Category: Wisdom

Tilford: Sitting Like an Iron-Mountain! (31.5.2026)

5/31/2026

iWe need to sit with an awe-inspiring deportment. This means sitting like an iron-mountain when we are "sitting" - and when moving around - there is an "inner stillness" that is not interrupted. Within movement - there is stillness - within stillness there is movement. How can this be? It is just words all jumbled-up. Words spill-out the mind like running-water out of a tap. Without stillness the body wanders about - like a puppet on strings. The mind must be "stilled", and the emptiness expanded without limit and beyond measure. This emptiness must be three-dimensional and unhindered throughout the ten-directions. Emptiness must be realised - but the peace and tranquillity associated with its realisation - must not be attached to. Many imagine emptiness - but this is no good. Many sit atop the hundred-foot pole - but are afraid to "jump-off". Within false Ch'an - it is the reflection of delusion that is grasped - but with authentic Ch'an - greed, hatred, and delusion is realised in an instant as the surface mind is "stilled" and emptiness is fully realised. When emptiness and form are fully realised and integrated - no external manifestation (or change) can upset or disturb the empty mind ground. Prajna emerges from empty luminosity. Nothing can dislodge the deep love and stability realised by the Ch'an practitioner. Non-greed, non-hatred, and non-delusion dissolve in an instant as greed, hatred, and delusion have no place to manifest. When the mirror is smashed - no reflection is apparent. Yet the empty mind ground embraces all things without exception.

Venerable Old Master Xu Yun Dharma-Talk – Introduction & Pre-Requisites for Practicing Ch’an Meditation! (7.6.2025)

6/7/2025

(Translated By Adrian Chan-Wyles PhD)

27.5.2017 – Source: Lineaage Transmission Network

“Give-up all attachments and do not give rise to a single thought.”

These are the prerequisite for practicing genuine Chinese Ch’an meditation. Now that we know this, how can we achieve this objective?

The first example involves the most karmically able - who will immediately cease their thinking-processes forever (achieving a permanent “stillness” of mind) - whilst directly perceiving the empty mind ground. The state of “no-birth” is then entered. Bodhi is attained in an instant (like a finger-snap) - without any hesitation. When all this happens correctly (and in good order) - no further words are required.

The second level of karmic-ability involves the cultivation of logic and reason as a means to eliminate the uncontrolled stream of thought, and to modify behavioural-patterns when interacting in the material world. This method possesses many stages that vary according to the character of the practitioner. There is seated meditation, physical discipline, and much additional thought on the subject when not meditating - as a means of building resolve and motivation to practice. It must be understood that the “Original Nature” is pure and clean from the very beginning - and cannot be polluted by any expedient thought or action. By cultivsting this type of “wisdom” (Bodhi) – all “troubles” (klesa) will eventually come to an end. Birth, life, death and nirvana are all false constructs.

These things are like insubstantial and non-permanent dust that cannot pollute the “True Nature”. Everything is a dream, and an illusion. The four elements of the body the mountains, the rivers, and the earth, all manifest and pass-away within the “True Nature” without staining the empty essence one iota. Cultivate non-attachment to all phenomena as it arises, manifests, and passes-away. Do not chase after life, death, reward, wealth, or any worldly activity. None of these things exist within the empty mind ground. Give-up right and wrong, like and dislike – and become like a dead tree stump – or a body with no reaction to (internal or) external stimulus. Remain indifferent to all things. This is how rhe root-cause of greed, hatred, and delusion is uprooted and the stream of consciousness “purified”.

All troubles and difficulties will automatically disappear. In this way all pain, discomfort, suffering, happiness, hunger, cold, fullness, warmth, honour, disgrace, life, death, misfortune, fortune, good or bad luck, disgrace, gain or loss, safety or danger - are all laid to aside. Only in this way can we say that we have let go of the force of (ignotant) karmic-habit that keeps us trapped in duality – continuously fixating over fleeting externals which produce human suffering. Once you let go - you must let go of everything - forever. This is called “letting go of all attachments”. When all attachments are let go, delusion disappears, discrimination does not arise, and attachment ceases. At this point, non-thought (“stillness”) is achieved, the perceived True Nature is bright - and expands throughout the physical body - and out into the environment without limit. At this point, all the conditions for effective Ch’an meditation are met. If you work hard to truly meditate and study, you will be able to see your empty mind ground and (expansive) True Nature.

