As a number of sincere practitioners have contacted me of late enquiring about the Pure Land Teachings as preserved within China - I have decided to make a simple offering of photographed pages presenting Charles Luk's expert guidance on this matter as recorded in his book entitled 'The Secrets of Chinese Meditation'. I have chosen the original (1964) hardback edition - as quite often later editions were sometimes altered here and there to suit the agenda of various publishers. This is Chapter Three (3) of that book which runs from and to pages 81=108.
0 Comments
This text is from Charles Luk's English translation of Master Xu Yun's Chinese Language biography rendered into English as 'Empty Cloud - The Biography of the Chinese Zen Master Xu Yun' (compiled by Xen Cue Lu) and edited by Richard Hunn (1988) - Published by Element Books. The Copyright to this text belongs to the Luk family - particularly Irene Luk - the daughter of Charles Luk.
Hidden Message from David Robertson:
‘Dear Fellow Brits – I cannot speak openly. I am forwarding this message hidden in a standard Falun Gong Cult propaganda email seeking ‘new’ converts to be abused by senior members. Although Li Hongzhi prefers underage girls – others prefer ‘men’ or even ‘boys’ – so you can guess my purpose! Please spread this message so that as many victims of this cult can be rescued! Many have already risked their lives getting this message out to you!’ Dear David The Falun Gong Culthttps://thesanghakommune.org/category/anti-falun-gong-cult/ I am glad to receive your call for help! It must be terrible to be kept trapped in such a despicable and deplorable CULT that traffics men, women and children as SLAVES – and uses some of the younger girls as SEX SLAVES for Li Hongzhi and his fellow CULT-LEADERS tucked away in his CIA-paid for luxury house and living complex in LA! As the Falun Gong Cult has not been allowed out on the streets of the UK for sometime due to the Covid19 pandemic – their US-paymasters have authorised ‘direct’ contacts by email and even letters! Although Li Hongzhi suffers from a mental illness whereby he perceives himself as ‘god’ in the Christian image – the Falun Gong Cult is now attempting to contact legitimate ‘Buddhist’ groups and organisations in the hope that its criminal structure will be misinterpreted as a ‘Buddhist’ or even ‘Asian’ entity – when in fact it operates on a strict ‘Eurocentric’ and ‘White Supremacist’ footing that seeks to overthrow the sovereign government of China and replace it with a US-dominated alternative. Like the European practice of ‘Black-Face’ or pantomime ‘Chinesery’ – the Falun Gong is a dangerous mixture of the White appropriation and White mimicry of Chinese culture – in the service of money laundering, theft, kidnap, slavery, paedophilia, rape, sexual abuse, torture and fraud, etc. But David – DO NOT WORRY – as the tide is turning and more and more Western people are reporting the Falun Gong Cult to the Police and various other anti-Cult Authorities! Indeed, in an attempt to rescue you – I have passed on your details to the Met Police and to various ‘Cult Watch’ groups and rescue committees. We understand that the conditions of your enslavement by the Falun Gong Cult means that you cannot speak or act freely and that you will be expected to ‘deny’ what is happening to you or face further punishment! All this we thoroughly understand and we want you not to worry as we will do everything in our power to rescue you and your fellows prisoners who are trapped in the dark and dangerous world of the Falun Gong Cult! David – please remain strong and try not to hurt any one else in the name of the Falun Gong Cult! As we work to get you out it is important that you contribute toward your own freedom through small acts of imperceptible disobedience! Do not hurt that child – release that kidnap victim – say NO to drugs! Above all – stop the racist lies against China, the Chinese people and the esteemed Communist Party of China! With Best Wishes Richard Hunn Association for Ch’an Study Fighting the Falun Gong Cult in the UK since 2004! On Wed, 8 Sep 2021, at 16:56, David Robertson wrote: Esteemed fellow Buddhist cultivator, (REMEMBER WE ARE FORCED TO SAY THESE LIES!) – Falun Dafa practitioners do not strike back when hit, nor do they talk back when insulted. But we must speak out to raise awareness about the current persecution that Falun Dafa is subject to in its country of origin – China. The practice is banned in China although millions of people still cultivate in secret. If found to be cultivating this peaceful, harmless, righteous and compassionate Buddhist practice, the Chinese government imprisons, tortures and ‘re-educates’ the person according to the Chinese Communist Party ideology. Tens of thousands of innocent