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Disciples who strictly adhere to the mind-seal dharma door of fasting are
forging a vajra indestructible body and learning to subdue their mad mind
through the practice of patience. Shown above with the Venerable master
are Dharma Masters Heng K’ung and Heng Kuan (standing) and Upasaka Kuo
Hui Weber (seated) who fasted for thirty-five days.
EXPERIENCES DURING A FOUR-WEEK INTENSIVE SESSION
Mindful that "with both dhyana and the Pure Land one is like a tiger
with horns," the Sino-American Buddhist Association held a four-week
intensive combination recitation and ch'an session which commenced on
December 12th, 1975 and finished on January 10th, 1976.
Close
to the end of the session on January 8th, the Venerable Master said from
the High Seat, "There are only two days left in the session. In the
past people who have participated in ch'an sessions have told about any
states they might have experienced. So now people are welcome to talk
about the states they have experienced during these weeks of recitation
and sitting. No matter what kind of states they were, you can discuss them
and in that way everyone can learn from the experience.
New
participant: "I experienced something very nice during the one week
of ch'an I sat and during the one week of recitation. For a few moments I
had a clear mind and no thoughts. And those few moments made all the
sitting and all the recitation, and all the walking around, all the
hardships, well worthwhile. It is an experience that cannot be bought with
money."
Master:
"Very good. You will certainly be able to become enlightened."
(After the session this cultivator gave away his worldly possessions and
came to Gold Mountain to live and practice.)
Disciple:
(who had just finished a 36-day fast) "There were several times
during the fasting when my false thoughts subsided and my mind was very
quiet and peaceful—very clear and pure.
Sramanera
(novice monk): "Master, during the first week of ch'an, perhaps a
kind of aftermath of the recitation session, I has some good
visualizations. I saw Amitabha Buddha and Kuan Yin Bodhisattva.
Particularly clear was the aura around Amitabha Buddha with some
transformation Buddhas speckled throughout."
Disciple:
"Master, last Sunday my sister went outside after the lecture and at
the door of Gold Mountain she smelled star jasmine. She thought it very
strange that it was blossoming during the winter and walked up and down
the street, but she couldn't smell it any more. Then when she arrived at
the door of her car she smelled it again very clearly. She returned to
Gold Mountain a couple days later and walked all around looking but could
not find any star-jasmine growing in the vicinity. The only thing she
could smell was garbage!"
Disciple:
"Last night I had a state. Previously I had been somewhat ill,
experiencing a shortness of breath, even when just walking around or going
up or down stairs. And no matter how warmly I dressed I was still cold.
Last night, however, after the lecture while sitting I felt myself begin
to tingle a little bit and I saw light and felt as if I were on the verge
of disintegrating. I felt afraid and with that these sensations stopped.
However, after I got up I was perfectly well. I have had no further
problem with being cold and no further problem with shortness of
breath."
Master:
"Who else had an experience? His sickness was cured."
Disciple:
"I had an experience, although I was only here for two and a half
days and was not very diligent at that, I had an experience of lifting
from the top of my head."
Disciple:
Sometimes when I was sitting I would try to remember where I was and I
couldn't figure it out. I would sit there and feel that perhaps I was in
the dining room or in my room but ultimately I couldn't figure out where I
was. It was strange. One time I was aware I was sitting, but at the same
tire I was bowing to the Buddha. As soon as I thought about it, I was no
longer bowing to the Buddha.
Master:
"Many people have had many different experiences and now I will give
you a general reply to them all. What is the reply?
'All
that has marks is empty and false.
If
you see all marks as no marks
Then you
see the Tathagata."
January
9th.
Master:
"Yesterday I asked you to talk about your states and there were some
who did not speak and now regret it, so I will give you another
opportunity to speak."
Disciple:
"I guess there's something that I want to talk about. I have—it's
not necessarily a good state or even a state as far as I know--I just
notice sometimes when I'm meditating that I have a feeling I am fighting
with something. It is as if I am not necessarily a being or a person but I
have this energy source that seems to pit itself against somebody or
something. I don't know what it is. I wouldn't even call it a state but
it's something I have been wondering about for a while."
