meditation – Page 3 – SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR)

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

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

05/05/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

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.

Ch’an Dao Blog Article – Neidan As We Get Older! (18.4.2025)

18/04/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

I suspect the ancient Greeks encountered Buddhist monasticism when visiting India (such as Pythagoras), learned the Buddhist method of “looking within”, and then adjusted the technique as a means to “prove” the efficacy of their particular philosophical perspectives (the work of Plotinus may be taken as an example of this endeavour). Later, via the Greeks, a community of Jews (in Qumran) started sitting in meditation to personally attain a “glimpse of Yahweh” – a practice that eventually spread to the reformed Jewish sect of “Christianity” – whose adherents started to meditate whilst sat in the caves found in the Egyptian Desert (this type of Christianity spread to Britain – hundreds of years prior to Catholicism – becoming “Celtic Christianity”).

The Objective Study of Religion Through Logic and Reason! (26.3.2025)

26/03/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

Needless to say, the learned Benedictine Brothers were not impressed with my missive – and certainly refused to print it in a Christian academic journal. One Brother took me to one side and explained that the Catholic concept of “Interfaith” was a misnomer – as its true purpose was to have the minds of Buddhists infiltrated by Catholic dogma – and for these Buddhists to “convert” to Christianity as a means to stop their heathen (non-White) souls descending into the fires of hell following their physical death. So far – so good. In military terms – this type of unscripted and quite often messy advance to gain intelligence about the enemy is termed “reconnaissance under fire”. The vehicle through which these Brothers delivered their condescending attitudes was one of racism and discrimination – disguised as religious piety (even those non-Whites who convert – are inferior to White Christians regardless of strength of belief). I was also informed that Asian Buddhists were invariably “Socialistic” – an ideology rejected by the Catholic Church.

Hereford [1986]: Zen of the Wonky Table! (16.11.2024)

16/11/2024 Adrian (釋大道)

Eventually, “Phil G” left the college and moved down the road to become the “Rector” of St Barnabas Church (situated in College Road). He would invite myself and my friend (a Catholic Priest from Eire) for tea every Sunday afternoon for probably about six months (around 1986). He asked me about (Japanese) Zen Buddhism – and I lent him the book entitled “Zen Buddhism” by Christmas Humphreys [Unwin – 1984] (I have written on the many issues surrounding this man elsewhere). This book had casually come into my possession and became very popular amongst the Student Body at that time. As others wanted to borrow it – I bought up the subject of this book being returned whilst visiting the flat of “Phil G”. He initially said he did not know where it was and had a problem finding it.

The Pure Behaviour of Ch’an Master Ti Guang [体光] (1924-2005)! [22.10.2024]

22/10/2024 Adrian (釋大道)

This is why Master Ti Guang had perfected the realisation of “stillness” (emptiness) and “movement” (function) – and was able to express this through a martial technique free of greed, hatred, and delusion. All year roung, Master Ti Guang wore a tattered, patchwork robe – following the Buddha’s original example of only wearing a robe constructed out of tattered clothing taken from the rotting corpses lying around in the charnel grounds of ancient India. Master Ti Guang never ate any food after noon each day. Master Ti Guang understood (and followed) all the rules and regulations governing the strict discipline of the Meditation hall. As a consequence, Master Ti Guang had stilled and expanded his mind, and manifested endless degrees of insightul wisdom throughout his life!

King Arthur May Well Have Been a Historical Personage!

Glastonbury Abbey – King Arthur’s Grave! (29.7.2024)

29/07/2024 Adrian (釋大道)

The Celtic Church (from Egypt) was probably in Britain from the 2nd century CE onwards – with it being destroyed by the incoming Roman Catholic Church by the 11th century CE. Its monastic nature encouraged not only cloistered monks who lived in draughty stone cells – but also Hermits who lived in natural caves or various other meditation cells. Celtic Christianity did not persecute – but encouraged and accommodated the Pagan beliefs of indigenous people. There was a mutual respect between both groups of believers and this explains why leaders like King Arthur would strive to protect the Church – and the Church to honour him in death. This type of Asiatic respect does not require a slavish attachment to belief to be functional. Freedom of belief equates to respect for difference. There are many theories dating King Arthur from the 6th, 7th and 8th centuries, etc, which include many geographical areas associated with his life and death. We favour Tintagel in Cornwall – a place we have visited many times. King Arthur was a wise man, a compassionate man, and a great warrior!

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