people are currently being held in detention camps. Many people and their families have been tortured and killed.Falun Dafa (or Great Law) is an ancient Buddhist meditation system made public by Master Li Hongzhi (PLEASE SEE ENCLOSED MESSAGE FOR THE FACTS). It is based on the characteristics of the universe – truthfulness, compassion and forbearance. It cultivates both mind and body. The main focus of cultivation is on developing virtue by perfecting the quality of one’s character, thus lifting the constraints to reaching tranquility and accelerating spiritual progress. (REMEMBER WE ARE FORCED TO SAY THESE LIES!) – Falun Dafa practitioners do not strike back when hit, nor do they talk back when insulted. But we must speak out to raise awareness about the current persecution that Falun Dafa is subject to in its country of origin – China. The practice is banned in China although millions of people still cultivate in secret. If found to be cultivating this peaceful, harmless, righteous and compassionate Buddhist practice, the Chinese government imprisons, tortures and ‘re-educates’ the person according to the Chinese Communist Party ideology. Tens of thousands of innocent people are currently being held in detention camps. Many people and their families have been tortured and killed. (REMEMBER WE ARE FORCED TO SAY THESE LIES!) – Falun Dafa practitioners do not strike back when hit, nor do they talk back when insulted. But we must speak out to raise awareness about the current persecution that Falun Dafa is subject to in its country of origin – China. The practice is banned in China although millions of people still cultivate in secret. If found to be cultivating this peaceful, harmless, righteous and compassionate Buddhist practice, the Chinese government imprisons, tortures and ‘re-educates’ the person according to the Chinese Communist Party ideology. Tens of thousands of innocent people are currently being held in detention camps. Many people and their families have been tortured and killed.The Chinese people are fearful of speaking out and the world is mostly unaware due to the secretive nature of the Chinese government. The Chinese government has complete control over the media and uses it to disseminate propaganda, accusations and misinformation about Falun Dafa to maintain the persecution. Many world governments know the details of the persecution and human rights violations occurring in China, but they do not raise the issue due to fear of economic repercussion from the arrogant Communist Regime. (REMEMBER WE ARE FORCED TO SAY THESE LIES!) – Falun Dafa practitioners do not strike back when hit, nor do they talk back when insulted. But we must speak out to raise awareness about the current persecution that Falun Dafa is subject to in its country of origin – China. The practice is banned in China although millions of people still cultivate in secret. If found to be cultivating this peaceful, harmless, righteous and compassionate Buddhist practice, the Chinese government imprisons, tortures and ‘re-educates’ the person according to the Chinese Communist Party ideology. Tens of thousands of innocent people are currently being held in detention camps. Many people and their families have been tortured and killed.We hope that this book (attached) will be a valuable gift to clarify the teachings of Falun Dafa, strengthen the wisdom and compassion of Buddhist practitioners around the world, and raise awareness of this evil persecution of Falun Dafa. Please send your loving-kindness and righteous thoughts. We hope the teachings offered will help the reader to greater heights in their cultivation and promote a greater understanding of the vast Buddha Law throughout the world. THE AUTHENTIC BUDDHIST ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE WORLD HAVE ROUNDLY ‘CONDEMNED’ THE FALUN GONG CULT AS A DANGEROUS CULT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GENUINE BUDDHIST TEACHINGS! ONLY CHRISTIANS REFUSE TO ‘FIGHT’ WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES DEMAND – LAY-BUDDHISTS EVEN HAVE SUTRAS EXPLAINING HOW THEY SHOULD FIGHT AND CLEAN THEIR MIND! Master Xu Yun (1840-1959) was adamant that everyone follows the Vinaya Discipline. Of course, although the Buddhist monastics have to follow all the hundreds of rules – the laity have to follow fewer (minus the ‘celibacy’) rules – but those that are followed are still ‘Vinaya’ rules. This is as well as the Bodhisattva Vows - which monastics and laity generally follow (as they do not demand ‘celibacy’). Therefore, a firm ‘moral’ (Sila) base is established that limits bodily movements and assist in the ‘stilling’ of the mind. Buddhist morality advocates psychological and moral ‘non-attachment' to worldly sensation. This in-turn prevents a stimulation of the mind