Tag: mindfulness

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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The Book of Enoch - It Is Not!

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

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.

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Old Ch'an Dao Gongfu

Ch’an Dao: Confucian Lineage! (8.11.2024)

Of course, the modern world is a very different place to the ancient (feudal) world from which Confucius lived, but nevertheless, so much of modern Chinese culture is premised on just this type of social organisation and spiritual coordination. This is true even when gongfu Styles are accessed through “money” – rather than through “virtue”. This attitude of “Respect” and “Harmony” has permeated the culture of Korea, Japan, and Okinawa – with the latter once being a distant part of the Chinese Empire. By issuing his “Hamon” – Sensei Higaonna is proving that his Style of Goju Ryu Karate-Do is “Chinese” in origination – as indeed it is (premised upon the White Crane gongfu of Fujian province).

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Mindfulness: The Effectiveness of Attention Relocation.

‘Satipatthana – the establishing of mindfulness – is the prime Buddhist method of observing phenomena originating from both within and without the body and mind. It is the quality of mind that clearly perceives without error, and does not tire over-time. It is the practice of a continuous, non-judgemental awareness, that nevertheless, precisely distinguished between phenomena that are in nature pleasurable, neutral and full of suffering. This practice is one of a clear discernment that does not lapse for a single second.’

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