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~*Where is Your Buddha Nature*~
By Venerable Master Hsing Yun
The Essence of Ch'an
Ch'an is everywhere.
Mr. Lin has been learning Buddhism for quite some time and found sitting meditation very interesting. If there was a seven-day mediation retreat, Mr. Lin would attend without hesitation. He has lived through countless days and nights at meditation halls. Then one day, he no longer attended meditation retreats. Instead everyday after breakfast, Mr. Lin would leave the house stealthily. Mrs. Lin became suspicious of him having an affair, so she decided to follow him and find out what he has been up to.
After Mrs. Lin has been following her husband for a few days, all she could see is Mr. Lin standing on street pavements watching the passing cars and people. She started to have doubts, "Is my husband troubled mentally?" Soon after, the news spread to all of Mr. Lin's relatives and friends.
His relatives asking with concern, " Why do you stand on the street, what is so interesting to look at?
His friends also questioned," My friend, you are an experienced meditator. When meditating, we observe our breathing and mind. After all these years of practise, why is it you don't do sitting meditation anymore? Instead, you rather stand on the street and watch!"
Initially, Mr. Lin was unwilling to answer but he did not want his relatives and friends to worry about him. So he finally said," after many years of practice, I now understand that a true Ch'an practitioner cannot be enlightened just by sitting on the meditation mat. One must connect spiritually with all sentient beings. If a practitioner in Ch'an cannot see the sadness and hear the suffering voices of all sentient beings; the practitioner cannot become one with the rest of humanity in body and mind, the practitioner will not be able to comprehend the unlimited wisdom of the Buddhas, nor feel the strength that come from enlightenment.
Roads are like the winding rivers of life that carry the love and hatred of all sentient beings, and speak of the cause and conditions that come and go. Roads are our meditation halls of the world! All past, present and future Buddhas attained and will attain enlightenment among men. The fruit of Bodhi wisdom germinates with all sentient beings.
Meditation is not an escape from the world. A real practitioner is one whose mind can encompass the entire world, and treat humanity as a whole, without discrimination or segregations; a Ch'an practitioner who loathes the noises of the world and only love the solitude of the mountains and forests will not go far.
In every religious cultivation, the aim is to build and improve our character, so that the weak can be strong, the argumentative can be agreeable, the hateful become compassionate and the ignorant be wise. It is said:" a person who has accomplished a good character is an accomplished Buddha in heart. To give alms, to say kind words, to facilitate and to cooperate, these are the pilot lanterns that will guide us to the distant shores. Ch'an is here, there, everywhere; on mountains, in forests and along highways. Ch'an is the fire and to probe into the general way and meaning of life.
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