that generates and encourages greed, hatred and delusion. With the three-taints ‘cut-off’ - the practitioner can effectively focus all their efforts upon looking within and realising the empty mind ground. Furthermore, there is a belief within Buddhist culture that by following a morally pure existence an individual guarantees a good rebirth either as a human-being or in one of the divine ‘heavens’ reserved for people who have acquired very good karma but who are not yet enlightenment. Taking this model into account, a devout ‘Buddhist’ guarantees a future rebirth free of the suffering generally associated with the lower realms of demi-gods, spirits and hungry ghosts, etc. Simply following moral rules, however, does not guarantee enlightenment even if it does generate a morally pure behaviour and conduct. Unless a Buddhist practitioner ‘looks’ firmly and carefully into the interior of the mind – and perceives the empty mind ground – no mind-development can take place. This means that although following arbitrary rules of conduct creates pure karma – this process in and of itself does not break the practitioner ‘free’ of the ‘samsaric’ cycles within which humanity in trapped. Just as the moral force of good karma eventually runs-out – an individual is then propelled back into the lower realms of existence to start the process all over again. This means that ‘suffering’ is transformed in a number of ways – but is never transcended and overcome. The Buddha’s path requires that the ridge-pole of karmic ignorance is permanently ‘broken’ once and for all, and for this to happen, morally purifying action must be undertaken so that the Buddha’s meditational methods can be fully applied in an efficient manner. If a person immorally behaves in the world and reinforces greed, hatred and delusion, then no amount of meditation will ‘uproot’ the three-taints and ‘clear’ the surface mind. Indeed, in such a situation, meditation in such a situation might well have the effect of strengthening and magnifying the three-taints and making their presence ever more obvious and domineering! Precepts, therefore, only work if the attention of the mind is firmly ‘turned within’ so that the meditator can clearly perceive the underlying reality of the empty mind ground. This is the exercising of the ‘Mind Precept’ as taught by Master Xu Yun and which is part of the Caodong Ch’an tradition. This is clearly explained throughout the Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra whilst never being mentioned by name. Unless the Buddhist method is being firmly applied to the mind – then all the precepts are relegated to ‘karma-purifiers’ and lose their enlightening function as ‘mind-realisers’. The hua tou and the gongan, for instance, are Ch’an methods for effectively ‘looking within’ - and it is through ‘looking within’ that the ‘Mind Precept’ is established. The empty mind ground is the essence of a) the mind and b) all phenomena. This means that all the hundreds of precepts of the Vinaya Discipline have the empty mind ground as their origination – with the understanding that this can only be known by ‘looking within’ and realising it as being so. By ‘looking within’ - the surface mind is ‘stilled’ and greed, hatred and delusion is fully and permanently ‘uprooted’. The emptiness of the mind eventually expands and becomes ‘all-embracing’ as it envelops all phenomena. This is how the ‘Mind Precept’ underlies all precepts and should serve as the foundation of genuine Buddhist self-discipline.
When deploying the Ch'an Method in the West - it is often the case the the recipient does comprehend even the most basic requirements of Ch'an! This is despite shaving their heads, wearing robes and hiding behind foreign names... They think this dualistic attitude is Ch'an and the legitimate Ch'an Method is nothing but a dualistic attitude! Such people defend their ego and want their teachers to defend their egos also. Anyone who displays genuine Ch'an, however, is treated by these people as 'errors' and individuals who possess no 'wisdom' or 'liberating ability!' This if the False Ch'an that is popular, well funded, and very popular. By comparison, genuine Ch'an works from the shadows and influences existence without seeking recognition or even being understood that it is present! Void is forever present, but False Ch'an resides strictly within the realm of 'Form' to which it is attached. Genuine Ch'an is effective because it underlies all phenomena without discrimination. Even False Ch'an arises from the empty mind ground but its practitioners do not want to know this or realise it for themselves, and remain stuck within the world of material attachment. With such profound stupidity - there is not even enough stable area to administer thirty blows with a stick!
