Sunday, September 19, 2010

One day retreat Sunday the 26 Sept in Courtenay



Notes
from
the
Sept.
retreat
on
Denman
Island
2010


Let go. Let go. Relax the body. Relax the mind.

Eyes Open or Closed? William said one could practice with eyes closed, eyes ¼ open or fully open (always in each position fully relaxed). William suggested to practice with eyes open, that we would eventually be doing that anyways, so why not start now. (What’s the difference? Why not try a week of one way, then switch and switch. Find out yourself the differences; they are definitive.)

What is diligent practice? Sit at home; sit weekly with others to receive the benefits from group mind; do retreats 1 day, 3, 5, 7, ….49 days;

When not sitting, practice throughout the day/evening using mindfulness, non self-centered deluded thinking and non-attachment; walking meditation, direct contemplation, and most importantly, help others, including helping others not to be self centered.

Two main techniques: Silent Illumination (develops great resting) and Huatuo (develops questioning sensation) Either technique: not too tight, not too loose, but relax, relax, relax, let go of mental/physical tensions.

Main Principle: pure awareness, non-discrimination and no deluded thinking

Three Guiding Principles: great confidence, great vow and great determination

Three Supportive Methods: no seeking, no attainment and effort of
no-effort

Auxiliary Practices: Repeat each morning...

1. Your great vow: “I vow to (make up your own obligation).”
2. Renewal: “I realize that because of my self-centered attachment I have hurt sentient beings, those I know and those I don’t know. I have decided not to do this again.”
3. Transfer Merit: “I transfer all the merit I have accumulated thus far to all sentient beings (and /or to a specific individual in need.”)

Challenges when meditating: low energy produces drowsiness. Remedy? Open eyes wide until tears come; kneel on bare floor (pain wakes you up) and do your meditation; ask for incense stick (Timekeeper will use it to tap your shoulders.); Wash your face in cold water; Do mindful exercise such as walking or bowing (Requires permission from the Timekeeper.)

High energy: Wandering monkey mind….use one of your Methods (Silent Illumination or Huatuo)

Huge Mental Obstruction: When the Method is not working:
1. Repeat your great vow (said everyday: limits the obstructive quality of thoughts);
2. Label your Obstructive thought: it is either classified as Greed, Anger or Delusion (all other types of thoughts); one to ten and start labeling over again;
3. Return to one of the two primary methods when you no longer compulsively attach to the Obstructive thought.

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Are you attending Thursdays? On wet evenings, ensure you take off your shoes at the front entrance of the school and carry them upstairs to room 208. The janitor will have already cleaned the stairs. If you can, bring a small lamp so we don't have to turn on the very noisy florescants.

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Really famous Zen Masters, or "Watch it, whether you answer correctly or incorrectly to Zen master's question, you still get 30 whacks from the incense stick. Ouch!!!"

Linji Yixuan is an eleventh generation teacher (d. 866) who was a disciple of Huangbo Xiyun. He is a preeminent figure in the history of Zen. As the founder of the Linji school of Zen (in Japanese, Rinzai), his tradition remains, along with the Caodong (Soto) school, as one of the two lineages that survive to the present day. (William Tsao received accreditation to teach both methods from Master Sheng Yen in 2004.)

Linji said, "There's a type of student who goes to Mt. Wutai to seek out Manjushri. That student has already made a mistake! There's no Manjushri at Mt. Wutai. Do you want to know Manjushri? It's just what is in front of your eyes! From first to last it's not anything else. Don't doubt it anywhere you go! It's the living Manjushri!"....from from Zen’s Chinese Heritage by Andy Ferguson

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There will be a silent one day retreat this Sunday from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. R.S.V.P/ please to Adrian.


Also check out
Master Cheng Yen in Facebook; http://chancommunitycanada.wordpress.com/
and the Western Chan Fellowship at http://www.westernchanfellowship.org/
Call Adrian at 250 898 8201, email adriansymonds@telus.net
Do you wish to remove your email address from the Courtenay Chan list? Please inform me.

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