Master Xu Yun (Left) and Master Miao Lian (Right) His 'Root' Teacher on Mount Gu!
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:
Master Xu Yun Sits Like An Iron Mountain!
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).
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).
Master Xu Yun Generating Compassion and Loving Kindness for all Eternity!
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).
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).
Master Xu Yun and His Disciples Generate Loving Kindness for All Beings!
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
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
Master \Xu Yun Perpetually Transmits the Dharma...
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