In every mind a Saint -- Chan (Zen) Buddhism

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Tuesday, January 13, 2009

What is Liberation from Life and Death?

Buddhism was originally meant for a cure of suffering (dukha). Many Theravadians (people adhered to one of the oldest records of Buddha, sometimes are labeled as Hinayana) tend to think of ultimate liberation (nirvana) as being freed from the physical rebirth from the world and will not return to... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Importance of Chan Buddhism in understanding other Buddhist Sects

Chan or Zen Buddhists may often view Chan or Zen Buddhism as the supreme way to enlightenment or attaining Buddhahood instantaneously within one's lifetime surpassing scriptural study, devotional practice or intense meditation. However, this view may not has been shared by many Buddhist academians... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Distinctions of enlightened master from the ordinary

Ordinary people could have overly high expectations from a master, even much more so from an enlightened master. However, there is no guarantee that an enlightened master must surpass everyone, including his/her students, with respect to mundane behaviors, although there are some associated benefits... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

If you get angry, you are not enlightened?

Anger is often deemed as personality or spiritual weakness. Many people in Buddhism also believe that all greed, hatred and ignorance are extinct for people who become enlightened or an arhat. A common and lowest kind of anger is the one that erupts when not being externally provoked, but mainly due... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Is Sitting Meditation necessary?

Sitting meditation, meditating in a cross-legged position as you would see from a Buddha statue, is a commonly recommended means of meditation method. Though there are a variety of versions of the leg positions including the half-lotus or full-lotus ones, etc., they all require you to sit for an... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Is Sluggishness and Stagnancy impossible for Enlightenment?

Episode of a relevant gongan (Case of enlightenment): "A Chan master Laiguo, about a century ago or so, was meditating so intensely within daily life that while in lunch hour of a Chan meditation retreat he was completely absorbed and became totally stagnant while holding his bowl of rice and... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Is Enlightenment definable from the Outside or Inside?

Many people who do not really know what enlightenment or spiritualism is would try to define some criteria from the outside, from external behaviors in comparable to a certain standard. Enlightenment, as evidenced from the records of experience by tens and tens of thousands of meditation... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Concentration or Enlightenment?

Some descriptions of so called "enlightened mind" that would seem to fit better as descriptions of deaf and dumb people are actually for people who are at the pre-enlightened concentration stage. While in meditation with form with intense focus at the meditation task, the mind may be so focused that... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

On Fear of Death: Does Enlightenment Preclude Reflex or Conditioning?

It seems that some Buddhist thinking, may be the Theravada tradition, thinks that an enlightened person such as an arhat, should be completely emotionally immune to any fear of personal death or harm. When people showed any signs of shock, surprise or conditioning fear of events involving likely... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

How Best to Ascertain Moral Right from Wrong?

In the Mahayanna Prajnaparamita ideas, the Middle Path, which is absolute emptiness, is the key is the truth. In the Heart Sutra, it says "There is no suffering,..., or the cessation of suffering." The Prajnaparamita Sutras usually confirms that every Buddhist truth can be empty and ultimately it... Sign in to see full entry.

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