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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.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The best guidebook on just sitting meditation I have read!
The book makes the so called advanced practice of silent illumination acessible to the lay person by breaking it down into stages.
Recomended for all students of Soto Zen and Chan Buddhism.
The book makes the so called advanced practice of silent illumination acessible to the lay person by breaking it down into stages.
Recomended for all students of Soto Zen and Chan Buddhism.
Format:Paperback
Although this is a good book - I much prefer Illuminating Silence by the same author. This one may be a bit more easier to digest and is possibly better laid out but the content of Illuminating Silence is deeper and more thorough.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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4 reviews
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
A Retreat in a Book
8 Dec 2008
Format:Paperback
Someone a few weeks back lamented their inability to go on a retreat. This book is the perfect solution to that situation, as it's essentially a retreat in book form. I introduced Master Sheng Yen a while back when I reviewed his book "Footprints in the Snow." I was impressed with that biography, and wanted to learn more about his actual teachings, so when he released this latest book, I jumped on the opportunity to read it. This book is basically a cleaned-up transcript of one of the week-long retreats that he offers.
There are three main sections to the book, "The Practice of Silent Illumination", "Master Hongzhi's Discourse: First Commentary", and "Master Hongzhi's Discourse: Second Commentary." Master Hongzhi lived from 1091-1157 and was the first to write about the practice of Silent Illumination. Sheng Yen has deeply researched into this Master and teaches his ancient method today.
The first section of the book is broken up into seven days' teachings on how to practice Silent Illumination. Silent Illumination, to put it simply (probably too simply), seems to be a combination of "Empty Mind" meditation combined with the idea of being one with the environment. Sheng Yen gives several short talks each day, and each has a small section with that day's teachings. If you wanted to know what goes on in a retreat, this book is a clear way to see without actually attending one.
The second and third sections are also broken up into seven days' teachings, but are more theoretical, explaining the original writings of Hongzhi in a modern way.
Since this is basically a transcription of a real week long seminar, there is some repetition, as the teacher reiterates some of what has gone before, but it's not overly repetitious. Actually, some of the expansions in the later days really clarify what silent Illumination is all about.
Although practice and success at Silent Illumination is not an easy thing, the book is not complicated at all. There is some Buddhist jargon in the book, but whenever a new term is introduced, the word is marked with an *asterisk to show that it is explained in the glossary. He explains the practice of meditation, and explains that there are stages in Silent Illumination, but that not all of them are necessary; you might choose to focus on one stage forever. The book is reasonably short, but it did take me a while to get through it, as there is a lot here to think about.
Bottom Line: If you want to learn how a real Master teaches real meditation and theory in a real retreat setting, this is it. The language is easy and conversational, the ideas are not complex (quite the opposite in fact), yet there is enough depth here that you could spend the rest of your life mastering it.
There are three main sections to the book, "The Practice of Silent Illumination", "Master Hongzhi's Discourse: First Commentary", and "Master Hongzhi's Discourse: Second Commentary." Master Hongzhi lived from 1091-1157 and was the first to write about the practice of Silent Illumination. Sheng Yen has deeply researched into this Master and teaches his ancient method today.
The first section of the book is broken up into seven days' teachings on how to practice Silent Illumination. Silent Illumination, to put it simply (probably too simply), seems to be a combination of "Empty Mind" meditation combined with the idea of being one with the environment. Sheng Yen gives several short talks each day, and each has a small section with that day's teachings. If you wanted to know what goes on in a retreat, this book is a clear way to see without actually attending one.
The second and third sections are also broken up into seven days' teachings, but are more theoretical, explaining the original writings of Hongzhi in a modern way.
Since this is basically a transcription of a real week long seminar, there is some repetition, as the teacher reiterates some of what has gone before, but it's not overly repetitious. Actually, some of the expansions in the later days really clarify what silent Illumination is all about.
Although practice and success at Silent Illumination is not an easy thing, the book is not complicated at all. There is some Buddhist jargon in the book, but whenever a new term is introduced, the word is marked with an *asterisk to show that it is explained in the glossary. He explains the practice of meditation, and explains that there are stages in Silent Illumination, but that not all of them are necessary; you might choose to focus on one stage forever. The book is reasonably short, but it did take me a while to get through it, as there is a lot here to think about.
Bottom Line: If you want to learn how a real Master teaches real meditation and theory in a real retreat setting, this is it. The language is easy and conversational, the ideas are not complex (quite the opposite in fact), yet there is enough depth here that you could spend the rest of your life mastering it.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Very straightfoward and useful book
10 May 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Few books go into as much detail on the method of Mo Chao as this book by master Sheng Yen. In Zen the same method is known by the japanese name, "Shikantaza". Here Chan master Sheng Yen elucidates the method, its importance and its uses within the context of his Chan tradition. Whether your strictly Zen or familiar with Chan buddhism, if you like the silent illumination style of practice, if you like methods like Dzogchen for example, then you will love this book and find very practical examples of how practice and concentration works. Master Sheng Yen is the only Chan master I have ever heard of that actually went on a speaking tour with the Dali Lama. He is a highly respected teacher becasue fo his gnosis and ability to illucidate the fine aspects of sitting practice.
One final suggestion, this practice is really for people that have already generated a degree of concentration or samatha. Its really a method specific book. It is all about the specific method of entering into the stillness and silence of the mind through using the attention as the object of meditation itself. While th emethod is easily explained by Master Sheng Yen it requires some previous experience in meditation in my opinion. If you consider yourself a serious practicioner then this is great book for you.
One final suggestion, this practice is really for people that have already generated a degree of concentration or samatha. Its really a method specific book. It is all about the specific method of entering into the stillness and silence of the mind through using the attention as the object of meditation itself. While th emethod is easily explained by Master Sheng Yen it requires some previous experience in meditation in my opinion. If you consider yourself a serious practicioner then this is great book for you.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
The Method of No-Method
15 Feb 2012
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
When I picked up this book I had no clue of what Chan is or had never heard of it before but when I read it through just first three days of this book, I realized and was amazed to see how realistically the master author has fulfilled the need and dream of so many who do not have access to legitimate live teachers who will guide them on their way telling and interpreting what it means when something happens or something does not happen. Shifu Sheng Yen has touched the substance without wasting any time of the audience in this book. The book itself is a 7 days long retreat, however, you can use it for your life. He not only himself directly goes and reaches the core but also takes you with him. The translator Guogu has done an excellent job in capturing the essence of the Chan teaching. You need not be a believer or of certain religion if you want to practice it. Just start on the practice and you will discover what the book is all about.
This is a must book if you are reading or are planning to read Cultivating the Empty Field: The Silent Illumination of Zen Master Hongzhi.
This is a must book if you are reading or are planning to read Cultivating the Empty Field: The Silent Illumination of Zen Master Hongzhi.
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