Words on
the way of Zen
Reflections on practice, tradition, and the everyday path of Zen.
Reciting the Buddha's Name as the Cause, Rebirth as the Fruit
Belief in the cause means having deep faith that even reciting the Buddha's name with a scattered mind still plants a seed of Buddhahood — so how much more so when one recites single-mindedly, without distraction? How could such a person...
ReadEverything You Do in a Day Is Working Against Your Longevity
These conditions come in two kinds of assistance. Which two? One is the proximate condition—liberation comes quickly, attainment is swift. The other is the distant cause and condition; one attains liberation only after a long time. Speed...
ReadThe Practice of Samadhi Requires Both Cessation and Insight
There are many forms of the "perfection of samadhi," too many to cover completely here. Instead, I'll briefly outline three: first, worldly samadhi; second, trans-worldly samadhi; and third, supreme trans-worldly samadhi.
ReadKnowing the Suffering Nature of This Five-Aggregate Body-Mind Is the Very Virtue of the Dharma Body
“With each passing thought, impermanence holds sway; deluded feelings grow ever coarser—this is what we call sudden collapse.” Once the wheel of rebirth turns with a single deluded thought, and that momentum carries forward unbroken over...
ReadVen. Gang Xiao: ECT Therapy for Difficult Conditions — Chapter 3: Conditions Recognized by Modern Psychiatry
Conditions Recognized by Modern Psychiatry
ReadProfessor Lin Chong-An: Selflessness and Emptiness — Lecture 5: The Selflessness and Emptiness of the Madhyamaka Prasangika School
Lecture 5
ReadVenerable Master Gangxiao: ECT Therapy for Intractable and Complicated Diseases, Chapter 2: Inspirations from Morita Theory
Inspirations from Morita Theory
ReadProfessor Lin Chong'an: No-Self and Emptiness, Lecture 4: Refuting Real Existence and Intrinsic Existence
Self and Emptiness, Lecture 4
ReadVen. Gangxiao: ECT Therapy for Intractable Illnesses — Chapter 1: Raising the Question
There is a class of illnesses rooted in psychological causes. When treated with standard physiological medicine, they often respond poorly, becoming what we call intractable conditions. ECT counts as both a device-based therapy and, at t...
ReadProfessor Lin Chong'an: No-Self and Emptiness, Lecture Three — Refuting the Substantially Existent Self
Self and Emptiness, Lecture Three
ReadJiufeng Mountain: Entertainment Consumerism and AI-ism: A Hidden Prelude to the Decline of Human Civilization
Throughout the long arc of human history, a warning echoes again and again: when a society places entertainment and consumption at the pinnacle of its values, surrendering to the senses’ immediate gratification while abandoning the pursu...
ReadVenerable Master Gangxiao: Zen Seven Lecture – Reciting the Buddha's Name with the Three Minds
Amitabha. Blessings to all the masters.
Read