Richard Hunn (1949-2006) passed away 17-years ago (as of October 1st, 2023). He was just 57-years old - having suffered from a short but devastating illness (Pancreatic Cancer). As with any good Ch'an Master - Rixhard Hunn tended to refuse any formal titles or awards - as he felt such baubles weighed-down a practitioner diverting the awareness away from the 'host' and toward the 'guest'! Besides, Charles Luk bestowed upon him the Dharma-Name of 'Wen Shu' - the name of the Bodhisattva Manjushri who appears all the way throughout the Buddhist Sutras - spreading his 'wisdom' and 'compassion' to all and sundry! After emigrating to Japan in 1991, Richard Hunn decided to carry-out a pilgrimage to Mount Fuji! For reasons only known to himself - this journey was carried-out in the depths of Winter - when the wind blew and the snow fell! When things were looking bleak - a person appeared out of nowhere and helped Richard Hunn seek-out assistance! A passing Senior Police Officer decided to take Richard into Custody whilst he investigated his background and motives. He was surprised when Richard started to converse with him in the Japanese language. When the Officer had sat and discussed Zen for an hour in a comfortable Police Station (whilst Richard was given a warm meal and drink) - The Officer ordered that Richard be driven to the peak of Mount Fuji and given a hotel room usually reserved for the Police! This was apparently out of respect for Richard's understanding of Zen - and his mastery of the Japanese language!

Interestingly, around 2002 Richard visited my family home in Sutton (South London). I eventually introduced him to my Hakka Chinese grandmother - and to my astonishment he started talking to her in the Hakka language! She was taken by as much surprise as was I! Apparently, he had known a number of Hakka Chinese people at Essex University (I believe from Malaysia) who were members of the University's Chinese Buddhist Association. This ethnic Chinese group actually voted Richard to be the 'President' - the only non-Chinese person to have held that post up to that point! I believe this was during the late 1970s - when he also participated in the Multicultural Department of BBC's Pebble Mill (a general education and entertainment programme). Richard often arranged for British Buddhist content to be filmed and broadcast. He was personally responsible for a documentary covering the Thai Buddhist Temple (Buddhapadipa) situated in Wimbledon! Richard Hunn had spent an extended time sat meditating in that temple - with the Thai Head Monk suggesting that he became a Theravada Buddhist monastic! I watched this programme as a child - and only many years later would I meet Richard Hunn - and eventually take my place in the Meditation Hall of Buddhapadipa! Charles Luk had said that the empty mind ground underlies ALL circumstances an that it does not matter where we train just as long as we effectively 'look within' with a proper intensity and direction!

Whilst Richard Hunn was establishing himself in Japan - he suggested that I travel to a Theravada country and train 'at the source', so-to-speak. This is how I ended-up training under Mangala Thero (in 1996) at the Ganga Ramaya Temple (in Beruwela) - situated in Sri Lanka. I have subsequently discovered that Mangala Mahathero has passed away after spending the last decade of his life living and meditating in isolation. I am told that Richard Hunn would sit 'still' for hours on end in various Zen Temples throughout the Kyoto area. Although outwardly he was practicing 'Zen' - inwardly he was practicing 'Caodong' Ch'an - the preferred lineage of Master Xu Yun (1840-1959). Although none of us know how long we will be on this Earth - we must remain vigilant and use our time effectively and productively! Not a single second must be wasted when it comes to self-cultivation! Instead of reading this board - look within! At this time of year I usually contact Richard's widow - Taeko - and offer my respects!

At certain times it seems more appropriate to remember particular events - whilst at others it is more in keeping (and more opportune) to just let certain dates and times to quietly go by without making any comment. Ch'an certainly has no interest in the conventions of the world - and Ch'an Masters even less! Bodies come into existence and then pass-away - utilising various time-frames inbetween. Society 'measures' these time-spans for scientific reasons - but all the Ch'an Method is concerned about is that each individual 'realises' the empty mind ground! Remembering the physical existence - and the 'joy' Richard Hunn's presence in the world symbolised - the Ch'an Method insists that we 'remember' to 'look' within so that we can directly perceive the 'empty mind ground' with clarity and without interruption! Richard Hunn lived for fifty-seven years and every one of those years emerged from (and eventually returned to) the empty mind ground. This image above, for instance, is a bridge situated in the remote and surrounding (mountainous) areas outside of the City of Kyoto - the place he lived within from 1991-2006. Richard Hunn was engaged in studying the origins of Chinese Ch'an in Japan - and whilst doing this he visited many and numerous Zen Temples and was introduced to 'old' ethnic Japanese martial arts teachers who lived in seclusion whilst practicing 'Chinese' martial arts systems 'outside' of the official grading system of 'coloured belts' authorised by the Japanese Government (usually possessing only a single disciple whose family possessed the financial means to support this sibling and his or her Master). Such Japanese teachers have to live in a remote and simplistic poverty as a form of 'punishment' - as such individuals are not entitled to the generous financial, material and political support afforded to the so-called 'Japanese' martial arts systems 'preferred' by the Japanese Establishment! The point is that Richard Hunn studied a broad segment of Japanese culture - making his living teaching the English language and English literature at Kyoto University. He travelled widely throughout Japan - lived in an old Samurai Cottage - and made effective attempts to see 'through' the preferences and bias of modern Japanese culture - seeing the Chinese roots of much of Japanese culture that is now denied, ridiculed or even actively negated in Japan! In the material realms of study, science and academia all this data collecting is of vital research importance - but none of it transcends the need for the Ch'an Method and the need to effectively 'look' within! This is why I remember the two sides of Richard Hunn - the academic who traversed the material environment making important notes and observations - and the Ch'an Master who effectively 'looked' within, whilst helping others to do the same! 