Chinese Language Text:

https://read01.com/5k5zRa.htm

虛雲老和尚：禪修入門參禪的先決條件萬緣放下

2017/05/27 來源：傳承網

「萬緣放下，一念不生」是參禪的先決條件，我們既然知道了，那麼，如何才能做到呢？

上焉者一念永歇，直至無生，頓證菩提，毫無噦唆。其次則以理除事，了知自性本來清淨，煩惱菩提、生死涅磐皆是假名，原不與我自性相干，事事物物皆是夢幻泡影，我此四大色身與山河大地，在自性中，如海中的浮漚一樣，隨起隨滅，無礙本體，不應隨一切幻事的生住異滅，而起欣厭取捨，通身放下，如死人一樣，自然根塵識心消落，貪嗔痴愛泯滅，所有這身子的痛癢苦樂、饑寒飽暖、榮辱生死、禍福吉凶、毀譽得喪、安危險夷，一概置之度外，這樣才算放下。

一放下，一切放下，永遠放下，叫做萬緣放下。萬緣放下了，妄想自消，分別不起，執著遠離，至此一念不生，自性光明，全體顯露，至是參禪的條件具備了，再用功真參實究，明心見性才有分。

Vinaya Discipline: "Medication" and "Meditation"! (23.12.2024)

12/23/2024

Buddhist Compassion Permeates the Ten Directions and Includes All-Things!

Author’s Note: Whilst practicing Buddhist and Daoist meditation, I have experienced a complete “transcendence” of any experienced physical and psychological “pain” (of various sorts) for the duration of the seated meditation practice (as the Caodong School of Chinese Ch’an routinely practices martial arts – “pain” is an ever-present reality that must be cheerfully accommodated – be it of exertion, injury, or occasional illness). Breaking the “moment-to-moment” experience of continuous pain – this (organic) meditative experience permeates into everyday life when the monastic is standing, walking, sitting, or lying-down - when not formally engaged in the act of seated meditation. Indeed, modern medicine works on the principle that the correct presentation of various chemical compounds will have a positive affect upon the cells and nerve-fibre of the human-body. In-short, modern medicine “breaks” the moment-to-moment experience of pain and can be considered a “replacement” for meditative practice. During the 6th century CE, the Christian St Benedict, when writing his famous “Rule”, demanded limited sleep, vegetarianism, and no alcohol for fit monks. However, if a monk was ill, he could rest in a hospital ward, and eat a little meat and drink an allotment of alcohol – to build his strength until fully healed.

The Buddha’s “Rule” (Vinaya Discipline) was formulated over a thousand-years prior to St Benedict’s equivalent. As the Buddha teaches the transformation of perception through the act of meditation – it is meditation that is taken to be a “cure-all” for his monastics (within China, Buddhist monastics must be “vegetarian”). Of course, as the Buddha advocated an integration of “wisdom”, “loving-kindness”, and “compassion” – an ill monk is to be carefully cared for by those monks who are able-bodied and not existing in the state of “illness”. A monastic who is unable to walk – is unable to beg his daily food. In such a situation, a designated monk is permitted to carry his bowl and collect his share of waste-food when visiting the local villages. In China, where begging is not allowed, the monks grow and farm their own food. When a monk cannot present himself to receive his daily share at mid-day in the equivalent of a refectory – another (authorised) monk performs this task. Monks must also (lovingly) “wash” the body and clothes of the severely ill monks without complaint or comment – including the shaving of the face and head. These acts of meditative “attentiveness” is important if a monk can no longer attend the toilet under his own volition. Guarding and caring for a dysfunctional body might also involve the process of “dying” – which sees the (karmic) life-processes slowly permeating out of material existence.

