Dharma Library

A large collection of articles, from past issues of New Chan Forum and more besides.

  • Search by keywords, using the search box
  • Or select articles by various categories such as topic or author - click on the section menus (found below the listed articles on a mobile view, or to the right on a desktop view)

Where's the Trick?

Calligraphy for the character Chan

I was fortunate to be able to collect Shifu, Guo Yen Hse and Paul Kennedy from the airport. We broke our journey to Wales in Bristol in order to see my family for lunch. As we were leaving and my wife was wishing us well for the retreat, Shifu said, in reference to the retreat, "It's a trick!"

"Yes," my wife replied, "But it's a very good one, and a very necessary one," looking pointedly in…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: 1992 , For Newcomers , Anon , Koan Retreat Reports

A Guestmaster's View

John Crook sitting in front of the altar at Maenllwyd

The role of guestmaster at a Chan retreat entails the responsibility for ensuring the comfort of the participants and visiting Master, the availability of necessary supplies and the organisation of affairs to ensure the even flow of the retreat programme. Together with Chief Cook and the Retreat Disciplinarian the work of the Guestmaster maintains the background quality of a retreat.

When I…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: 1992 , John Crook , Chan Retreat Reports , For Newcomers

A Small Insect Cannot Stop a Chariot

Chan master Shengyen

Excerpts from a talk given at the Chan meditation Center, New York, edited with permission by John Crook. Published in Chan Magazine 12.1. Winter 1992 pp18-21

Even if an iron wheel whirls in your head perfect clear samadhi and wisdom are never lost.

You cannot cling to the idea that the genuine wisdom of enlightenment has concrete existence. Yet, if you accept and realise Dharma, then you will…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: 1992 , Dharma Talks , Sheng Yen

Life in a Chan Monastery

Chan master Shengyen

Lecture by Master Sheng-yen at the University of Toronto on October 18th 1991. Edited text by permission from Chan Newsletter No.92, May 92

In ancient Chinese monasteries a practitioner's time was divided between meditation, attending Dharma talks and daily work. Morning and evening was spent in meditation, daytime was for working. We are somewhat ignorant of the daily schedule in early Chan…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: Highlighted , 1991 , Other Articles , Sheng Yen

The Importance of Buddhadharma in the Modern World

Chan master Shengyen

Lecture by Master Sheng-yen on October 13, 1991. Reprinted with permission from Chan Newsletter 89, November 1991.

The world we live in has a genuine need for Buddhadharma. There are many fine things in the modern world, but there is much that is less than desirable. The world is becoming smaller and more crowded and people are getting busier and busier.

As a child, I read a Chinese novel called…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: For Newcomers , 1991 , Dharma Talks , Sheng Yen

Methods of Practice in the Chan Hall

Master Xuyun, known as Empty Cloud

This is part two of a translation of a text by the great Chan master of the early part of the 20th century, Hsu Yun (1839-1959). It is reprinted by permission of the Institute of Chung Hwa Buddhist Culture, New York, from Chan Newsletter 87, August 1991. The first part of this talk appeared in New Chan Forum No.4. Spring 1992.

1. Introduction:

Many people come to ask me for guidance. This makes…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: Highlighted , 1991 , Dharma Talks , Others

Essentials of Chan Practice

Master Xuyun, known as Empty Cloud

This is part one of a translation of a text by the great Chan master of the early part of the 20th century, Hsu Yun (1839-1959). It is reprinted by permission of the Institute of Chung Hwa Buddhist Culture, New York, from Chan Newsletter 87, August 1991. The first part of this talk appeared in New Chan Forum No.7. Spring 1993.

The Prerequisites and Understanding Necessary to Begin Chan Practice

…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: For Newcomers , 1991 , Dharma Talks , Others

Opening The Treasure House

John Crook sitting in front of the altar at Maenllwyd

from the "Sermons to the Stones and Trees" tapes, Summer 1991

"If you do these things for some time the treasure house will open naturally and you will enjoy it fully." These are the concluding words of a Soto Zen ritual. Remember: "The treasure house will open naturally."

In meditation, it is not that one has to work desperately hard to get somewhere. The practice of meditation should be…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: 1991 , Dharma Talks , John Crook

Western Zen Retreat

Calligraphy for the character Chan

The silence becomes very palpable, solid. The quality of experience has been turned up. My koan becomes very distant. What first seemed like a fence, close and restricting, now, has moved to the horizon and eventually disappeared.

Everything seems wrapped in a profound silence which becomes as interesting as the sounds from the distant hills. Things become soft, fine and gentle. They all happen…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: 1991 , Western Zen Retreat Reports , Anon

On Meeting a Monster

Calligraphy for the character Chan

This was my first Chan retreat and I was so excited. My life felt calm and stable and I hoped to be able to work through whatever the Universe presented. I also hoped I would learn greater concentration in sitting to deepen my novice practice. On a previous retreat I had perceived the futility of living solely under the influence of my ego states and it seemed pointless not to search further…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: 1991 , Chan Retreat Reports , Anon

A Chinese in Wales

Calligraphy for the character Chan

When the plane began to descend on Heathrow I was wondering how I should explain to the immigration officer the purpose of my trip to the UK. Would he feel it strange that a Chinese living in Hong Kong should have come to the UK for a Chan retreat? Would he be suspicious of my words?

For several years I have been looking for an opportunity to receive authentic training in Chan meditation…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: 1991 , Anon , Silent Illumination Retreat Reports

How to be Me?

Calligraphy for the character Chan

Lurching up the steep approach road to the Maenllwyd, I liked the feel of a cottage tucked up in the hillside - a Zen mountain temple. Perhaps, not so surprisingly, I instantly recognized one of the participants as an old war-horse from other sesshins. John appeared and made me feel immediately at home. He had a sort of swashbuckling pirate look about him which I rather liked, and an immediate…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: 1991 , Chan Retreat Reports , Anon

Joy and Silence

Calligraphy for the character Chan

I have practised for quite a number of years, receiving help from various people in different traditions. My practice has tended to be erratic, never very strong or sustained - though I might sit every day. Sometimes it has just been half-hearted, but my main problem has been doubting the worth of the practice, and more importantly doubting my own ability to practice fully or make any real…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: 1991 , Anon , Silent Illumination Retreat Reports

Contemplating Earth

Calligraphy for the character Chan

All through the retreat Shifu spoke about compassion. It hit home, as it always has in previous retreats, but at those times, save for a shiver here or a sniffle there, nothing out of the ordinary came of it. Not so on Thursday afternoon. Shifu had us stand for a session of prostrations, but he introduced a method I had never encountered before. Usually he has us contemplate the movement of…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: 1990 , Chan Retreat Reports , Anon

Human Conciousness in the Chan Perspective

Chan master Shengyen

Edited version of a lecture delivered by Master Sheng-yen at Brooklyn College on November 8, 1990. From Chan Newsletter No.84, March 1991, with permission.

Buddhism generally divides human consciousness into False Mind and True Mind. False Mind, sometimes called the illusory mind, refers to the mental activity of ordinary sentient beings. This mind is filled with innumerable vexations that arise…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: 1990 , Sheng Yen

Cookie Extension Logo