The Method of No-Method The Chan Practice of Silent Illumination
by YEN, SHENGFormat: Paperback
Pub. Date: 2008-11-11
Publisher(s): Shambhala
Other versions by this Author
-
This Item Qualifies for Free Shipping!*
*Excludes marketplace orders.
List Price: $19.90
Buy New
Arriving Soon. Will ship when available.
$18.95
Rent Book
Select for Price
Used Book
We're Sorry
Sold Out
eBook
We're Sorry
Not Available
How Marketplace Works:
- This item is offered by an independent seller and not shipped from our warehouse
- Item details like edition and cover design may differ from our description; see seller's comments before ordering.
- Sellers much confirm and ship within two business days; otherwise, the order will be cancelled and refunded.
- Marketplace purchases cannot be returned to eCampus.com. Contact the seller directly for inquiries; if no response within two days, contact customer service.
- Additional shipping costs apply to Marketplace purchases. Review shipping costs at checkout.
Summary
Here is a spiritual practice uncomplicated 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 nothing more than putting aside all thoughts except the awareness of oneself "just sitting." It's so simple in execution that it has sometimes been called the "method of no-method"yet simple as it is, the practice is subtle and profound, with the potential for ever subtler refinements as the practitioner moves toward mastery 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.
Author Biography
Master Sheng Yen is the best-known Chan (Chinese Zen) master in America, having taught in the U.S. since 1976. His Dharma Drum Buddhist Association has twenty-one centers throughout North America, as well as dozens of others throughout the world. He has co-led retreats with the Dalai Lama and is the author of numerous books.
Table of Contents
| Editor's Preface | p. ix |
| Acknowledgments | p. xiii |
| Translator's Introduction | p. xv |
| The Practice of Silent Illumination | |
| Before the Retreat | p. 3 |
| Evening Talk: Approach to Silent Illumination | p. 3 |
| The First Day | p. 8 |
| Morning Talk: Impermanence | p. 8 |
| Afternoon Talk: Key Points in Practicing the Method | p. 9 |
| The Second Day | p. 14 |
| Morning Talk: Some Common Problems | p. 14 |
| Afternoon Talk: Stages of Silent Illumination | p. 17 |
| The Third Day | p. 22 |
| Morning Talk: Emptiness and No-Self | p. 22 |
| Evening Talk: Be Completely in the Present | p. 26 |
| The Fourth Day | p. 29 |
| Dawn Talk: Correct Views and Practice | p. 29 |
| Morning Talk: Selflessness | p. 30 |
| The Fifth Day | p. 38 |
| Dawn Talk: Arousing Bodhi-Mind | p. 38 |
| Morning Talk: The Third Stage of Silent Illumination | p. 42 |
| The Sixth Day | p. 45 |
| Dawn Talk: Silent Illumination in Daily Life | p. 45 |
| Morning Talk: Direct Contemplation | p. 48 |
| The Seventh Day | p. 50 |
| Afternoon Talk: Repentance | p. 50 |
| End of Retreat | p. 53 |
| Dawn Talk: Gratitude, Transferring Merit, and Generosity | p. 53 |
| Master Hongzhi's Discourse: First Commentary | |
| On Silent Illumination: Excerpt from The Discourse Record of Chan Master Hongzhi | p. 59 |
| First Evening Lecture: The Great Function Is Free from Hindrances | p. 62 |
| Second Evening Lecture: Get Hold of the Essence | p. 74 |
| Third Evening Lecture: Cultivating the Mind-Field | p. 79 |
| Fourth Evening Lecture: The Ox-Mind Is Free from Fetters | p. 88 |
| Fifth Evening Lecture: Dharma Food | p. 93 |
| Sixth Evening Lecture: All Things Manifest as They Are | p. 97 |
| Master Hongzhi's Discourse: Second Commentary | |
| On Silent Illumination: Excerpt from The Discourse Record of Chan Master Hongzhi | p. 109 |
| First Evening Lecture: The State of Silent Illumination | p. 110 |
| Second Evening Lecture: Silence Is the Absence of Self | p. 115 |
| Third Evening Lecture: You and the Environment Sitting Together | p. 120 |
| Fourth Evening Lecture: The Intrinsic Field of Pure Mind | p. 124 |
| Fifth Evening Lecture: Just Directly Relinquish This Self | p. 131 |
| Sixth Evening Lecture: The Wondrous Function of All Things | p. 135 |
| Glossary | p. 139 |
| Index | p. 147 |
| Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved. |
An electronic version of this book is available through VitalSource.
This book is viewable on PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and most smartphones.
By purchasing, you will be able to view this book online, as well as download it, for the chosen number of days.
Digital License
You are licensing a digital product for a set duration. Durations are set forth in the product description, with "Lifetime" typically meaning five (5) years of online access and permanent download to a supported device. All licenses are non-transferable.
More details can be found here.
A downloadable version of this book is available through the eCampus Reader or compatible Adobe readers.
Applications are available on iOS, Android, PC, Mac, and Windows Mobile platforms.
Please view the compatibility matrix prior to purchase.