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.
每個人的生命都是一部感恩史,惠敏法師的傳記,讓人重溫近代佛門弘法歷程,看見珍貴師徒情誼,看見臺灣佛教艱辛歲月,更直接感受動人願力。除感恩來時路,惠敏法師更以前瞻的眼光與夢想,無畏地擘劃新格局,為佛教開路。
本書由侯坤宏、卓遵宏專訪惠敏法師,收錄近百張彩照,以及許多惠敏法師精彩文摘。全書共分三大篇:
一、兩段學生時期:包括出家前的學習與出家後的學習,臺北醫學院藥學系畢業後出家,就讀中華佛學研究所,留學日本東京大學取得博士。
二、三頭工作時期:同時擔任西蓮淨苑、國立藝術學院、中華佛學研究所等單位管理要職,不論曾任臺北藝術大學代理校長、中華佛學研究所副所長,現任西蓮淨苑住持、法鼓文理學院校長,都能面面俱到。
三、四個夢想(人腦、電腦、社區、學園)實踐:惠敏法師自認畢生探索三大問題:「我是誰?何謂生命?何謂社會?」而他的四大夢想實踐則是:人腦、電腦、社區、學園。
在六十歲生涯裡,惠敏法師每逢困境,皆是因感恩、報恩之心,而豁然開朗,以此命名本書。惠敏法師的傳記,以感恩心分享他的人生築夢方程式。讓我們隨著他一起探索佛海心宇宙!
●採訪者簡介:
侯坤宏一九五五年出生於臺灣嘉義,政治大學歷史系學士、碩士、博士;一九八六年起,任職國史館,曾任助修、科長、薦任協修、簡任協修、纂修、修纂處處長。目前已退休,仍繼續從事戰後臺灣史、臺灣佛教史、中國近代佛教史等方面之研究。著有《抗戰時期的中央財政與地方財政》(臺北:國史館,2000年)、《印順法師年譜》(臺北:國史館,2008年)、《真實與方便:印順思想研究》(臺北:法界,2009年)、《戰後臺灣漢傳佛教史》(合著)(臺北:五南,2011年)、《研究二二八》(臺北:博揚,2011年)、《仁俊法師學譜》(臺北:法鼓文化,2012年)、《浩劫與重生:一九四九年以來的大陸佛教》(臺南:妙心,2012年)、《抗日戰爭時期糧食供求問題研究》(北京:團結,2015年)等書。
卓遵宏 一九四三年出生於桃園。初於國立臺灣師範大學,攻讀歷史學士、碩士;旋負笈美國德州大學奧斯汀校區,主修金融史碩士、博士。臺灣政黨輪替後有感,轉研究宗教史。曾任國史館處長、纂修兼主任祕書。又兼任東吳大學、淡江大學、世新大學等校教授。期間尤有助益的是,雖短期擔任蔣中正晚年首席侍從祕書、秦孝儀的機要祕書,因得以親炙若干政要,體悟活的當代歷史。著有:《中國近代幣制改革史》(臺北:國史館,1986年)、《唐代進士與政治》(臺北:國立編譯館,1987年)、《成一法師訪談錄》(臺北:國史館、三民書局,2007年)、《南京國民政府十年經濟建設》(南京:南京大學出版社,2015年;列入中華民國專題史第6卷,主編兼合著者)、State and Economy in Republican China: A Handbook for Scholars(Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Asia Center, 2001, vol. I,合著)等,另論文近百篇。學術榮譽:中華文化復興委員會中正優良著作獎、嘉新水泥公司文化基金會優良學術著作獎,及多年榮獲國科會甲等研究獎助。