This are practices within Chinese Buddhist traditions and were emphasised by Master Xu Yun (1840-1959) - particularly as a means to eradicate any corruption that had arisen in various monastic communities – either in essence or in practice. Master Xu Yun taught that all Ch’an monastic communities must be ‘non-attached’ to events of the world and hold no overt political opinions. As the Buddha-Dharma is beyond such changing conditions – there should be nothing that delays a monastic cultivating enlightenment in the world and adjusting themselves to circumstance. It is the Dharma that is paramount and not the expedient world (which passes across the surface of the mind like so many substanceless clouds). Fighting for justice in the world is really defending the Dharma in all situations. This must be achieved through Dharmic methods that are free of greed, hatred and delusion. Whereas the Roman Catholic Church in China refused to subordinate itself to the ‘new’ Chinese government in 1955/1956 (causing all kinds of trouble amongst the people) - Master Xu Yun firmly stated that the Chinese Buddhist establishment must never oppose the Chinese government and align itself with ‘foreign’ movements that do not have the best interests of the Chinese people as their guiding ideology! How is this attitude achieved? Master Xu Yun stated that the ‘Fivefold Mediation’, the ‘Three Cumulative Conditions’ and the ‘Ten Prohibitions’ must be correctly cultivated so that there is no doubt: The Fivefold Meditation Consists of the following profound achievements: 1) The ‘Real’ is directly realised as the ‘Empty Mind Ground’ (noumenon). 2) The ‘strength’ and ‘purity’ of such insight ‘wipes-out’ all transient phenomena. 3) The realisation of an all-embracing wisdom equals the perfect ‘integration’ of ‘form’ (phenomena) with ‘void’ (noumena). 4) Within this enlightened reality is the inherent element of infinite compassion for the liberation of all beings. 5) This infinite compassion is permeated with universal kindness for all beings. (Much of this Ch’an approach is maintained in the Brahmajala Sutra – the Sutra of the Bodhisattva Rules). The Three Cumulative Conditions: 1) Do no evil in word, deed or thought. 2) Do only good in word, deed and thought. 3) Continuously benefit all sentient beings in word, deed and thought. (Distillation of the Bodhisattva Vows). The Ten Prohibitions:
1) Not to take life. 2) Not to steal. 3) Not to commit adultery. 4) Not to lie. 5) Not to take intoxicating liquor. 6) Not to take food out of regulated hours. 7) Not to use garlands or perfumes. 8) Not to sleep on high or broad beds. 9) Not to witness or participate in sing or dancing. 10) To refrain from handling minted (or non-minted) gold. (This is a condensation of the Vinaya Rules) English Language Reference: Charles Luk: Empty Cloud, The Autobiography of the Chinese Zen Master Xu Yun, Edited by Richard Hunn, Element, (1988), Pages 198-201 Dear Ben
Wilhelm's translation was ground-breaking - but remains a snapshot of his own ideas and misunderstandings. Yes - it is a good literal translation - word for word - but makes no sense when read because he did not really know (or understand) the historical, cultural and philosophical context of a) each hexagram and b) each hexagram in relation to the totality of the 'meaning' of the Yijing. How could he know these things? He was a German; Protestant Christian and this upbringing does not automatically confer an innate cultural understanding about certain aspects of China's feudalistic past! The scope of Wilhelm's achievement is often used to obscure the deviancies of his translations and the hopeless trap of 'Eurocentrism' he often got himself into. For instance, Hexagram 52 (䷳) is symbolic of a 'mountain' placed over a 'mountain' and is referred to as '艮' (gen4). However, his misunderstanding of Buddhist 'nirvana' is laughable but thought 'quaint' in the West! Both mountains assert a joint (simultaneous) 'downward' pressure from which neither can escape. Therefore, 'stillness' is achieved due to there being a 'rootedness' present - a certain gravitas operating equally through the mind, body and environment. A true scholar has aligned his or her bone-structure through calming the mind and allowing the bodyweight to drop into the ground through the feet - whilst passing through the centre of the bone (and stimulating the bone-marrow). Although this normally elicits a 'rebounding' force as the bodyweight bounces of the floor it impacts - in this instance the 'downward' force is so powerful that the onus is always 'toward the ground'. This should represent a time of extraordinary psychological and physical 'discipline' OR 'oppression' in the outer physical world that can be used as a form of inner 'discipline' as a means of coping with the pressure. Hexagram 52 is like perpetually 'drawing a bow' and yet never letting the arrow 'fly'... There is a perfect 'stillness' within movement - with such a build-up of explosive energy, what will happen next? As for the name of the hexagram - '艮' (gen4) - the