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October 21, 2015 By Admin

Chan Buddhism – Meditation Process

Meditation Process in Chan Buddhism

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Chan Master Changlu’s The Deportmant for Sitting Meditation  (12th century China) is a clear and helpful set of instruction.

1) It begins with the making of a personal vow for great compassion, personal liberation, and samadhi – all for the purpose of delivering sentient beings from their suffering and to their enlightenment.   The work includes setting aside all self-centeredness,  letting go of all images,  forget all affairs and activities, and unite your body and your mind.    All  this  is  required  to  allow  the  purposeful letting go of ego-mind of the self-centered self in practice.

2) In a quiet place, sit on a cushion while wearing loose clothing and a loose belt.  Full or half lotus leg position is recommended.

3) Place   your  right  palm  under the  left  palm  with  your  thumbs  touching.     Rest  your  hands  on  your  lap.

4) Relax your shoulders and your neck but keep your head upright and your back straight without straining. Check your posture.  You should be straight without muscle tension.

5) Tuck in your chin with lips slightly closed.  Allow your teeth to touch lightly, and place the tip of your tongue on your palate.

6) While  keeping  your  head  level,  gaze  with  eyes  slightly  open  naturally down about two feet in front of you.

7) Once the body is settled, begin to pay attention to your breath.     It may help to hold attention at the tip of the nose and  note/count  the  feeling  of  breath  going  in  and  out  for  about  15 times.             Counting  may  help.

8) Now focus  on  relaxing  the  lower  abdomen.    Continue  to  use  the  breath  to  calm  your  body  and mind.

9) When thoughts rise,  simply continue to let go of passing thoughts. Practice NOT getting into inner dialogue   and story-lines or associations within the thoughts.

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Refer to Yen, S. (2015). The World of Chan. New York: Dharma Drum Publishing, pp. 25-38.

By Anthony R. Quintiliani, PhD., LADC

From the Eleanor R. Liebman Center for Secular Meditation in Monkton, VermontChiYinYang_EleanorRLiebmanCenter

Author of Mindful Happiness  

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Filed Under: Chan Buddhism, Featured, Meditation, Meditation Activities, MIndfulness, Practices Tagged With: CHAN BUDDHISM, DR ANTHONY QUINTILIANI, MEDITATION, MEDITATION PROCESS

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