Essential Chan Buddhism is the rare unearthing of an ancient and remarkable Chinese spiritual tradition. Master Guo Jun speaks through hard-won wisdom on Chan’s spiritual themes familiar to Western readers, such as mindfulness and relaxation in meditation, as well as profound, simply expressed teachings and insightful explorations of religious commitment. Essential Chan Buddhism filters formal spiritual practices through the lens of mundane and everyday life activities. The work captures the lyrical beauty and incantatory style of Guo Jun’s spoken English from the talks he gave at a fourteen-day retreat near Jakarta in 2010 and in subsequent conversations with his editor Kenneth Wapner. This value-priced hardcover edition is both a distinctive addition to Buddhist collections and a thoughtful gift for anyone looking for spiritual guidance.
Chan master Guo Jun is one of a new breed of international teachers taking the world’s great wisdom traditions into the twenty-first century. He is currently abbot of Mahabodhi Monastery in Singapore and teaches internationally. Chan master Sheng Yen’s youngest dharma heir, he served as abbot of his Pine Bush, New York, retreat center from 2005 to 2008. A native of Singapore, Guo Jun received his full monastic ordination in Taiwan. He is a lineage holder and successor in Chan as well as the Xianshou and Cien schools of Chinese Buddhism. Essential Chan Buddhism is his first book.
Kenneth Wapner ’s Peekamouse Books is a book packager and editor. Clients include Bantam, Tarcher/Putnam, Ballantine, and Doubleday. He is well known for his work on Rabbi Jesus, Bones of the Master, and The Zen of Creativity.
Tabla de materias
Contents
Foreword
Chapter One: Impermanence
Chapter Two: Tigers and Pussycats
Chapter Three: Breath
Chapter Four: Heart-to-Heart: Sitting
Chapter Five: Relaxation
Chapter Six: Connecting to the World
Chapter Seven: Farming Meditation
Chapter Eight: Floating
Chapter Nine: Wisdom
Chapter Ten: Hen Hatching Egg
Chapter Eleven: The Vow
Chapter Twelve: Four Cups
Chapter Thirteen: Grass on the Fire
Chapter Fourteen: Courage
Chapter Fifteen: Graceful Equanimity
Chapter Sixteen: Tok Tok Cheng
Chapter Seventeen: Mindfulness in Chan
Chapter Eighteen: Ocean of Energy
Chapter Nineteen: Returning
Chapter Twenty: Purpose
Chapter Twenty-one: Respect for Ancestors
Chapter Twenty-two: Soft Kindness
Chapter Twenty-three: Let It Come, Let It Go
Chapter Twenty-four: The Waterfall
Chapter Twenty-five: Sky Mind
Chapter Twenty-six: Salt and Sheep
Chapter Twenty-seven: The Way Out
Chapter Twenty-eight: Changing Our Minds
Chapter Twenty-nine: Womb Breathing
Chapter Thirty: Turtle Breathing
Chapter Thirty-one: Prostrations
Chapter Thirty-two: The Cool and Gentle Ointment of Chan
Chapter Thirty-three: Fully Engaged
Chapter Thirty-four: Chan and Art
Chapter Thirty-five: Chan and Sex
Chapter Thirty-six: Straight Foundation, Sharp Ax
Chapter Thirty-seven: How We Treat Others
Chapter Thirty-eight: See For Yourself
Chapter Thirty-nine: Buddha Nature
Chapter Forty: Blind Cat, Dead Mouse
Chapter Forty-one: Sleeping Buddha
Chapter Forty-two: True Love
Chapter Forty-three: Enlightenment Will Get You
Chapter Forty-four: Sweet Potato
Chapter Forty-five: Our Birthright
Chapter Forty-six: A Taste Like the Ocean
Chapter Forty-seven: My First Master
Acknowledgments
Editor’s Note
About the Author
Sobre el autor
CHAN MASTER GUO JUN was ordained as a novice monk at Mahabodhi Monastery, Singapore under Venerable Master Song Nian and received his full monastic ordination at Guangde Monastery, Taiwan under Venerable Master Jingxin, Venerable Master Liaozhong, and Venerable Master Guangyuan.
Dharma heir of Venerable Master Shengyen from Dharma Drum Mountain, Taiwan and Venerable Master Qinyin from Fuhui Monastery, Taiwan; Venerable Guo Jun is the lineage holder and successor of the Chan, Xianshou, and Cien schools of Chinese Buddhism. He has also studied and practiced in Thai, Burmese, Chinese Pure Land, Tibetan, Korean Son, and Japanese Shingon traditions.
Guo Jun was the deputy director of Dharma propagation at Singapore Buddhist Federation and abbot of Dharma Drum Retreat Center, New York. He is a member of Australian Psychological Society; spiritual and guiding teacher of Chan Meditation Centre Australia, Chan Community Canada, Dharmajala Indonesia; and abbot of Mahabodhi Monastery, Singapore.
Guo Jun has a diploma in biotechnology from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore; a degree in Buddhist philosophy from Fuyan Buddhist Institute, Taiwan; a bachelor of arts in psychology and sociology from Monash University, Australia and a master of Buddhist studies at the University of Sydney, Australia.
Guo Jun is actively propagating the teachings and practices of Chinese Buddhism. He has taught in different parts of the world such as Australia, Canada, Europe, Indonesia, North America, and Singapore.
ROBERT THURMAN is an author of popular and scholarly Buddhist works and frequent translator of H.H. the Dalai Lama.
KENNETH WAPNER’s company Peekamoose Productions develops book and film projects. Kenneth is an author, editor, book doctor, agent, co-writer, ghostwriter, journalist, and book packager. As an author, his books have included national bestsellers and been published by major houses including Putnam, Bantam, Villard, Miramax, Random House and Free Press. His work has appeared in many national magazines and newspapers, including Gourmet, Field & Stream, LA Times, Chicago Tribune, and Philadelphia Inquirer