Venerable Elder Shao Yun (1938-2022): Chinese Ch’an – Sit Or Perish! (Translated By Adrian Chan-Wyles PhD)
The Tradition-Modernity Impasse – Will Ch’an Survive?
Mind-Moon Solitude Over-Arching Ten Thousand Things Embracing All!
Venerable Elder Shao Yun [绍云] – Dharma Words
Nowadays, the situation of Ch’an Buddhism in China is precarious. This is because the Ch’an Path is difficult to follow and is not easy to practice. Of course, there are many people who chant the Buddha’s Name and practice Tantric Buddhism - but there are very few who are truly able to practice Ch’an. Many temples focus on building Buddha Chanting Halls which are popular – with the required practice relatively simple to perform - whilst the establishment of disciplined Ch’an Halls are rare. Even if some temples have established Ch’an Halls, but these places often lack dedicated teachers and practitioners who will sit in meditation for long periods of time - and forget about the body and environment. It should be noted that the inheritance of Buddhism in China is largely due to the talents cultivated in Ch’an Halls. Historically, many Ch’an Masters were enlightened in the Ch’an Hall, such as Master Xu Yun [虚云], Master Lai Guo [来果], Master Ye Kai [冶开], and Master Zheng Guo [正果] amongst many others. However, today, few people can indifferently sit in long periods of seated meditation. Sitting in meditation for a long period of time is indeed a challenge for many young people. The pain in the legs is unbearable – whilst they must remain silent and motionless. For the young and the inexperienced, Ch’an is a difficult practice to persist within.
In the practice of Ch’an Buddhism, it is so difficult to meet a true and genuinely good teacher. If you do not truly practice this method, how can you see through to your True Nature and realize the Empty Mind Ground? Without this kind of profound insight - talking about any kind of “truth” regarding the realisation of the essence of the mind and body is just another facet of delusion.
