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Mind To Mind Transmission. Richard Hunn (right) with Author - Sept 2004 - UK.
In 2004, during one of his yearly visits to the UK, Richard Hunn and Shi Da Dao (pictured left), discussed the possibility of creating a web-presence for master Xu Yun and Charles Luk that was simple and unabtrusive. The motivation of this act was to make freely available for any who needs it, the authentic Ch'an teachings of the Buddha, master Xu Yun and the Ch'an Patriarchs. To this end the 'Chinese Ch'an Buddhism Association' was created, and many differents parts of Charles Luk's translations were copy-typed on to this forum. From 2002 until 2004 - both Richard Hunn and Shi Da Dao offered written instruction through the forum - Richard Hunn from Kyoto, Japan, and Shi Da Dao from the UK. This changed in 2006 with Richard Hunn's sad passing. At this time, the forum was renamed the 'Richard Hunn Association for Ch'an Study', out of respect for Richard Hunn. This forum is called the 'Ch'an Forum' and may be accessed through the link to the left. Near to the end of his life, Richard Hunn was becoming ever more aware of the potential Dharma power of the internet. Perhaps Xu Yun and Charles Luk might have likened it to Indra's Net - a network of immediate connectivity - regardless of circumstance or geographical location. Richard Hunn was very keen not to get enmeshed into concretised concepts such as groups and associations that are motivated and controlled by the concerns of petty ego and greed. Ch'an is 'here and now', wherever one happens to be. There is no discrimination in the Mind Ground (心地-xinti) and all physical contrivances are temporary and pass away. Any one can realise the Mind Ground and free themselves from the suffering that dualistic thinking inflicts. An act, a word, or a phrase can serve to 'turn the mind' at its deepest level. One does not have travel, join a group or dress a certain way to access the all-embracing and empty 'oneness' that contains all things. The answer is 'here and now'.
Ch'an is a personal affair. The eyes are closed and the inner terrain is both engaged and explored. The internet, forums, chat-rooms and social networking are useful in life, but like every physical thing, it is empty and does not contain any permanent substance - it is an illusion of the senses. Like the ordinary life of the senses. the internet is good, neutral and bad. With regards to the Dharma, and Ch'an inparticularly, the internet is an expedient skillful means and attachments to it should not be made. The human mind should remain serene and independent in its presence. It is like the raft the Buddha speaks about in the Dhammapada, when it has performed its function of traversing the great river it must be laid aside. Ch'an has nothing to do with words, and yet it is through words (and silence) that enlightenment is found. The Ch'an masters use the 'language of the uncreate', that is a presentation of words that 'unlock' the inner mind and disentangle it from its own delusions. This is important and has no meaning. Form and void are not separate states. |