Bad smells, harsh scenes, and angry outbursts are to be met with the compassionate “indifference” of the empty mind ground, which emits boundless loving-kindness! The illnesses of others are an important (karmic) opportunity to strengthen one’s enlightened awareness and limitless compassion. Outside of the Buddhist monastery, Buddhist monks might well be called upon to assist the ill members of the lay-community. Disability (physical and psychological) grants yet another frequency of cultivated-care. Disabled people possess special requirements of continuous care as their maladies will never cure or repair. Disability of the young, mature, and elderly can act as a spark for the development of universal compassion. Whatever the case, the Abhidhamma (the Buddh’a Dhamma as taught to monastics by monastics) – teaches the correct management of the past moment, the present moment, and the future moment. On top of all this, it is not uncommon for the various Sanghas of Asia to possess monks who are qualified medical doctors who are responsible for treating monastics and the laity – whilst liaising with the government authorities with regard to the provision of medical care for each locale. Every said above applies to Buddhisy monks and nuns – despite nuns having to follow a greater number of prohibitive vows. Buddhist compassion is boundless and operates equally toward animals, insects, plants, and all living-being in the ten-directions and throughout the time-periods of the past, present, and future! ACW (23.12.2024)

In the old days, it is likely that many ordinary people lived in a world with limited (or no) medical treatment. Even where apothecary ("wound treatment") did exist within various cultures - its efficacy was often weak (compsred to modern medicine) and limited to the nobility. Many people had to exist whilst experiencing certain and continuous levels of psychological and physical pain caused by injury and illness. Today, when experiencing toothache, depression, or something similar to a broken-bone – modern medicine assures (in one-way or another) pain-killing is available. This treatment (usually in pill or liquid form) relieves the negative stimulus and allows the human-body and mind to experience a “break” from the pressure the pain causes. Of course, "pain" as a concept exists on many different levels – from the very subtle to the blatantly intense - and cannot be trivialised. Although a contemporary Buddhist monastic usually has access to modern medicine - the rules of the Vinaya Discipline - if followed to the letter, would require the individual to psychologically "transcend" the pain being experienced - as it is happening in real time. Some individuals choose to attempt to "meditate" their way through illnesses and injuries - looking for the fabled ability of the mind and body to "heal" itself.

Of course, the body has evolved to heal itself across a certain frequency of dysfunction. However, historical evidence suggests that human-beings have lived incredibly "short" existences - from as low as 10-20 years around one-hundred thousand years ago. Even when humanity developed sophisticated culture, life expectancy extended to around 30-40 years (as in ancient India, China and Egypt, etc). As medicine has developed (and scientific thought has purified and optimised human society and culture) - the human life expectancy has extended accordingly. The Buddhist Vinaya Discipline evolved when human medicinal thinking was at a comparatively lower level of development. Yes - a strict meditational and behavioural pattern must be upheld - but modern medicine (as a form of wisdom) must be adapted. This is not a problem, as the power of the mind and body should still be fully cultivated. Untreated pain fluctuates throughout the day, varying in frequency as the sun rises, moves across the sky, and then sets (anyone who has experienced chronic pain understands this). This means the “intensity” and “texture” of the pain increases (and expands) and decreases (and withdraws) as the light-intensity waxes and wanes. At might, untreated pain can be “reduced” (or temporarily “transfigured”) if the mind and body is placed in a certain “static” position (literally and metaphorically).

Advanced meditators can enter a mind-body frequency of awareness that transcends pain - just as long as the “correct” physical and psychological position is maintained (Master Xu Yun [1840-1959] often treated illnesses and injury with prolonged bouts of isolated, seated meditation, rarely if ever accepting any formal medicine - or treatment outside of constructive rest). This "Samadhi" process can reduce pain overtime - and trigger the mind and body's natural healing properties. It is important to remember that the historical (Indian) Buddha allowed very little for the monastics to use other than rags as robes, waste food (and river water) as sustenance - including a razor-blade (for shaving) and perhaps a small supply of cow urine (thought to sterilise and heal - a belief still followed within modern Hinduism). Although the compassionate use of medicine is the essence of loving kindness - we must not forget that the practice of bare meditation allows for the removal of the subject-object dichotomy that formulates the experience of "pain" at its perceptual basis (the egotistical “I” which experiences “pain” – remove the “I” through meditative absorption - and there is no place for “pain” [in its conventional sense] to exist). This is not easy to do as the modern human - living in the developed world - expects pain to be immediately removed through medication.

