Ch'an Monastics Dig the Ground and Cultivate the Mind

UK: Ch’an Reading for the Zoo of Dogs! (2.11.2026)

I suppose we go round and round like a “Zoo of Dogs”! No one really knows what it means – as the use of language adopts a rule all of its own. Academic niceties appear to make way for non-academic “un-niceties” whatever they may be. Westerners collect their (dead) facts and line them-up – assuming status from the length of the line (they establish “king-aligners”). Nothing is proven or achieved – but they are happy with their contrived peaking-order. No self-respecting bird will have anything to do with this kind of superficial ordering. And who can blame them? If you want to genuinely lose your mind – then try to read the articles linked above. It is like looking at your reflection in a well – and forgetting not to topple in! Good luck.

The Hermit is Self-Sufficient!

UK: Emergency Self-Ordination in the Chinese Vinaya Discipline! (14.10.2026)

Of course, the laity has a more superficial relationship with the Vinaya Discipline – and the Buddha taught soldiers, prostitutes, butchers, and even murderers, amongst many others. The Buddhist rules are NOT punishments inflicted by a disembodied sky-spirit (theistic god entity) – but exists to guide the psychological and physical energy that comprises an individual. The Buddha was scientific in that he emphasised cause and effect. We are responsible for the way we experience the inner (psychological) or outer (material) world. If you are happy suffering the consequences of the manner in which you live – and you never complain to anyone else about it – then why bother inflicting this form of Buddhist self-discipline upon yourself? There is no point. There are all kinds of reasons why people pursue the lives they do – and this is nothing to do with others – as we possess our own unique karma. Finally, status-hunting in the West – pretending to be a bhikkhu or being a genuine bhikkhu for the wrong reasons – is an offence and will bring its own hellish karma. The Vinaya Discipline is a very powerful and life-affirming vehicle that permits an individual to meet each manifestation of life with tranquillity and wisdom (in-depth).

Master Shao Yun (1938-2022) - Disciple of Master Xu Yun (1840-1959)

Ch’an Buddhism – Sit But Do Not Wobble! (5.5.2025)

Nowadays, the situation of Ch’an Buddhism in China is precarious. This is because the Ch’an Path is difficult to follow and is not easy to practice. Of course, there are many people who chant the Buddha’s Name and practice Tantric Buddhism – but there are very few who are truly able to practice Ch’an. Many temples focus on building Buddha Chanting Halls which are popular – with the required practice relatively simple to perform – whilst the establishment of disciplined Ch’an Halls are rare. Even if some temples have established Ch’an Halls, but these places often lack dedicated teachers and practitioners who will sit in meditation for long periods of time – and forget about the body and environment. It should be noted that the inheritance of Buddhism in China is largely due to the talents cultivated in Ch’an Halls.

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