New Chan Forum 36

The Sacred Explored

Is Zen for us the unending exploration of mystery or are we sometimes unreasonably dogmatic? If we practice the former we contribute something different to our time from other ‘World Religions’ fixated in dogmatic assertions. Shifu made this very clear before the World Economic Forum in 2002. Yet, what is the sacred beyond whatever definition we wordy creatures chose for it? How is it related to our feeling of lacking an essence that contributes so much to our suffering, which David Loy explores?

Are there particular traits that help us understand the sacred – as the Thana Sutta implies? How far do our retreat experiences help us to understand these issues and which comes first – the idea or a knowing? Contributions to this issue consider these matters from a variety of viewpoints. Read on.

Chuan-Deng Jing-di

Contents

• The Definition of the Sacred, Chan Master Sheng Yen.
• The Burma Situation, John Crook.
• Thana Sutta, Tr. Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
• The Nature of ‘Lack’, David Loy.
• Old Myoko-ni, John Crook.
• Obituary: The Venerable Myoko–ni, John Crook.
• Book Review: Ten Thousand Miles Without A Cloud, Eddy Street.
• St Molaise of Holy Island, John Crook.
• Practice in Different Physical and Mental States, Iris Tute.
• Retreat Reports.