Merit...

A talk on Merit:

Good Morning to All,

It seems to me that the concept of "merit" in Buddhism is seldom 
discussed in the forums that I was involved in.  Yet it is a vital 
concept of our journey.

There are quite a few descriptions of merit in the Buddhist sutras.  In 
the Chinese culture, merit is also popularly equated to "good deeds" or 
"elimination of karma". 

Some of us even interpret Buddhahood to be the 
reward for merit or as if merit is our report card.

Yet, these are all just descriptions.  How do we directly experience 
merit?  The following are my witness.

My teacher taught me that merit is the result and not the cause.  We 
don't seek merit.  Merits are just accumulation of deeds and only 
through deeds.

"Chan practice" is composed of "cleans, detach, enhance" of oneself and 
"sense, inspire, act" to others.  The "cleans, detach, enhance" is in 
the human realm.  The "sense, inspire, act" is in the Bodhisattva realm.

When we "cleans, detach, enhance" enough, we will naturally be able to 
turn our focus from ourselves to "sense" the needs of others and be 
"inspire" with wisdom and to "act" to resolve and help.  As we become 
purer, when we transfer our focus from ourselves onto others, our heart 
shines through with all its compassion and wisdom.  In other words, our 
spirituality is enhance to a higher level, where karma will bother us 
less.  Gradually, we live more frequently in the realm of the 
Bodhisattva and less in the realm of human.

All of us can experience this spiritual phenomenon directly.  In the 
experience of energy or chi, I have learned that majority of our Chan 
practitioner are able to "sense" the discomfort of others after two to 
three years of dedicated sitting.  Many actually become worried of this 
natural ability and afraid to get into crowded placed.

Actually reaching this level requires dedicated sitting to purify 
oneself.  Anyone who are able to reach this sensitivity should be 
congratulated to and not be afraid.  The fact of the matter is, the more 
we are able to sense, undertake and process, the more powerful our chi 
will become.

As we become more powerful, the more karmic force of other we can 
process.  The more people we can help. Actually, the more people will 
come to us, naturally and instinctively.

Merit is really just our innate ability to help others.  The more people 
we can help to liberate from their sufferings, the more powerful our 
journey will be.  And more we our spirituality is enhanced.

In short,  merit is nothing but a description for a necessary section of 
our entire journey.  Without "sense, inspire and act" to others, we are 
just rationalizing, or bluntly, having an ego trip.

Sutra say, "Respect sentient being.  Absorb sentient being."  In 
layman's language, "enter the mud to grow the lotus."

As my Teacher always remind me, "everything can be experience.  Once you 
experienced it, it is yours.  You become the sutra and the Buddha.  
Otherwise, it is just a bunch of words."

Thank you for your time to read this.
JMJM
Head Teacher
Order of Chan 

___________

_/|\_

JMJM Shixong,

Clarification please.

When the Emperor asked Tamo about his merit gained, Tamo ( Bodhidharma ) replied the Emperor gained none...

You say here there is some to gain...would the gathering of Merit depend on heartfelt giving vs ego-felt giving? 

_____________

_/\_

Good Morning French Shi Xiong,



Excellent question.



What I have described below is from the perspective as a practitioner.  
It basically explains how does merit relate to our journey in the 
witness of "spirit" and "energy" and that is a necessary segment onto 
the Bodhisattva realm.



As to this historical incident between Liang WuDi and Damo is about 
giving in form and in formless.



Emperor WuDi was proud to have printed many sutras, building many 
temples and fed many monks.  These are giving in the visible form.



Damo said "none" in the "formless giving", which is to directly practice 
and directly undertake/absorb the karma of others.  In other words, 
transforming Liang WuDi into a Buddha himself.  This phrase meant to 
encourage the Emperor to practice himself and be enlightened instead of 
dwell on transient forms.



In other words, giving in form, such as money, clothing, building, food 
once consumed the recipients will return to their previous states 
without being liberated from suffering.



Unfortunately it was misinterpreted by the Emperor and Damo ended up 
living in a cave for nine years.



Thank you for asking.  This was what I was taught.