Sri Lanka: Letter (Number 3) Ven. Mangala Thero - Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple - Moragolla - Beruwela - Sri Lanka (c. 2005)

9/24/2021

Ven. Mangala Thero - Head Monk of the Gangaramaya Temple (1996)

Over a number of weeks, Mangala Thero introduced me to the fundamentals of the Theravada School as taught in Sri Lanka. When returning to the UK - I had him featured in a Taijiquan magazine. However, some years later (around 2005), the Ven. Mangala Thero set me the following letter:

Buddhist Meditation: The Pali-Sanskrit Term ‘Bhavana’

9/17/2021

From the Interaction of Yin and Yang - All Things Are Manifest!

Author’s Note: In 2017, I wrote a short article about the Pali term ‘Bhavana’ and since then, I have been asked to write a more in-depth article regarding the meaning and application of this term in its Pali and Sanskrit context (both different and yet overlapping in places). Whereas in my earlier article (referenced below) I focused a great deal on the Chinese language term for ‘bhavana’ - in this outing I have limited myself to just the briefest of references to the Chinese equivalent – an act of considerable will-power considering Chinese Buddhism is one of my academic specialities (both ethnically and academically). However, I have always held the Theravada tradition in high regard and have been helped tremendously by its many practitioners and institutions around the world! From my Chinese Ch’an practice (and penetration of the empty mind ground) - I have come to see and appreciate how the many different branches of Buddhism (and reality in general) all manifest from the same stout trunk... Although what I convey to you is academically correct – you do not have to accept my conclusions. Always think for yourselves and make-up your own minds! ACW (17.9.2021)

Inner and Outer Boundless Space is the Key to Unifying 'Bhavana'!

When I was studying Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka (in 1996), a term I came across continuously was ‘bhavana’ (‘भावना’ Pali and ‘भवन’ Sanskrit) - this was invariably used to refer to the act of seated ‘meditation’ and all the psychological and physical discipline required to successfully carry-out this important Buddhist practice. Indeed, within the Chinese written language, ‘bhavana’ is referred to as ‘修習’ (Xiu Xi) - or a central method of mind-body transformation – literally ‘self-cultivation method(s) or ‘habits’’ or ‘disciplined paths which intersect at a certain point of development’. A more succinct translation could be ‘paths of self-discipline' with the caveat that what is being suggested is the strict disciplining of the mind and body through the correct application of the Vinaya Discipline and the Bodhisattva Vows. Therefore, the single act of seated meditation has a wealth of supporting disciplinary activities surrounding its application, and does not appear does not suddenly appear out of a vacuum of non-effort. In other words, ‘bhavana’ refers to an act of ‘meditation’ which is the summation of the entire Buddhist path! Although the emphasis was always upon seated meditation, of course, standing, sitting and lying-down is allowed in the Buddhist Suttas – which very much depends upon the meditation teacher and the practitioner involved. Compassion, loving-kindness and wisdom must always be the driving force behind the practice of ‘bhavana’.

The Great Theravada Masters Show the Way!

As a ‘noun’, the Sanskrit dictionary states that भवन (bhavana) refers to:

building, edifice

house, dwelling, residence

mansion, palace

place of abode

Although this Sanskrit term has a wide variety of meanings, it can also refer to act of ‘coming into existence’, through the process of birth and production, etc. In other words, something that was not once present now becomes present – with ‘bhavana’ used to describe the process of it ‘becoming’ real and visible within the material world. However, these terms are still ‘objective’ in nature and do not directly refer to the Buddha’s meaning of the term.

The Pali dictionary suggests that ‘bhavana’ (भावना) refers to 'mental development' (lit. 'calling into existence, producing') in what in English is generally referred to 'meditation'. The Theravada School of Buddhism distinguishes two types of bhavana:

development of tranquillity (samatha-bhāvanā), i.e. concentration (samādhi), and

development of insight (vipassanā-bhāvanā), i.e. wisdom (paññā).

The practice of self-cultivation is in fact the act of ‘self-building’. It is the act of constructing an ability or abode of being that was not previously existent. Once achieved, tranquillity and insight are destined to become permanent attributes of the character of one who has successfully trained in the practice of ‘meditation’ (bhavana). This is the new spiritual dwelling the mind and body inhabits from now on. There is some suggestion that this term could be related to the ancient forms of cultivating the fields, planting and growing the fruit and vegetables, and harvesting the resulting crops. For every step of this process to work – the farmers of North India must keep correctly contemplating the land, the weather and the time of year. Once all this is correctly established – then the farmers must apply correct timing to everything they do. Only then will there be a good harvest at the end of all this effort.