Dear Gee

​What is interesting is that after decades of effective inner and outer martial arts practice, I have arrived at a profound 'stable' state of mind, body and spirit (whatever that is). This journey has traversed many inner and outer levels or states of being. Mostly, this has included a logical approach to physical training motivated by 'doubt' a) in the process itself, and b) in my ability to keep-up the practice or c) to carry-out the prescribed practice correctly. This 'doubt' was inward whilst the physical 'outer' Chinese martial arts techniques were superb and highly effective. This 'doubt' (which ceased to function about 14-years-ago in c. 2007) acted like a force of magnetism drawing my 'uncertain' inner-being toward to the solid and stable outer-structure of the martial arts techniques and how they might be used in self-defence (function) and mind and body health and fitness (longevity). There is now a great awareness. A great all-embracing sense of psychological being that appears to be united with mind, body and environment. This unity I term 'spiritual' because all this seems 'transcendent'. Of course, whilst being driven on by the inner doubt to practice physical martial arts (as a form of 'armouring' against external attack), I also committed myself to intense Ch'an meditative practice as a means to 'uproot' this doubt which all motivating throughout my entire life to 'take action' in many different arenas - it also contained an element of 'weakness'. As I interpreted this 'weaknesses' as a major problem that a) held me back in a state of fearful 'non-action', or b) sabotaged physical actions so as to render all exertion completely pointless! The mind 'cleared' and 'expanded' - it became all-embracing so that the body stopped appearing to be 'outside' of it and took its place entirely within psychological awareness. Although I had my initial experiences of the realisation of a 'still' and 'empty' mind with its awareness expanding and embracing all things around 1990 - it took another 15-years for this experience to settle-down (2005), and about another two or three years for all vestiges of 'doubt' to completely dissolve (2007/8). What did happen around 1990, however, is that my physical use of outer Chinese martial arts technique deepened, expanded and matured, and since the time of 'teaching' in my own right (as opposed to 'training' under a teacher) - I have never lost a fight in the training hall. (Around a year before this experience, I was following a strict Chinese (Mahayana) Buddhist 'monastic' regime and sitting in meditation for hours a day practicing the hua tou 'Who is hearing?' Suddenly, whilst sitting in my 'cell' and without warning, my mind 'ceased to move' becomingly utterly and completely 'still'. This was accompanied by deep sense of permanent ecstasy! My Chinese teachers correctly taught me with 'silence' - whilst my Western teacher Richard Hunn (1949-2006) - my Western Ch'an teacher - correctly taught me with words! Ironically, he drew my attention to the authentic Chinese Ch'an texts. 'Neither be attached to the (realised) inner void - nor hindered by (the 'external') hindering phenomena'. It was deep within the 'silence' of my Chinese Ch'an Masters (including Chan Tin Sang [1924-1993] that I discovered the poignant meaning of Richard Hunn's spiritually 'vibrant' words. This is how I knew that Richard Hunn was correct in his understanding. Later, this dual instruction [into non-duality] led to the next shift in perspective This occurred a year later after a further period of intense practice, and was a product of a complete change or 'turning about' [see the 'Lankavatara Sutra'] at the deepest essence of the mind. It was such a profound and important 'first principle' that I nearly omitted it from the list of all the important events! I was once meditating sat on the ground outside 'returning' all sensory data 'back to its 'empty ground' essence - when a cool and refreshing Summer's freeze blew gently across my face. Suddenly, my mind instantaneously 'turned the right way around' immediately abandoning its previous 'inverted' functionality and appeared to 'expand', assume an 'all-embracing' position of being, whilst this 'new awareness' thoroughly permeated the physical-body and penetrated the physical universe throughout the past, present, and future! This permanent shift in psychological and physical manifestation changed 'me' from the DNA-chemical foundation upward and influenced all the views and opinions I now hold!) This includes not only transforming the experience of sparring with students (which is now unified experience premised upon wisdom, loving kindness and compassion) - but also manifested within the otherwise 'brutal' realm of 'honour fights' whereby unknown and unfamiliar individuals suddenly turn-up at my training hall and (disrespectfully) ask to spar! They wish to gain fame and fortune through 'out of control' violence which involves (for them) the 'beating' and 'exposing' a local (Chinese) gongfu teacher! How did this happen? I think whereas my opponents were still motivated by a deep and profound sense of  'doubt' (often involving a profound 'self-hatred') - I no longer experienced this 'doubt' which 'divides' human-beings during combat. Doubt by this time in my life had become nothing more than a profound sense of enhanced  'awareness' full of compassion and understanding. This is all held in place by a physical (martial) ability that can use 'gentleness' just as easily as 'harshness' to 'control' or 'regulate' physical interactions. 

