Revered by Buddhists in the United States and China, contemporary Master Sheng-yen shares his wisdom and teachings in this first comprehensive English primer of Chan, the Chinese tradition of Buddhism that inspired Japanese Zen. Often misunderstood as a system of mind games, the Chan path involves a process of self-transformation grounded in carefully hewn spiritual disciplines and premises. Master Sheng-yen provides an unprecedented understanding of Chan, its precepts, and its practice. Beginning with a basic overview of Buddhism and meditation, the book then details the progressive mental exercises traditionally followed by all Buddhists. Known as the Three Disciplines, these procedures develop moral purity, meditative concentration, and enlightening insight through the "stilling" of the mind. Master Sheng-yen then expounds Chan Buddhism, recounting its centuries-old history in China and illuminating its fundamental tenets. He contemplates the nature of Buddhahood, specifies the physical and mental prerequisites for beginning Chan practice, and humbly considers what it means to be an enlightened Chan master.

Hoofprint of the Ox: Principles of the Chan Buddhist Path as Taught by a Modern Chinese Master

Religion & Spirituality

Sheng-Yen, Master

Buddhism

Oxford University Press

Zen, in Chinese, is Ch'an. In Zen Wisdom, renowned Ch'an Master Sheng-yen, speaks to his students' questions about Practice, Philosophy and Doctrine, and Social Issues. He guides them through the difficult waters of contradiction. "Ch'an masters acknowledge intelligence and learning." he says. But, "the enlightened state that Ch'an speaks of is beyond thinking, words and symbols. It cannot be described and it cannot be understood through deductive reasong... Ch'an masters teach their students to leave behind all concepts, so they might experience enlightenment for themselves." "Ironically, enlightened beings use reasoning, intelligence and language to help others practice. To communicate the benefits of Ch'an, they use tools based on knowledge and experience." "Intelligence before enlightenment id intelligence with attachment. Wisdom is intelligence without attachment." --- from book's back cover

Zen Wisdom : Knowing and Doing

Politics & Social Sciences

Shengyan

Philosophy

Dharma Drum Pubns

Complete Enlightenment is the first authoritative translation and commentary on The Sutra of Complete Enlightenment, a central text that shaped the development of East Asian Buddhism and Ch'an (Chinese Zen). The text is set in the form of a transcription of discussions between the Buddha and the twelve enlightened beings(bodhisattvas), who question him on all aspects of spiritual practice. This new translation preserves all the liveliness and nuance of the text in the original Chinese. The sutra's ancient wisdom is brought to life by the commentaries of Master Sheng-yen, one of the most revered living Buddhist masters in the Ch'an lineage. This is truly a manual for the spiritual journey toward complete enlightenment, providing the key to the deep, poetic, and practical meanings of the scripture.

Complete Enlightenment: Zen Comments on the Sutra of Complete Enlightenment

Shambhala

An insider's guide to the principles of Chan – or Chinese Zen – this book gives unfiltered access to the kind of illuminating experience with a Zen Master that is usually only available to a few fortunate practitioners. Having originated in China in the 6th century, Chan Buddhism is now growing rapidly in popularity, much of which can be attributed to its open, accepting attitude and its focus on a choice of meditative practices to best suit each individual. With the bulk of the text made up of edited transcripts of the teachings at two major retreats led in Wales in 1989 and 1995 by the then-head of the movement, Master Sheng Yen, this jewel of a book offers a rare glimpse inside both the ancient teachings and the contemporary practice of Chan. Words like 'enlightenment' rarely pass the lips of Master Sheng Yen. Instead, he makes it clear that his retreats are for the development of practice, to realize one is not in control of one's own mind, to discover how to train one's mind in awareness, to calm the mind, and to replace ignorance with insight. Commentary by Sheng Yen's much respected Western disciple John Crook gives full context to the teachings and provides a fascinating account of the practical aspects of a retreat of this nature, including the meditative practices of watching the breath, counting the breath and of 'Silent Illumination' that lies at the heart of Chinese Zen. In so doing the atmosphere of such a retreat is powerfully evoked, especially when Crook recounts the experiences and impacts of his own years of practice.

Illuminating Silence: Insights on the Path of Chinese Zen

Watkins Publishing

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