Ch'an and Daily Life

[JK Walz]

I've said it before and I'll say it again- I don't really know much about Ch'an, and I can't get "deep" discussing it, but I find myself thinking about it often through out the day....

I guess my question is this- do you feel you live your life abiding by Ch'an philosophy? Are you mindful of the eightfold path? Do you think of the 5 precepts when you act or the 4 noble thuths when you wonder about "life"?

If Hung Fa Yi and Ch'an are integral, can you practice HFY without practicing Ch'an? I don't mean only in the Kwoon- I mean at work, at home, driving, eating...whatever the scenario may be.

Drilling the system is one thing...it just seems to me that it is incomplete if you do not integrate the buddhist philosophy as well.

Thanks,

[passing_through]

Grand Master Moy Yat referred to integrating kung fu into your life as “Kung Fu Life.” This is synonymous with what you stated:

If Hung Fa Yi and Ch'an are integral, can you practice HFY without practicing Ch'an? I don't mean only in the Kwoon- I mean at work, at home, driving, eating...whatever the scenario may be.

HFY and Chan are integral so you can’t practice one without the other… even if you don’t personally realize it.

Drilling the system is one thing...it just seems to me that it is incomplete if you do not integrate the buddhist philosophy as well.

I guess my question is this- do you feel you live your life abiding by Ch'an philosophy? Are you mindful of the eightfold path? Do you think of the 5 precepts when you act or the 4 noble thuths when you wonder about "life"?

FWIW, if you’re trying to be a good person and not mess anybody over, you’re basically on the right path… and in harmony with about 85-90% of all religious teachings, to boot!

For those of you playing along at home, basically, the Buddha propounded Four Noble Truths:
1. Life in Samsara is bitter and painful.
2. Egoistical cravings cause this bitterness and pain.
3. These cravings can be overcome.
4. The way to overcome craving is to follow the Eightfold Path's ethical and commonsense approach to life and to practice such spiritual exercises as meditation. (from http://www.hsuyun.org/Dharma/zbohy/Literature/7thWorld/c3.html)

Eightfold Path:
1) Right Understanding
2) Right Thought or Purpose
3) Right Speech
4) Right Action
5) Right Livelihood
6) Right Effort
7) Right Mindfulness
8) Right Meditation

(“Right” should be understood as meaning “proper” rather than in the sense of comparison between right/wrong)

Five Precepts (for laymen and laywomen)
The Five Precepts require that we abstain from:
1. Aggressions, especially violent aggressions, against others.
2. Deceitful words or deeds
3. Illicit sexual activity
4. Theft
5. Use of mind-altering substances habitually, dependently, or to an intoxicating degree.

For more on the topic, read http://www.hsuyun.org/Dharma/zbohy/Literature/7thWorld/c14p1.html

Maybe think of it this way: Chan is a specific language to arrive at an experience. This language is not exclusive… merely just a path. It also happens to be the path on which the creators of HFY and Chi Sim trod. Understanding Chan might help you to understand some of the terms of phrase or patterns of thought however, if it’s true, it’s true and you’ll know it when you see it. In other words, you can take it or leave it… HFY is HFY, Chi Sim is Chi Sim and Chan is Chan (check the other thread (what is Chan) for more on Chan). Diligent practice will get you to the top of the mountain. Dig?

Respectfully,
Jeremy R.