Chan Magazine Winter 2005

"People who have never had a taste of Chan often like to speculate about enlightenment. But lacking a clear sense of what the Dharma actually entails, they tend to delight in the exotic and cook up all kinds of strange fantasies . . . Enlightenment is not something that can be comprehended by philosophical speculation or flights of the occult imagination. Should you even be tempted to conjecture or fantasize about it, you will actually be moving farther and farther away from it. You will be heading south when you should be going north!"

— Chan Master Sheng Yen, from 'Hoofprint of the Ox'

Contents

From the Editor

Dharma of Teachings, Dharma of Mind 
   The second in a series of lectures based on the Platform Sutra by Chan Master Sheng Yen

Dorothy Weiner 1921 – 2004 
   A tribute to the late Dorothy Weiner from her fellow-practitioners

"After doing everything...?" 
   Retreat Report by A.S.

"Razorwire, Concrete and the Buddha" 
   Poem and drawing by Richard Lee Gregg

"The Sound of Silence..."
   Retreat Report by J.R.

Haiku 
   by Chang Jao

The Past 
   News from the Chan Meditation Center and DDMBA

The Future
   Retreats, classes, and other upcoming events

Chan Center Affiliates