Clean the 'Inner' and 'Outer' World...

Interestingly, the very similar Sanskrit term ‘भावना’ (bhāvnā) refers to feeling, sensation, emotion and sentiment and is certainty moving toward the Buddhist (Pali) implications. Perhaps the Buddha modified a Pali term which once referred to the external practice of building houses and cultivating fields for farming – but changed its onus from this ‘objective’ meaning to a purely ‘subjective’ meaning relating to states of mind and patterns of thought and emotion. Just as rocks, weeds and stones are removed from the soil to make it fertile – the Buddhist practitioner uproots greed, hatred and delusion from the psychic fabric of the mind so that the mind becomes ‘fertile’ to receive the fruits of Buddhist self-cultivation. The Pali term appears to be referring to ‘that which arises from within’ - whilst the Sanskrit term is referring to ‘that which arises from without’. I would suggest that the inner perception of boundless space integrates with the awareness of boundless outer space – and that this is how the Buddha ultimately reconciles the two distinct meanings of this term. If a practitioner applies the Dhamma correctly – then like a plant growing from a seed into a might tree – the fruits of the Dhamma will manifest in the mind, body (and through behaviour) the environment!

The Theravada Tradition Preserves the Pali Canon!

References:
https://www.definify.com/word/भवन
https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/bhavana
https://thesanghakommune.org/2017/09/20/buddhism-pali-bhavana-and-chinese-chan/
http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_5d3204f50100btsz.html

Charles Luk: Pure Land Teachings (The Secrets of Chinese Meditation)

9/14/2021

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.

Knowing When and How to Move...

5/12/2021

Endless Compassion Embedded Within 'Movement' and 'Stillness'...

Knowing when to ‘assert’ and when to ‘give-way’ are important attributes for any spiritual traveller. As human-beings, we can find ourselves in all kind of circumstance as the day unfolds and our life progresses. Much of this will be mundane, but occasionally reality will take a shocking turn for the worst! No one saw the Covid19 pandemic arriving and virtually everyone was taken by surprise – despite numerous horror films over the years expressing narratives involving dystopic futures on a planet ravished by some type of illness, plague or other torturous device! Usually, such story-lines involve society collapsing back into an armed feudalism where brutality is the order of the day. Only the strong survive by preying on the weak. Of course, due to poverty and asymmetric economic development around the world, many people already live in these hellish conditions. I would add that even within the so-called ‘civilised’ areas of the world – killing and barbarity still exists – although it is hidden to a far greater extent (like a bad dream that people would rather forget).

Through Inner 'Stillness' Others Are Inspired to be 'Free'!

Most people grow-up in the world learning to survive. Indeed, this is a crucial and necessary skill. It is not the skill of the huntsman or gathering skills of the scavenger – but rather the ability to navigate the character and personality of our fellow human-beings. Children can be cruel and adults can be deceptive – for many these observations are facts of life. This imbalance in the inner and outer environment must be dealt with in one way or another. Ch’an is not an easy undertaking because it requires a devoted self-effort to take on our own inner world before we set about attempting to make changes in our outer worlds. Many will attack and ridicule any attempt at self-discipline – but for the world to be a better place – self-discipline is exactly what is required. Looking within with clarity and steadfastness eventually develops to looking without with wisdom and knowledge!

The 'Empty Mind Ground' Penetrates All-Things!

Our personal circumstance can vary wildly through our lives. Many will experience poverty, homelessness, abuse and all kinds of deprivations – whilst others will experience only affluence and relative well-being, etc. The point is that regardless of the differences that define our outer existence, the empty mind ground is exactly the same for all beings! Master Xu Yun (1840-1959) lived a life continuously ‘gazing’ at the empty mind ground without any deviation whatsoever! More to the point – Master Xu Yun integrated his expedient self (or that which will eventually fall away) with the permanent and ever-present empty mind ground! Regardless of the situation he found himself in, or the circumstances he had to traverse – Master Xu Yun judged human reality not from the ego infected with greed, hatred and delusion – but rather from the pure and clean empty mind ground which underlies all reality and permeates the universe without end! Knowing where to place oneself in the phenomenal world - so as to maximise compassion, wisdom and loving kindness – is exactly possessing the skill of ‘moving’ and remaining ‘still’ in all situations!

