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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A practical guide to daily Chan Practice,
By A Customer
This review is from: Dharma Drum: The Life & Heart of Ch'an Practice (Paperback)
Dharma Drum is divided into two parts. Part one is an overview on some of the basic tenents of Buddhism explained fron a Chan (the Chinese origin of Zen) perspective. These teachings include causes and conditions (or interdependence), karma, enlightenment and delusion, the benefits of meditation practices, the stages of meditation, etc. In other words, part one deals with theories, principles, and methods of Chan Buddhist practice. Part two consists of aphorisms or "words of wisdom" for daily reflection and practice. These are like daily excercises or food for the mind. It's best to read them slowly and use them as a mirror to look deeper into our lives. This section is devided into different subsections like "Meditation", "birth and Death," "The Enlightned View," and "Transcending Suffering," etc. Part two of this book is like something you read daily by flipping to any page. Each teaching is printed on a single page. What I enjoyed about this book is its clarity and depth--Master Sheng-yen, the author, have the ability to put profound insights of Buddhism and Chan into plain language. His words come from over 50 years of Chan practice as a monk. You can sense the source of his clarity, which comes not from repeating other people's words but, from his own experience. His writings are not what you may call "meating," or well-packaged by lofty ideas and fancy spiritual jargon. They are rather direct and plain; there is a subdued and seriousness, and yet a kind of warm, light, and humorous tone to his voice. To real Dharma practitioners confronted with internal and external hindrences on their own Paths or to sincere individuals who want to begin their practice, they will surely find clear answers to their doubts and questions. A "clear-eyed" person will quickly spot out Master Sheng-yen's teaching as extremely beneficial. However, to people who are only "readers" of Buddhism and Chan, or is searching for something that "meets" their idiosyncratic views and styles, they may be turned off by Master Sheng-yen's uncompromising style to present, to us in the West, the authentic Dharma. I highly recommend Dharma Drum by Master Sheng-yen, and other books by him, to any sincere individual on their way to the Path of self-awakening.
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