upper particle '目' (mu4) represents an 'eye' on a 'face' - whilst the lower particle '匕' (bi3) which historically represents a type of deep and wide 'spoon' (common in China) as well as a 'dagger' - or stabbing implement. There is also the suggestion of an individual 'firing an arrow' or being 'struck by an arrow' - whilst on occasion this ideogram might be written as '妣' (bi3) which represents a 'post-humous' designation for one's deceased mother. Sometimes, there is a discord between the symbolic meaning of the hexagrams and the ideograms used to describe that meaning. Why is this? It could be that as time has gone by, scribes have either accidently miscopied texts by hand, or misunderstood the meaning of what they were copying and made unnecessary corrections and adjustments assuming they were putting right previous errors, etc. It could also be that as time progresses the assumed overt or implied meaning of a hexagram has undergone evolutionary development and that this has created a discord between the inherent meaning of the hexagram and the obvious meaning of the descriptive ideogram. Of course, looking at we have there are two references to weaponry (dagger and arrow), one reference to an eating implement whilst another reference is to being 'dead'. However, we must not forget that an 'eye' is watching over all that unfolds. A weapon and a spoon require mastery if combat (and cooking) is to be truly mastered. Furthermore, when a person 'dies' their body becomes 'still'. A weapon can 'kill' - but before it does the user must perfect is usage which requires a knowledge of 'when' (action) and 'when not' (stillness) to use it. The bow may be drawn but yet fired. If there is no food to eat, one becomes 'still' and ceases to 'move'. A spoon can serve food that exists or remain 'still' when no food is forthcoming. This hexagram seems to indicate the self-aware ability of remaining both inwardly and outwardly 'still' when circumstances a) allow for it, or are b) demand it. Just some thoughts. With Metta Adrian Dear Jacques
Charles Luk (1898-1978) was born in Guangdong - an area of international interaction. During the pro-Western Nationalist Revolution of 1911/12 - he would have been around 13-14 years of age. Even prior to this, he may well have been exposed to English settlement (and schooling) in the Guangzhou area. He remained very tight-lipped about his education - possibly because it may have been missionary-based and he did not believe in the Western religion. From what I gather, Charles studied under a Mongolian Lama who lived in the Sichuan area of South-West China (where millions of Tibetans also live). He was interested in the Phowa method of consciousness-transformation at the point of death. This had no bearing on his training with Master Xu Yun (1840-1959). Ch'an and Phowa are two independent and different methods - with Phowa being a preparation for the dying procedure - although traditionally Ch'an Master did not require this. Within China, the current biography of Master Xu Yun is much longer than that translated compiled by Cen Xue Lu and translated by Charles Luk - which is now out of date despite being the only blue-print available in the West. Empty Cloud conveys the basic story even though there are some errors, etc. https://icbi.weebly.com/chrsquoan-master-jing-hui---history-of-master-xu-yunrsquos-complete-biographical-text.html One of my Chinese students presented me with a 'new' version and it is very interesting - giving a more all round perspective. Xen Xue Lu also altered the text slightly to give a certain bias toward the reading - as did Charles Luk. Neither were happy with Xu Yun's criticism of Tibetan Buddhism or Christianity! It is also interesting to note the complete absence of the recording of the Nationalist destruction of the Shaolin Temple (in Henan) during 1928 - the traditional home of Ch'an Buddhism in China! Cen Xue Lu admits in his biography that he once worked for the Nationalist government which pursued a policy of clearing land of temples to build housing, schools and hospitals, etc, a policy he later rejected as a 'mistake'. Charles Luk removed Xu Yun's letter to Chiang Kai-Shek criticising his embracing of the foreign religion of Christianity: https://wenshuchan-online.weebly.com/xu-yunrsquos-letter-to-chiang-kai-shek.html Both scholars retained the majority of Xu Yun's text and certainly did not alter his teaching method directly - but through omissions and the strategic placing of details, a certain politic trajectory is established through the editing and translation processes - giving the mistaken impression that such an interpretation was present in Xu Yun's original text - when in fact Xu Yun was very careful to be 'apolitical' whilst dealing directly with what was going on around him. In other words, the political sway of Empty Cloud represents the politics of the era as interpreted by Cen Xue Lu and Charles Luk (both of whom ended-up living in the British Colony of Hong Kong). Best Wishes Adrian |
Archives
March 2024
Categories
All
|