Sheng Yen Items from Susan

Sangha -

A few things to follow up on the conversation from last weeks practice together:

1. I recommend Master Sheng Yen's book, Song of Mind: Wisdom from the Zen Classic Xin Ming, Shambhala, 2004. Xin Ming, the root text, is by Niutou Farong (594-637), who was a disciple of the fourth patriarch of Ch'an, Dayi Daoxim (580-651). Other translations of this root text on the internet are highly unreliable in my view, so I recommend reading Shifu's translation first and last. The book is in the form of a Ch'an retreat for laypeople, and takes the form of responding to and discussing the asked and unasked questions of the retreatant. It is a very enjoyable, and profound, book.

2. Master Sheng Yen's students maintain the Dharma Drum website, where one can find a link to streaming video and audio of the Buddha rememberance practice (Ni'en fo or Buddha name "Amitabha" recitation), where a continous perambulation and recitation of the Buddha name can be watched or joined in. This is done at the death of Ch'an masters as well as widely among Chinese buddhist families wherever they may live. This practice will continue 9 am--9am daily until February 14, when the cremation ceremony is performed. We have little time in our short human life to practice well, may we do our best at all times.

Bows,

Susan Purviance