A Beautiful 'Arctic' Fox Communicated 'Mind-to-Mind' With Master Xu Yu...

Adding ‘Strength’ to Spiritual Lineages!

3/27/2021

The Spiritual Strength of Master Xu Yun (1840-1959)

Master Xu Yun (1840-1959) inherited all Five Schools of Ch'an Buddhism. So respected was his spiritual attainments that he was even transmitted lineages that he had not formally trained within - but whose teachers recognised that his depth of insight, humility and compassion fully equalled the divine levels of attainment that their schools demanded! In other words, without going out of his room, he knew all things (to quote the 'Book of Changes'). Chinese culture is very different to that of the modern West - despite the obvious similarities and intersections.

Dharma Picture Transmitted By Richard Hunn (1949-2006)

Within the schools of Chinese spirituality - individuals can live very long periods time - and lineages can be passed from long-dead Masters to living Teachers and Practitioners! There is no need to justify any of this, it is just how things are - pure and simple. Lineages are like streams that flow into mighty rivers and then the sea! A genuine lineage should have a compelling force all of its own that propels adherents toward the intended spiritual goal! A true lineage is like an ever-moving conveyor-belt that moves everything along - continuously - and in the same direction! We must all set a good example for our colleagues, students and descendants! If we cultivate virtue and set a good example - then by our pure actions we are 'adding' momentum to the lineages we represent!

Genuine Compassion 'Transcends' Species!

The Buddha’s Attitude to the Health of the Body...

3/19/2021

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!

The Divine ‘Not-Knowing’ of St Anthony the Great (c. 3rd-4th CE)

3/12/2021

St Anthony (251-356 CE) is considered by many theological commentators as being the founder of Christian monasticism – despite the fact he was not the first Christian hermit – and admits seeking instruction from an old man who lived on the edge of a nearby village. Although being from Egypt – the Catholic Church makes a point of him supposedly being ‘White’ - with ‘Whiteness’ being presented as ‘good’ and ‘Blackness’ (the skin-tone of the average indigenous African) being firmly associated with ‘evil’! (Although to be fair, my Christian colleagues state that ‘Black’ in this context is a ‘figure of speech’ and should not be taken as ‘racial’. My colleague states:

‘See it in the context of Solomon's Song of Songs where bride speaks to her beloved and says "I am black but beautiful''. We are all black before the light of God, God is source of all light, we just reflect to a greater or lesser degree, and it will just be a million shades of black compared to God's light.’

St Anthony the Great - Greek or African?

Later, one of the Desert Fathers is described as ‘Black’ and yet considered entirely ‘good’ within Christian texts). Was St Athony the Great ‘European’? He could have been if his parents were the descendants of Greek invaders – and had never mixed with non-Europeans in the six-hundred years since Alexander the Great!
St Anthony came from a rich family who seem to have been Christians. After selling all his belongings and giving the money away to the poor, he left mainstream society to live on the periphery of society – rather like a homeless person today – who has been failed by the Bourgeois State and the capitalist system, although in the case of St Antony, the poverty he embraced was a totally voluntary endeavour. It would appear that despite his prosperous background – St Anthony was illiterate and did not read or write (he did not leave any writings of his own – but we know he existed by others writing about his life and teachings). Perhaps his supposed Greek parentage (oddly) did not put too much value in their child learning to read and write – two skills very much at the forefront of Greek civilisation.

The 'Empty' Mind-Ground Underlies All Things!

St Anthony the Great was not a Desert Father in the struct sense, although he is often conflated with these later Christian monastics. He never lived in the desert and so cannot be correctly associated with this practice. Of course, Since around 100 BCE (and perhaps even earlier), the Jewish ‘Essenes’ had been living in the deserts of Palestine and frequenting meditation cells hued from indentations in the rock-face. Living a lifestyle very similar to what the Christian Desert Fathers would adopt – the ‘Essenes’ wrote of their experiences in the ‘Dead Sea Scrolls’. St Anthony makes no mention of the Jewish ‘Essenes’ whilst imitating their behaviour. The Christian narrative is that he developed the Christian hermetic lifestyle following a Revelation from God that nothing to do with local history or religious trends in the area.

