What is Chan?
Chan (jap: Zen) is complex, not so easy to pigeonhole. On the one hand, it is for many people in this world a religion that has its rites, which have been developed over thousands of years, depending on the country's customs is practiced.
On the other hand, Chan is also a philosophy that seems full of mythical aspects that allow the practitioner to "dive" into it. In Europe and in the USA Chan is glorified as a teaching, the ambiguities about the world view were pre-programmed. Too little basic knowledge is available, too few masters are active, too many subgroups have formed.
Fundamental to the Chan is meditation and, especially in Shaolin Temple China, meditative physical activity, which distinguishes it from the pure still sitting of the Japanese Zen monks.
Meditation is also possible in movement, for example in the 108 prostrations, or in Qi Gong.
Chan contains many a life-changing realization, which is sometimes not immediately perceived, which must first "sink in". The mind, but also the body must be prepared, everything must fit, the conditions must first be created. At the very beginning there is the decision.
Do I want this? Do I want to awaken? Do I give it a chance? Once the decision has been made, then the basis must be created.
A. Consciousness
Every person thinks of himself as going through life fully conscious. But is that so? When you get up, do you do it consciously? Or do you take a shower consciously? Do you consciously make your breakfast?
Probably not. They do it the way they have always done it, without thinking much, mostly even without "wasting" a thought on it. This has to change, you have to be aware of all the things that make up you (and your life) as well.
This newfound awareness will permeate all areas of your life, affecting your work, your friends and acquaintances, your family, your body. Even in your sleep you will have to become "aware" of you, everything belongs together, everything is separate.
You can achieve this with meditation, which will lead you into the state of unconscious consciousness, observing the thoughts that the thought palace spits out, then also following them, coming to the origin of these energies. In doing so, the thoughts are no longer allowed to do what they want, but they are contained, mindfully steered in a direction, led to rest. And of course replaced with something meaningful, with the thought of "enlightenment", which can then soon give peace to the madness.
Read on tomorrow to my series "What is Chan?"
The path is the goal!
May the teacher teach the students the teaching
- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
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