佛教禪坐傳統研究的跨國際、跨學界思想交流,讓佛教禪坐的研究視野,更加豐富多元,是近年來世界佛教學術研究的重要新趨勢。 「東亞靜坐傳統暨佛教禪坐傳統國際研討會」由國立清華大學、法鼓佛教學院、挪威奧斯陸大學,及日本學習院大學聯合舉辦。本書精選其中六篇研討會論文精華:Bhikkhu Anālayo (無著比丘)的“The Dynamics of Theravāda Insight Meditation”、蔡伯郎的〈滅盡定與瑜伽行派之末那識〉、中村薰的〈曇鸞の念仏止観〉、陳英善的〈稱名念佛與稱性念佛〉、伊吹敦的〈東山法門的修行生活以及禪觀的意義〉、龔雋的〈中國禪學史上的「坐禪」觀念——以六到九世紀禪史案例為中心〉,期望透過此論文集結出版,提供學術界專家研究參考,也讓禪坐的好處能與一般大眾分享,進而促進身心健康、增進生活幸福。
●作者簡介: Bhikkhu Anālayo Centre for Buddhist Studies, University of Hamburg Dharma Drum Buddhist College, Taiwan 蔡伯郎 法鼓佛教學院助理教授 中村薰 日本同朋大学教授 陳英善 法鼓佛教學院副教授 伊吹敦 日本東洋大學文學部教授 龔雋 廣州中山大學哲學系教授
To my knowledge there are no anthologies of Ch’an poetry in Chinese, Japanese or English which describe in detail the method of practice and the experience of Ch’an Furthermore, there are few prose sources in English dealing with the same topics On the other hand, there are numerous books in English that relate the episodes of the kung-ans(koans)The prevailing view that comes from reading these stories is that the practice of Ch’an is methodless, and since there is no way to describe the experience of Ch’an, it is suggested that we just go ahead and practice by studying the kung-ans The purpose of these poems is different in that they specifically show you how to practice, what attitudes to cultivate and what pitfalls to beware of Finally, they attempt to describe the ineffable experience of Ch’an itself These poems flow directly from the minds of the enlightened Ch’an masters; we get a glimpse into their experience at the time of, and after their enlightenment In contrast, in reading a kung-an we get an objective story of what happened and we don’t really know what was in their minds. It is my hope that this collection of poems will give those who are interested in the practice a new way of looking at Ch’an and a more balanced view of the scope of Ch’an literature The present selection is offered to make this tradition available to Western readers who may otherwise not be aware of their existence.
Huatou is a skillful method for breaking through the prison of mental habits into the spacious mind of enlightenment. The huatou is a confounding question much like a Zen koan. Typical ones are 「What is wu (nothingness)?」 or 「What was my original face before birth-and-death? 」 But a huatou is unlike a koan in that the aim is not to come up with an answer. The practice is simple: ask yourself your huatou relentlessly, in meditation as well as in every other activity. Don’t give up on it; don’t try to think your way to an answer. Resolve to live with the sensation of doubt that arises, and it will pervade your entire existence with a sense of profound wonder, ultimately leading to the shattering of the sense of an independent self. Master Sheng Yen brings the traditional practice to life in this practical guide based on talks he gave during a series of huatou retreats. He teaches the method in detail, giving advice for dealing with the typical pitfalls and problems that arise, and answering retreat participants’ questions as they experience the practice themselves. He then offers commentary on four classic huatou texts, grounding his instructions in the teaching of the great Chan masters.
Master Sheng-Yen has devoted much of his life to spreading the teachings of Chinese Buddhism—a practice that antedates the more familiar Japanese and Tibetan traditions—throughout the world. He became known in the United States after he began founding meditation centers here in 1980. Now in his late seventies, he tells the remarkable story of his life and spiritual education in FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW. From descriptions of the private world of Buddhist masters to first-hand accounts of Chinese history, it is a rare document that is both an important look at China’s past and a compelling spiritual journey across a lifetime. Sheng-Yen’s story is of a life lived in the last years of the Republic of China, the Sino-Japanese War, and the founding of the People’s Republic of China. An eye-opening slice of modern history as well as an authoritative introduction to an ancient religious tradition, FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW will appeal to spiritual seekers, travelers who want to understand more about China, or anyone looking for a fascinating story.