Thu, 03 Jul 2008
Cleary, Thomas (trans.), Minding mind: a course in basic meditation
This is a collection of Chan/Zen meditation manuals.
This book contains the following works.
| Chan Master Hongren | Treatise on the Supreme Vehicle. |
| Chan Master Cijiao of Changlu | Models for sitting meditation. |
| Chan Master Foxin Bencai | Guidelines for sitting meditation. |
| Zen Master Dōgen | A generally recommended mode of sitting meditation. |
| Son Master Chinul | Secrets of cultivationg the mind. |
| Zen Master Ejō | Absorption in the treasury of light. |
| Man-an | An elementary talk on Zen. |
The translator has added a short introduction and some notes.
Most of these works are practical introductions to meditation, of
the sit up straight and put your hands on your lap
kind.
I had the most difficulty with the Absorption in the treasury of light, which seems to go on at great length about the importance of the correct doctrine, without ever saying what it is.
And I cannot answer Dōgen's question: The way is fundamentally
complete and perfect, all-pervasive; why expend effort? The vehicle of
the source is free; why expend effort? The whole being is utterly
beyond defiling dust; who would believe in a method of wiping it
clean? The whole is not apart from here; why go somewhere else to
practice?
But then, I am not sure he does; at least, I cannot understand his answer (other than, practice).
Cleary, Thomas (trans.). Minding mind: a course in basic meditation. 1995, Shambhala, Boston. paperback. 129 pages.
ISBN ISBN 1-57062-004-0.
