin Clark is a lay practitioner of Tendai Buddhism in the United Kingdom. His blog is very much worth your attention. Check it out here.

Contemplation: No Appearance or Disappearance

After reviewing the guidelines for practice, take this as your object of contemplation:

The Mahaparinirvana-sutra says, 'All formations are impermanent; this is the law of appearing and disappearing. When appearing and disappearing disappear, then this stillness is bliss.' This means that when there is no appearance or disappearance in your mind, that mind is complete stillness and bliss. It is a mind utterly devoid of thinking. This is your mind before thinking. [...]

It is not possible to explain this point using words and speech.

Seung Sahn, The Compass of Zen, p. 231.