Difference

I have many students who come from all over the world such as the US, the UK, Wales, Scotland, Italy, Russia, Spain, Israel etc. Of course the majority are Chinese. A small problem is that I am not very good at writing my BLOG in English like I do in Chinese. The previous article is actually the written part of my foreign students' basic Zen exam. They like to get something to prove their learning. This western way seems a bit funny because we Zen cultivators would prefer to just let everything be, in this case, we say it's "Bu'er" in Chinese, which means no difference and non distinguishable, we always say there isnt too much difference between process and result. A Few days ago, one of my Russian students said it seems that orientals like the western way, and a lot westerners like the eastern way as well. Many of my foreign friends happily immerse themselves in Chinese culture, some of them are really into I-go, some are into tea ceremony or calligraphy, traditional Chinese painting, Chinese history, flowers-birds-fish-and-insects, and even Chinese Zither or Chinese herbalism, the rest are into delicious food tasting as well. I sometimes make a joke that the Chinese character wan'er∈瘁∷, which means to have fun is just a knowledge". Generally, wan'er is more difficult than learning because there is no course to start and the first important element is appreciation. One of my friends used to say "the more supports, the better life" . Pagan is a new word never really popular in Chinese history. But from European history, we can tell that 50% of wars happen between different religions and sects. So we say, China is lucky because the comprehensive culture works very well. Confucianism has the wise saying that "Something we don't want to do, neither force others to do".Also, a saying from Buddhism says: Be friendly and helpful to make kind relations. That's it.

Vist Bailinsi Temple

At the south-eastern corner of Zhaoxian county, Hebei province, there is an old temple which sits by the Zhao zhou bridge, which is called "The First bridge under the heaven". It's well-known as "the root temple" for the Zen sect of Buddhism in China. This serene temple receives thousands of visiters who take a profound interest in Chinese Zen culture. It also attracts numerous Zen learners from India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Austria, the US and France, to name but a few. This "May first" (Golden week), trainees from Medipath Zen Club took a trip there too. It only takes about 4 hours to get there from Beijing. The nine Medipath learners were fortunate in that the evening service was just starting as they finished checking-in and taking their luggage to Cha xiang lou(Tea fragrancy building)dormitory. Generally, the main courses are morning and evening services when learners are doing training in Bailin temple. These two services are held in the Ten-thousand Buddhas palace, it's also the place to worship The Five Dhyani Buddhas(Sanscrit: VairOcana). In the morning and evening services, we have the chance to learn the formal way of bowing to the Buddha, the way to pick up incense, how to put the palms together and worship, how to make wishes and confessions, how to repay benefit. With the influence of the Monks, you will easily follow all the Buddhist rules and etiquette. You are woken up by the board-knocking at about 4:30am, when you are still enjoying sweet dreams. The sounds remind people to be ready for the morning service, the bell is just after the board. At exactly 5am with the scent of incense and Buddhist tools' song, with the euphony of chanting, it feels as if you are staying in the land of Buddha. You can't help forgetting the earthliness and throw the fatigue and weariness far far away, you feel delightful in both body and mind, the joy invoked by the sound of the monks chanting sutras makes you want to stay for another century or two. Step into the palace Sutras for chanting in the morning and evening services are set, it will run overtime a bit if more sutras need to be chanted when Buddhist ceremonies happen. Normally, breakfast is after the morning service, then free time, some learners like to help cleaning the refectory, some sweep the yard, some go to the dormitory or palaces doing some work, or some just kotow in the palaces or walk around the pagoda. The Zhao zhou pagoda is walked around because of the great Master Cong Nian's relics (sanscrit: sarira). According to the tradition of Buddhism, you will obtain numerous blessings if you worship or put palms together whilst walking around from the left side. You can also visit the Zhao zhou bridge or the ancient stone bridge as long as you come back before lunch at 11:30. Take a rest Learners have some time to take a nap, or go to the circulating office to look for books or CDs in the afternoon, or visit the old Buddha hut, then evening service starts from 16:30. At this time all Medipath trainees enjoy two speical arrangements: visit The Ten-thousand Buddhas building, stand on the second floor to see the hall where they attended the morning and evening services, as though they are floating in Buddha heaven; talk with the youngest abbot with the highest education in China and taste the famous "Zhao zhou tea". The evening service takes about 1 hour. It will be extended if a Buddhist ceremony is taking place. Dinner is served straight after it, many monks don't eat after noon because they are fasting. Taking a stroll in the temple yard after the evening service everything is cozy and serene. Where on earth can we find such a quiet place as this? It's Zazen time from 19:30 in the Wenshu building or Puxian building, this tells us that we are drawing close to the end of a busy day. After Zazen, some learners seize the last few minutes before sleep to walk around the Pagoda, some take a stroll to take in the beautiful scenery between the moon and pine trees in the yard and wait for the dusk drum, the rest just step on the bell-drum pavillion to experience the heart-shocking moment of the drum. When you hear the board-knocking again at 21:30, you know it's time to sleep. another interesting day is just around the corner! Time always runs so fast, three days whizz by in a flash. The peace and calm, the bell at dawn and the drum at dusk, the sutras chanting, and the waving incense, everything here seems to be gone forever once we step out of the temple gate. But none of this would go to waste, mercy karma is unstoppable and unbreakable, it always comes again when the time is right.

Foundation of Zen Training(by Justin)

The practice of Zen is like juggling, you just throw the balls up in the air, easy, right? It is very easy in words, but when it comes down to practicing, this easy vale is soon lifted? When starting sitting meditation, I knew that I just had to sit and not think, easy peasy, just sit and do not think, do not think, do not think, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I am thinking about not thinking. I soon discovered that it was a lot easier said than done and that a lot of time and energy is needed in mastering just the foundation of Zen practice. The Zen path is by all accounts an illusive fellow, it is not something that can be seen by the practitioner, or is it something that is taught by the teacher, it is something that arises naturally out of the time and effort put into practice.Zen training has two fundamental principals; 1, through focus and calm you reach samahdi2, through meditation and mindfulness you reach wisdom Zen training has 2 common mistakes; 1, over concentration, focusing too hard2, lack of concentration, losing mindfulness Zen has 3 basic tools for overcoming these mistakes; 1, adjust the body2, adjust the breath3, adjust the mind To overcome the block of breath and energy we sit alone, patiently waiting, when the breathing and counting and focusing all come together as one, then we will know we have overcome breath training. The new trainee feels mainly pain and unease, but the experienced trainee feels only joy and comfort.When starting Zen training these basic issues come up time and time again, any difficulties that arise from the training need to be dealt with accordingly, through mindfulness and patience, not with a big hammer. I think this short story illustrates the point better; One day the sun and the north wind were having an argument over who was the strongest, the north wind seeing a young man walking down the street wearing a big coat bet the sun that he could make the man take off the coat first, the north wind blew and blew and blew, but the stronger he blew the tighter the man held his coat, he turned to the sun and said ∪I give up, your turn∩, the sun gently came from behind the clouds and shone a warm beam onto the man who thus took off his coat. In the same way, bad habits are overcome by good habits, bad technique is overcome by good technique, hatred is overcome by kindness, foolishness is overcome by wisdom. Bad things are softly and quietly overcome by good.