This chapter three is a commentary on the third portion of the third Chinese Chan Pariarch, Sengcan’s (6th-7th century C.E) Chan poem of enlightenment ‘Faith in Mind’ .The quintessence of Sakyamuni Buddha’s teaching is entirely crystallized in the stanzas of the ‘Faith in Mind’ .The author is a former Buddhist
lecturer of International Buddhist College , Southern Thailand.
The mysterious principle is the equanimity mainifested by the Buddha-mind in the midst of all worldly activities which are either adverse or favourable . Equanimity is the practice effected though the actualization of non-attachment and non-aversion in daily life . The principle of Chan practice is unperturbility and appeasement (upa’sama) of the mind under all circumstances of life which are either adverse or favourable . It is useless to practise tranquility meditation1 when one clings on to the pleasure of the calmness of the mind . Paradoxically , the experience of pleasure is more intense when there is non-attachment to it . This is the art of wise living of the Chan practioners. Tranquility must be practised on the basis of insight into the Buddha-nature . Tranquility , accomplished with the insight into the Buddha-nature , is the true practice of Chan . Chan practice is the non-gasping upon the five aggregates . When there is simultaneous arising of tranquility and insight , this is the true practice of Chan manifested through supreme virtue of human conduct.
Note :
1 For those highly witted individuals , such as the 6th Chinese Chan patriarch, the prior practice of
tranquility-insight Chan meditation is unnecessary. Owing to favourable sharp karmic root , they became instantaneously enlightened.
(To be Continue ... )
