[无量香光 · 显密文库 · 手机站]
fowap.goodweb.net.cn
{返回首页}


4b. How to Investigate Chan,the Meditation Topic
 
{返回 The Chan Hand book 文集}
{返回网页版}
点击:1435

4b. How to Investigate Chan,
the Meditation Topic

Fighting poison with poison, a false thought stops false thoughts.

When investigating Chan, we use a meditation topic, an inquiry into what precedes the state of no thought. The most common meditation topic is “Who is mindful of the Buddha?” The inquiry into “who?” is sustained, just as though we were using a drill to pierce a hole through the mind. When we find out “who”, then we will be enlightened. However, we cannot deduce this by using our imagination. We cannot investigate it with our mind consciousness. Instead, we have to explore and search for where we have never been and what we have never known. Sometimes a breakthrough in the investigation brings sudden enlightenment. Space is shattered and the five skandhas disintegrate. This is described in the Heart Sutra:

“When Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara was practicing the profound prajna paramita, he illuminated the five skandas and saw that they are all empty, and he crossed beyond all suffering and difficulty. Shariputra! Form does not differ from emptiness; emptiness does not differ from form. Form itself is emptiness; emptiness itself is form. So too are all feeling, cognition, formation, and consciousness.”

When our investigation leads to the disintegration of the five skandhas, then we will not be influenced by the six sense objects. That is the first step to accomplishing Buddhahood. However, we still have to work very hard. Furthermore, you should know that Chan investigation is different from vigorously chanting the Buddha’s name. We do not incessantly chant, “Who is mindful of the Buddha? Who is mindful of the Buddha? Who is mindful of the Buddha,” as if we were shouting for help. Investigating the meditation topic has to be done slowly, as we carefully search for our self-nature. As it is said,

Investigating brings awakening.
Awakening requires investigating.

Actually, “Who is mindful of the Buddha?” is also a false thought, but it is a case of using poison to fight poison. We use one false thought to stop all false thoughts.


{返回 The Chan Hand book 文集}
{返回网页版}
{返回首页}

上一篇:Go with care. Avoid demonic possession.
下一篇:Sit perfectly still.
 2. What is Chan?
 The flavor of lightness and ease is..
 States may be false or true
 Silencing the mind reveals our wisd..
 Return of Spring
 Go with care. Avoid demonic possess..
 Sweep away all dharmas.Separate fro..
 1. Why Investigate Chan?
 Walk with Me
 Sit like a big bell.Walk like a lig..
全文 标题
 
【佛教文章随机阅读】
 第七部 从杀人魔到圣者之路 第二章 幡然醒悟[栏目:佛陀的圣弟子传]
 意外的收获[栏目:智文法师·散文随笔]
 净土大经解演义 第二一八集[栏目:净土大经解演义·净空法师]
 生死皆自在·第三章 因缘生,因缘灭——生与死的故事[栏目:生死皆自在]
 四谛[栏目:佛教词汇小百科]
 04-002名人语录之真理的力量[栏目:海涛法师弘法讲义-2004年]
 乾坤肚皮学得来(明一法师)[栏目:忍辱]
 阿赖耶识之「无明、爱结、有识之身」经证考察[栏目:惠敏法师]
 1736 华严经随疏演义钞卷 56-60[栏目:07 大方广佛华严经随疏演义钞]
 瑜伽师地论讲记 卷第六 (9)[栏目:瑜伽师地论讲记·妙境长老]


{返回首页}

△TOP

- 手机版 -
[无量香光·显密文库·佛教文集]
教育、非赢利、公益性的佛教文化传播
白玛若拙佛教文化传播工作室制作
www.goodweb.net.cn Copyrights reserved
(2003-2015)
站长信箱:yjp990@163.com