Signed: Adrian Chan-Wyles [陳恒豫 - Chan Heng Yu] (22.11.2021) - '釋大道' (Shi Da Dao)

Witnessed and Authenticated by Yau, Gee-Cheuk [邱芷芍] (22.11.2021) - 'Gee Wyles' - Wife of Adrian Chan-Wyles

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!

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

The Buddha recognised that all physical bodies are born, exist and then die. This logical observation serves as the foundation of the Buddha’s Teaching. It is an inevitable process that every living-being must experience. An individual will be born, will live their life in any number of ways, and will then pass away through natural (old age) or unnatural (illness, injury or accident, etc) causes. According to the Buddha, the state of an individual’s mind is responsible for the ‘willed’ (volitional) actions performed through the body. The frequency of these decisions can be ‘healing’ and ‘compassionate’ or ‘debilitating’ and ‘horrible’ - it all depends upon the past conditioning (karma) of the individual mind (and body).  

By permanently ‘stilling’ (and ‘expanding’) the mind, all karmic production is eradicated. This is a moment of karmic purification of mind and body. The ‘ridge-pole of ignorance is destroyed forever’ as the Buddha states in the Dhammapada. This is the experience of nirvana whilst still inhabiting a human-body – and when death arrives the body will ‘fall away’ - revealing the state of experiencing ‘nirvana’ without inhabiting a body. Through adhering to the Vinaya Discipline – this strict regulation of the mind and body in the environment has a beneficial effect with regards to health. This is because every rule is designed by the Buddha to ‘remove’ a particular negative (karmic) trait that causes ‘suffering’ in the mind and body of the individual and which permeates out into the environment if not ‘checked’ through the deployment of purposeful discipline.  ​

This is how the Buddha strives to reduce suffering in the mind and body of the individual (and in the world). This process is cemented by emptying the mind of greed, hatred and delusion – whilst directly ‘perceiving’ the empty essence of the perceiving (and ‘non-perceiving’) mind. This is how the Buddha strives to eradicate all ‘illnesses’ (and illness generating ‘delusion’) from the mind, body and environment through the application of a strict discipline. This is why Master Xu Yun (1840-1959) was of the opinion that the Vinaya Discipline is a vital (foundational) element of ALL genuine schools of Buddhism – and refused to follow the example of Japan in ‘abolishing’ the Vinaya Discipline as a guide for monks and nuns. If a person wants to live longer and in a healthier manner – then follow the Vinaya Discipline! 

‘Drdhamati, even while dwelling in Surangama Samadhi, I am in the trissahasramahasahasralokadhatu and, eventually, in Jambudvipa, I practice, as the case may be, the perfection of (paramita) of giving (dana), morality (sila), patience (ksanti), vigour (virya), absorptive meditation (dhyana) or wisdom (prajna), /In Jambudvipa I am, as the case may be, a recluse with the five superknowledges (pancabhijnarsi), or again, a layman householder (grhastha) or a monk (pravrajita).’ 
​
Buddha - Surangama Samadhi Sutra (Lamotte – 1998 – Page 197) 

We all experience birth and we all experience death. These are two guaranteed events in our lives that apply equally to everyone regardless of our genetic inheritance or the life circumstance we are born into. Death can be further subdivided into a) natural and b) unnatural. Natural death to that shutting-down of the biological life-sustaining processes at the end of a long life, or at anytime on life's journey that does not originate from accident, illness or violence, etc. A 27-year-old, for instance, can pass away quite peacefully in their sleep simply because their particular genetic clock decides to 'switch' their heart off. This may be to do with the past evolution of human-beings when our distant ancestors did not live much past twenty. An 'unnatural' death is a demise due accident, illness or violence.  