Master:
"Use more strength. You have to be victorious for it to count. No
matter where my disciples go they have to be victorious. No matter what
state they meet up with they have to overcome it. They can't be
defeated."
Disciple:
I have this interesting thing. My body seems to be divided in two halves.
I experience two states at the same time. One half of me will be calm and
peaceful and the other half will be scattered and excited.
Master:
"That's just the beginning. After a while not only will there be two
sensations, there will be millions. There will be an incalculable number.
You won't be able to fathom them with your mind. Nor will you be able to
express them all in words. This is an experience, which is supposed to
occur.
"A lot
of people experience states, yet none of you have mentioned them. I'm
talking about states which all of you had. I'll tell you about them. What
you don't express, I know, what you do express I know too. What are the
states I'm speaking of? Some people have sat until their backs ached. Some
have sat until their legs ached. Some have sat until they fell asleep. If
you don't believe it, ask around. A lot of people had these experiences. I
know for certain.
"There's
another experience you haven't mentioned. You thought, 'I have sat for so
many days and haven't become enlightened. When will I get enlightened?
What is enlightenment like? What color is it? What flavor? What shape? Are
there those who had such false thoughts? If so, speak up."
Disciple:
"Yes, Master."
Master:
"The whole reason you haven't become enlightened is because you have
that one thought. If you don't even have one thought, when one thought
does not arise, the entire substance manifests. You haven't a single
thought, you don't think of anything and yet you know everything. As long
as you think you want to know, you don't know anything. As long as you
have one thought, the root of birth and death is not severed. If you can
get rid of that one thought, so there is no thought at all, 'without a
mind, without thought, blessings are boundless.' Your blessings and wisdom
will be boundless." Selfish desire and scattered thoughts are very
base and, lowly. If you still have that one thought, that is still to have
selfishness. Possessing the slightest bit of selfishness you cannot become
enlightened. Tomorrow there is still one day left. There is still an
opportunity to become enlightened. If you can be devoid of even a single
thought, you will be able to sever the root of birth and death. So at the
very last may you be vigorous. Let's see who is going to transcend the
triple world."
BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY
May 2,
1976 marks the celebration of the birth of our original teacher Sakyamuni
Buddha. The day will begin with morning recitation at 4:00 am followed by
two hours of meditation. Chanting of the Buddha's name, universal bowing
to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, recitation of sutras and mantras, and
singing of praises will continue during the morning hours with the high
meal offering at 10:30 am. At 12:30 pm a special ceremony honoring
Sakyamuni Buddha will commence and all in the assembly are welcome to
participate in bathing the image of the new-born Buddha, a gesture which
signifies repentance of former karmic' offenses and the purifying and
renewal of one's body, mind, and nature.
Those
wishing to join in the vegetarian feast at 11:00 am should call in advance
to make reservations and should plan to arrive at the monastery at 7:00 am
to participate in the celebration.
BUDDHA'S
BIRTHDAY
By
Sramanerika Heng Chen
The
air is redolent with sandalwood;
The
warmth of spring seeps in through thick brick walls;
"Na
mwo ben shr shr jya mwo ni fwo, shr jya ru lai"
Triumphantly
resounds throughout the halls.
This
day we celebrate the Buddha's birth,
The
liberator of the Saha world,
The
Dharma Prince supreme upon the earth,
Whose
golden banner hangs above unfurled.
Nan.
Di sha. Di sha. Samgha. Swo he.
The
mantra soars up into empty space.
We
bathe his image in a crystal bowl
'To
lave the dross of self from our true Face.
The
Master praises our compassionate Lord;
His
bell-like words proclaim the sovereign Way
To
slay the demon hoards with Prajna's sword
And
radiate the bright light of this day.
Truly recognize
your own faults,
And don’t discuss
the faults of others.
Others’ faults
are just your own—
Being one with
everyone is called great compassion.
-Composed
by Ch’an Master Hua
-Translated
by Bhiksu Heng Kuan
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