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.
From The Preface By Dan Stevenson EN. SHENG YEH is a master in the Caodong and Linji lineages of Chan〈Zen〉 school, who for twenty five years now has been guiding students from Taiwan, the United States, and Europe in the practice of Chan Buddhism. Hoofprint of the Ox provides a systematic introduction ─ in Sheng yen,s own words ─ to the principles that inform his particular style of Chan training.... In the final analysis, it is an unabashedly normative work ─ a book on Chan practice addressed to an English speaking audience with a personal interest in Buddhism. To the extent that this audience is also primarily Western, Hoofprint is more than passive report of Sheng yen,s personal convictions. It situates those convictions in responsive relation to specific expectations about Chen practice current among Western students, with specific points to be made.
"Chan Master Sheng Yeh has the truly rare ability to harmonize classical teaching with actual meditation practice. In The Method of No-Method he does this for the beautiful and profound Chinese Slient Illumination approach to meditation. It feels as if he is taking us, step ny stepand with great clarity, on our own personal retreat. Here is invaluable guidance for all students of meditative living." ── Larry Rosenberg (author of 《Breath ny Breath》 and 《Living in the Light of Death》) "Master Sheng Yeh is a true spiritual practitioner of deep and broad learning" ── H.H.the Dalai Lama
Here is a spiritual practice that is simple enough for anyone to learn, yet rich enough to be worked with for a lifetime. The traditional Chan (Chinese Zen) practice called Silent Illumination begins with simply putting aside all thoughts except the awareness of oneself "just sitting." The practice is so simple in execution that it has sometimes been called the "method of no-method, " yet to master it, the practitioner must first grasp the method in order to learn how to let go of it. When fully penetrated, this radical form of emptying one’s busy mind-stream leads to perception of the vast ocean of pure awareness.
Chan Master Sheng Yeh is the best-known Chan master in American, having taught regularly in the West for twenty years. Hw is the author or numerous books, including 《Song of Mind》、《Complete Enlightenment》 and 《Attaining the Way》.
A Guide to the Practice of Chan Buddhism This is an inspiring guide to the practice of Chan (Chinese Zen) in the words of four great masters of that tradition. It includes teachings from contemporary masters Xuyun and Sheng Yen, and from Jiexian and Boshan of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Though the texts were written over a period of hundreds of years, they are all remarkably lucid and are perfect for beginners as well as more advanced practitioners today. All the main points of spiritual practice are covered: philosophical foundations, methods, approaches to problems and obstacles—all aimed at helping the student attain the way to enlightenment. 本書結集了四位禪師的禪修指導,包括明代曹洞宗的博山(無異元來)禪師、臨濟宗的晦山戒顯禪師的禪法,以及近代虛雲法師與聖嚴法師的禪法。內容涵括修行的各個面向,包括哲學基礎、實修方法、問題與障礙的解決,以及如何將修行融入生活中等。書中的資訊無論是對禪修初學者或已經深入修行的人,都能有所助益。 ●作者簡介: 聖嚴法師,一九三○年出生,少年出家,曾於高雄山中閉關六年,並留學日本,獲得立正大學文學博士學位,曾任雜誌編輯、教授、所長以及譯經院院長等,創辦中華佛學研究所、創建法鼓山、僧伽大學、法鼓大學以及社會大學等,在國內設立禪修、文教、慈善等基金會,而分支道場亦遍及於歐、亞、美、澳等各大洲。他是一位教育家、作家,更是一位宗教家和國際知名的禪師,長年在國內外推動「心靈環保」、「種族和諧」及「世界和平」等工作不餘遺力。他所獲得的榮譽獎項中,包括總統文化獎、行政院文化獎、行政院社會領袖和風獎、中山文藝創作獎、中山學術著作獎、斐德烈二世和平獎等十多種。出版著作一百多種,已有十多種語言的譯著。他曾應邀為《中華日報》、《中央日報》、《聯合報》、《中國時報》、《自由時報》等各大報紙,及《天下》、《康健》等雜誌撰寫專欄。
In Buddhism, awakening from the long dream of life means realizing your self-nature… Although we may understand that our lives are dreamlike, we still bear responsibility for this sleeping and waking dream We must make our minds simple, peaceful, and tranquil Sincere and rigorous practice lets us calm both body and mind, which in turn allows us, day by day, to reduce our karmic obstructions”
All projections of sentient beings are like flowers in the sky When the illusory flower vanishes, the sky is not marred “With this fine new translation of , and penetrating contemporary commentary on The Sutra of Complete Enlightenment, Master Sheng Yen, a teacher of superb qualifications, kindly shared his lucid teaching with us The resulting book is learned and compassionate, wise and practical It is sure to benefit all who, in these complex times, earnestly seek to tread the Buddha’s Way”
Master Sheng-yen, a dharma descendant from the founders of Buddhism in China, considers the concepts of suffering, enlightenment, and compassion; provides a glossary of key terms; and briefly recaps the history of Buddhism in China But he goes beyond these issues to discuss contemporary matters and question he has encountered in his years of teaching in the United States Sometimes personal and always instructive, Sheng Yen’s introductory work is perfect for those just coming to Buddhism, and for those who are already very familiar with the Tibetan and Zen schools.
There is no suffering, no cause of suffering, no cessation of suffering, and no path There is no wisdom and no attainment
The Heart Sutra, just over a page long, distills the teachings of the Buddha to their purest essence Perhaps the best known of all Buddhist sutras, it is recited in Buddhist centers and monasteries around the world Emphasizing a living wisdom directly experienced, the schools of Chan have revered the Heart Sutra for its concise expression of the core realization of the Buddha.
There Is No Suffering is Chan Master Sheng Yen’s commentary on the Heart Sutru He speaks on the sutra from the Chan point of view, and presents it as a series of contemplation methods, encouraging readers to experience it directly through meditation and daily life In this way, reading the Heart Sutra becomes more than just an intellectual exercise; it becomes a wisdom inherent within each of us Whether one wants a better understanding of Buddhist concepts or a deepened meditation practice, this commentary on the Heart Sutra can help.
Zen, in Chinese, is Ch’an In Zen Wisdom, renowned Ch’an Master Sheng Yen, speak to his students’ questions about Practice, Philosophy and Doctrine, and Social Issues He guides them through the difficult waters of contradiction “Ch’an masters acknowledge intelligence and learning,” he says But “the enlightened state that Ch’an speaks of is and it cannot be understood through deductive reasoning…Ch’an masters teach their students to leave behind all concepts, so they might experience enlightenment for themselves”
“Ironically, enlightened beings use reasoning, intelligence and language to help others practice To communicate the benefits of Ch’an, they use tools based on knowledge and experience”
“Intelligence before enlightenment is intelligence with attachment Wisdom is intelligence without attachment”
“NO WORDS CAN EXPLAIN ENLIGHTEMNENT,” says the seventh-century Chinese Zen classic Xin Ming, or “Song of Mind,” yet paradoxically, this poem is a masterpiece of expressing what cannot be expressed in words In his commentary on it, Chan Master Sheng Yen takes a practical approach, opening up the language of the Xin Ming to show students how to approach meditation, how to deal with problems that arise in their spiritual practice, and how to accomplish the imperative task of integrating this practice into every aspect of one’s life “True understanding comes only with direct experience,” according to Master Sheng Yen “These lectures, the Buddhist sutras, songs, poems, and commentaries are useful only insofar as they encourage you to practice and incorporate the Dharma into your daily life” The book takes the form of a week-ling retreat of an evening talk given on a particular section of the text-giving this book a uniquely intimate feeling and creating an impression of being right there with the master as he brings the text to life.