This is when an individual's life-span is cut-short due to a malfunctioning body (as in any number of genetic illnesses), or suffers the destruction of organs due to an accident. Violence committed by other humans can often account for many such deaths such as through pointless attacks within civil society, murder, acts of terrorism and acts of war. This category can be extended to include economic violence where people are deprived of work, income, food, clothing, education and medical assistance, etc, due to an ideology that privileges a few over the many. This also includes the the concept of 'psychological' violence which can serve as the base cause of all types of mental illnesses and later aberrant actions premised upon their numerous cognitive dysfunctions. Buddhist philosophy adds another layer to all this in the form of individual and collective karma.  

The Buddha stated that not everything we personally experience and suffer has a root cause in volitional karma. Cancer, for instance, can be the product of a poor lifestyle and deficient choices in diet, activity and social setting, etc, but it can also be the product of the simple misfunctioning of a body cell with no input whatsoever from volitional karma. In the latter case, Cancer is a 'naturally' unfolding process. This is like the changing of the seasons or the rising of the sun, not much can be done about it at the individual level other than to 'observe'. Furthermore, at the point of full enlightenment, the Buddha states that the ridge pole of ignorance is forever broken and that the concept of karma (and notion of rebirth) comes to an end. Following all the quarantine and cleanliness rules in this current climate will help increase the chances of us as individuals not contracting, passing on or possibly dying from Covid19. From a Buddhist perspective, it is that simple. 

Dear B
 
The Phowa technique involves the expansion of consciousness from being confined to the inside of the head and body - to fully embracing the entire external world. The 'inner' and 'outer' are fully integrated - but not limited to this 'integration'. This is reflected in Stages Four and Five of the Cao Dong Prince and Minister Schemata. Therefore, the individual consciousness can only pass through the Brahma-Chakra (at the top of the skull) at the moment of physical death if full enlightenment (and an all-embracing mind) has been realised by the practitioner beforehand. Charles Luk sought-out a Mongolian Lama to clarify this issue as most Chinese Ch'an Masters remained 'indifferent' to questions of 'death', 'dying' and 'after-life', etc. Although Phowa is interesting, and represents a realised state that is part of the full Ch'an enlightenment - it is not required as a separate teaching. How to transition between the apparent states of 'living' and 'dying' is clearly exhibited within the Ch'an Records Charles Luk translated. However, as individuals we are 'free' to seek spiritual instruction from whatever spiritual tradition suits our needs at the time of enquiry. For instance, it strikes me that 'humility' is the spiritual power behind genuine 'internal' martial arts - and represents a vast reservoir of universal power above, beyond and below the entirety of existence - and that's just my preference!   

‘...After my death, if you carry out my instructions and practise them accordingly, my being away from you will make no difference. On the other hand, if you go against my teaching, no benefit would be obtained, even if I continued to stay here.’ 

Then he uttered another stanza: 

“Imperturbable and serene the ideal man practises no virtue. 
Self-possessed and dispassionate, he commits no sin. 
Calm and silent, he gives up seeing and hearing. 
Even and upright his mind abides nowhere.” 

Having uttered this stanza, he sat reverently until the third watch of the night. Then he said abruptly to his disciples, “I am going now,” and in a sudden passed away. A peculiar fragrance pervaded his room, and a lunar rainbow appeared which seemed to join up earth and sky. The trees in the wood turned white, and birds and beasts cried mournfully. 

...The Patriarch inherited the robe when he was 24, had his hair shaved (i.e. was ordained) at 39, and died (sat upright) at the age of 76. For thirty-seven years he preached for the benefit of all sentient beings. Forty-three of his disciples inherited the Dharma, and by his express consent, became his successors; while those who attained enlightenment and thereby got out of the rut of the ordinary man were too numerus to be calculated. 
​
The Altar Sutra of Hui Neng (Chapter 10 – His Final Instructions) 
 

When Master Xu Yun gave up his body in 1959 – he was 119-years-old and well within his 120th year of life – whilst being in his 101st year as an ordained Buddhist monk following the Dharma and Vinaya. As this was his ‘last’ incarnation’, he decided to die like the Buddha lying on his right-side (which he did without trouble in-front of Master Ti Guang). Many other Ch’an monastics and lay practitioners, however, attempt the tradition of ‘seated transformation’ (坐化 - Zuo Hua) - whereby an advanced Buddhist practitioner attempts to leave his or her body whilst sat upright in the crossed-legged meditation position. History records that some Masters have been able to leave and re-enter their bodies at will- even some days after being pronounced ‘dead’. It is said that a true Dharma-Successor is able to perform this feat as a demonstration of their enlightened realisation, and is often used as a method of quality-control even within modern China (where a surprising number of devout Buddhists still ‘die’ sitting-up in the proscribed manner). As Dharma-Practice requires a completely honest and compassionate mindset, all genuine Dharma-Successors are expected to at least try and pass away in this manner. This is my intention if conditions allow (with my partner photographing the process). Of course, there is no guarantee this process will unfold as intended, but the point is that I am willing try.