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ACCORDING to the Buddha, we all have inherent in ourselves the Tathagata's wisdom which is unknown to us and which we cannot use because of our ignorance. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
ACCORDING to the Buddha, we all have inherent in ourselves the Tathagata's wisdom which is unknown to us and which we cannot use because of our ignorance. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An excellent introduction to the various meditation techniques used by Buddhists and Taoist. A very important message regarding meditation is that the quality of one's meditation is directly proportional to one's virtue. Cultivate virtue and your meditation will be successful.
The chapters on Zen and Pure Land meditation techniques are highly recommended. Patriarch Hsu Yun's discourse on using the "hua tou", or koan, is extremely valuable.
The chapters on Zen and Pure Land meditation techniques are highly recommended. Patriarch Hsu Yun's discourse on using the "hua tou", or koan, is extremely valuable.
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An excellent book on meditation. Very well written and comprehensive. This book should not only be read, it should be studied. I learn something new from it every time. This is a scholarly work, but it is not difficult to understand. The book is scientific in its study of the mind and how to bring about its control. It has none of the fluff that is associated with some new age books. This book has all substance. It has been in print for dozens of years, and little wonder. It is excellent.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a remarkable book. It is a depository of of exact and reliable knowledge regarding various meditative techniques that existed in China prior to the Communist Revolution of 1949. This book carries the following dedication penned by Charles Luk:
'To the memory of Carl Gustav Jung and Lobzang Jivaka whose encouragement has sustained my humble efforts to present to Western Buddhists the Dharma as taught in my country.'
There are seven chapters:
1. Self-cultivation as taught in the Surangama Sutra.
2. Self-cultivation according to the Ch'an (Zen) school.
3. Self-cultivation according to the Pure Land school.
4. Self-cultivation according to the T'ien T'ai (Tendai) school.
5. Self-cultivation according to the Taoist school.
6. Authentic experiments with Buddhist and Taoist methods of self-cultivation.
7. Physical and spiritual culture according to Chinese yoga.
The Surangama Sutra, as covered in chapter 1 conveys the story of how Buddha ordered Manjusri to examine 25 methods of meditation, and choose which one would best suit Ananda and those in the Dharma ending age - Charles Luk points out that this applies to ourselves. Manjusri chose the method favoured by Avalokitesvara, which he deemed the most effective for human beings. This method involves disengaging the organ of hearing from its object - sound - and then directing that organ into the stream of concentration. When 'sound' and 'stream-entry' have been successfully wiped-out, the illusion that is one-sided stillness, and disturbance disappears.
As is usual for much of Luk's work, the Dharma teachings of Ch'an master Xu Yun (1840-1959) are clearly presented. Luk also presents and describes the well known 'wu jia', or five schools of Ch'an and explains the difference between relative and absolute enlightenment. Ch'an masters strove only to realise full and absolute enlightenment, and in so doing cultivated the patient endurance of the uncreate.
The 6th chapter, in part, presents an English translation of Yin Shih Tsu's book entitled 'Yin Shih Tsu's Experimental Meditation for the Promotion of Health'. This offers a detailed explanation of the use of Daoist (Taoist) meditation and the author's experience of energy (qi) vibrations in various areas (cavities) of the body, and the resultant energy flow attained. The author also offers an intriguing description of the 'Pho-wa' (consciousness ejection) method of Buddhist tantra meditation that strives to open the Brahma aperture situated at the crown of the head. This is the area that consciousness leaves the body for re-birth in the Pure Land.
All the methods mentioned in this book ultimately reconcile at the source. Different methods suit different seekers, and Luk's insight and wisdom guide the reader logically through each method from beginner to enlightenment. In this age of false teaching motivated by greed, this book is crucial as part of the process of preserving authentic traditional knowledge.
'To the memory of Carl Gustav Jung and Lobzang Jivaka whose encouragement has sustained my humble efforts to present to Western Buddhists the Dharma as taught in my country.'
There are seven chapters:
1. Self-cultivation as taught in the Surangama Sutra.
2. Self-cultivation according to the Ch'an (Zen) school.
3. Self-cultivation according to the Pure Land school.
4. Self-cultivation according to the T'ien T'ai (Tendai) school.
5. Self-cultivation according to the Taoist school.
6. Authentic experiments with Buddhist and Taoist methods of self-cultivation.
7. Physical and spiritual culture according to Chinese yoga.
The Surangama Sutra, as covered in chapter 1 conveys the story of how Buddha ordered Manjusri to examine 25 methods of meditation, and choose which one would best suit Ananda and those in the Dharma ending age - Charles Luk points out that this applies to ourselves. Manjusri chose the method favoured by Avalokitesvara, which he deemed the most effective for human beings. This method involves disengaging the organ of hearing from its object - sound - and then directing that organ into the stream of concentration. When 'sound' and 'stream-entry' have been successfully wiped-out, the illusion that is one-sided stillness, and disturbance disappears.
As is usual for much of Luk's work, the Dharma teachings of Ch'an master Xu Yun (1840-1959) are clearly presented. Luk also presents and describes the well known 'wu jia', or five schools of Ch'an and explains the difference between relative and absolute enlightenment. Ch'an masters strove only to realise full and absolute enlightenment, and in so doing cultivated the patient endurance of the uncreate.
The 6th chapter, in part, presents an English translation of Yin Shih Tsu's book entitled 'Yin Shih Tsu's Experimental Meditation for the Promotion of Health'. This offers a detailed explanation of the use of Daoist (Taoist) meditation and the author's experience of energy (qi) vibrations in various areas (cavities) of the body, and the resultant energy flow attained. The author also offers an intriguing description of the 'Pho-wa' (consciousness ejection) method of Buddhist tantra meditation that strives to open the Brahma aperture situated at the crown of the head. This is the area that consciousness leaves the body for re-birth in the Pure Land.
All the methods mentioned in this book ultimately reconcile at the source. Different methods suit different seekers, and Luk's insight and wisdom guide the reader logically through each method from beginner to enlightenment. In this age of false teaching motivated by greed, this book is crucial as part of the process of preserving authentic traditional knowledge.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Meditation techniques for the layman.
This is an excellent book for meditators wishing to practice without a teacher. Charles Luk has presented methods, which although Chinese in origin, can be practiced by anyone of... Read more
Published 7 months ago by lifeforce
Old thoughts for new actions
This is a book about the ways to consciousness. Different ways for different individuals. People who read it should be trained to meditation, otherwise they would not be able to... Read more
Published on 15 Dec 2009 by claudia calogero
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