JM



Be Enlightened In This Life - We ALL Can

http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com

http://www.heartchan.org
 

Is Chan Buddhist ?

Good Day To All,

My Teacher would say, "the Order of Chan is Buddhist, but the witness of
Chan is not."

Chan is just a nickname for the entire universe, including the visible
and the invisible, the energy and its form, the perpetual and the
transient, the big and the small, as well as all of its nature. It is
always in a state of dynamic balance, always evolving, as well as
integrating.

Shakyamuni, Confucious, Lao Tze and many other sages all witnessed the
truth of the universe, or Chan, and began their teaching.

All schools of teaching are about the same truth, because all are part
of universe and contains the same nature of the universe. This is also
the nature of man and of all beings big and small.

Awaken to the universal truth is just the beginning. My Teacher often
remind us, "True practice begins after awakening."

We practice to be totally, completely, wholesomely, physically, mentally
and spiritually one with the entire universe, without exception,
preference or selection. Such that we could live in sync with our
original abilities to harmonize, to balance, to evolve and to integrate.

This is what I was taught and have witnessed.

Thank you for your time.
JMJM

2010 - Water under the bridge...Christmas Eve

Another year is almost done, times flys. The year of the Tiger is almost done, still a couple of months by the lunar calendar. It has been full of unexpected items, good and bad. The Bad not so bad, could have been worse. I'm working this year, not spirit filling work, but work. Grateful for that!

We got to travel, Hawaii, Japan, LA, and off to Calistoga for Christmas. LZ's plan, she found a great deal. So it will be good to get away. Brought a new boat with our retirement money, most of what was left of it. It will be a good investment, I still feel.

I'm just back in from walking a friend's dog, another lil mini job. It will help pay for the trip to Calistoga. That is how things are going , a little here and little there. Bits add up.
The walk was pretty nice, checking out the Christmas lights in the Hood. Some are way out there, some are modest. Very strong sense of nostalgia in thoughts of Christmas past. Different places different times. If "God be willing and the creek don't rise", this will be our next to the last Christmas in the states .

One thing that I was reminded of this year, expect more of yourself and less of others. I had a couple of people remind me how little value some put on their word. The guy who pleaded with me to lend him some money for a week , two at the most, so his kids could have some new clothes for school.  A year later I'm still waiting... or the ones who said I'll send you these pictures...still waiting @ 8 months...a small thing, but still one's word is one's word. That is all we can really control and have the power to live up to. When one can not be trusted for small things, how can one be trusted for large things...

635 days before leaving, I've pretty much given up hope on my graphic design career. With the economy as it is, my age, sigh, nothing is giving me hope for finding work. Well other than a new birth in Japan. Actually doing music again which is my first joy, plus some sailing instruction, ceramics, Martial Arts and Zen training. It could be a good life in my retirement years.

So for now it is all about hanging in there, with the thought it is all training. Overall it was a good year, the Japan trip was the highlight.  Even here was good, got to train with some heartful Kyudo people, my Kung Fu class is settled in with a few good students, good sailing contacts, two places to teach sailing through, a devoted wife, a second Christmas in a nice apt, many things to be thankful about.

Winter solstice has past, and a new cycle begins...shoot well...ganbarimasu...Yosh!

That long...

Wow so many changes since I last posted. I need to update, but not now. I have added a new count down for leaving the States and sailing off to Japan. I am Sooooo ready to leave here!

Anyway, I'll update later, things currently are  hmmmm a challenge...

yet still we move forward...yosh!

A tonjoubi moment of gratitude...

peaceful moment of gratitude

Reflecting on the past,

looking forward to the future

_/|\_

I'm Still here...

I like this new blog: Mu on:

Musings on Buddhism, Japan, Kyudo, Language, Life

First Kyudo World Cup 2010 - individual winners

The kindness of a stranger,
someone from the UK sent me this picture:

First Kyudo World Cup 2010 

Individual  Division Mudan - Sandan Winners

Gold medal - Merion Herbst - Switzerland

Silver medal - unknown - Switzerland

Bronze medal - G. (Fuu) Miyatani French - USA