St Anthony literally believes in daemons as manifesting in the physical environment (often as ‘Black boys’), and within as troublesome thought-patterns and emotional responses. Racism aside – St Anthony views any form of ‘modern’ thinking as being the product of daemonic influence or daemonic possession. He dismisses the entire edifice of Greek philosophical thought and scientific investigation - as being the product of ‘daemonic influence’ that has no intrinsic value for humanity whatsoever! Understand how natural processes function is perceived by St Anthony as the indulgence of ‘evil’ by those who seek answers about how the universe works. Such knowledge, St Anthony tells us, only serves to create a barrier between individual humans and the God who he believes ‘made them’ in the first place.

Like Their Buddhist Counter-Parts - Christian Monastics Are Vegetarian...

As regards agriculture, St Anthony severely criticises anyone or practices ‘farming’ and growths food to sustain the community! Observing the seasons and how one transitions into another – is a manifestation of ‘pure’ evil according to St Anthony! He believes this because God has a set plan for humanity which involves tremendous suffering, death and persecution – and that if human-beings interfere in this process – then God’s will is either water-down or prevented from functioning altogether in the physical world! Yes – humanity is made to pointlessly suffer by God – but in so doing – God is creating the scenario for some of the more deserving’ humans to be ‘saved’ by his ‘grace’. St Anthony tells his disciples that knowledge of how natural processes work amounts to accumulating a ‘pointless’ knowledge that serves no purpose in assisting God to manifest his presence in the world! St Anthony, therefore, is opposed to scientific knowledge and any form of modernistic progression for humanity.

Many Westerners Benefit from 'Seated' Meditation...

This is because such knowledge ‘empowers’ human-beings as individuals and a species – so that humanity no longer requires any direct contact with the God that created them. This is how the Christian Church explains ‘why’ most people in the West today – no longer possess a literal belief in Christianity – or no longer subscribe to traditional, theological interpretations of the world. In this sense, St Anthony was very good ‘at not learning anything’. It is one thing for an individual to embark on a path of subjective (internal) development that requires the complete ‘emptying’ of mind - of its patterns of historical conditioning (as is common within Buddhist and Daoist self-cultivation) - but it is quite another to insist that the entirety of society (and the progression of humanity as a species) should also be ‘limited’ to this ‘emptying’ in the socio-economic sense – if, indeed, that is what St Anthony is saying. Imagine a modern world without ‘science’, ‘education’ and ‘medicine’! Think also of the ‘good’ these developments have achieved for the benefit of humanity!

Look 'Within' To Understand What is 'Outside'!

I would say that the enlightenment that St Anthony is striving for equates with the third position of the Cao Dong (Soto) School of Chinese Ch’an Buddhism. When viewed from this perspective, then even in China it is not uncommon for Ch’an adepts to leave society and ‘reject’ the world and go and live in the remote valleys or isolated hill-tops until they are clear about the ‘empty’ essence of their minds. After a period of further training – such adepts enter the fourth and fifth stages of Cao Dong realisation (which are stages of ‘no stages’) - where they are instructed to (permanently) integrate their (pristine) ‘empty’ inward state with their material surroundings. This is the spiritual interfacing with the material ‘as it is’. Of course, some Ch’an Masters used their enlightened wisdom (like the Buddha) to protest about injustices and to defend the weak and innocent – whilst others lived as unknown beggars under bridges or on river-banks, etc. We do not have to permanently ‘reject’ the outer world to be spiritual – even if on occasion we like to take a break from its nonsense!

The Sixth Patriarch - Hui Neng - Still 'Sits' Upright in China!

'Licchavi Vimalakirti came to the foot of that tree and said to me, ’Reverend Sariputra, this is not the way to absorb yourself in contemplation. You should absorb yourself in contemplation so that neither body nor mind appear anywhere in the triple world. You should absorb yourself in contemplation in such a way that you can manifest all ordinary behavior without forsaking cessation. You should absorb yourself in contemplation in such a way that you can manifest the nature of an ordinary person without abandoning your cultivated spiritual nature.'
Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra

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