Tag Archives: Chan

Retreat Intensive 2024

At the end of May the sangha had a yearly retreat intensive with our teacher Lotus Vu. This was my very first retreat and found the experience, with 6 hours of the day in meditation and all most a week … Continue reading

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Yogacara as the Third Turning of the Dharma Wheel

(Lotus’ speaking notes of Dharma Talk on May 18, 2024) Early Buddhism and Theravada – 1st Turning Mahāyāna’s Mādhyamika – 2nd Turning Yogacara – 3rd Turning Problem with other minds How is the world known? = Through 8 Consciousnesses (8 … Continue reading

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Beginner’s Course 2024

With the beginning of a new year comes the Beginning’s Course once again. This is a great introduction for those that are new to Zen Buddhism or a solid refresher of the foundations for seasoned practitioners. The course can be … Continue reading

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Four Ways of Knowing 

Transformation of Eight Consciousnesses from the Yogacara (四智 catvāri jñānāni) Notes from Lotus’ Dharma Talk on October 28, 2023 The way of knowing of the great reflecting mirror –mind clears  The way of knowing equality – mind without afflictions  The way of knowing of clear observation – absent of efforts  The way of knowing perfected action – all is ok  Five, six, seven, eight: the resulting fruits of planted seeds movements  It only uses labels, not the true nature of reality  If knowing moves without attachments  Amidst bustling activities, stillness liberates.  Alaya-vijnana storehouse consciousness converts to knowing of the perfected mirror.  Manas-vijnana consciousness (discriminating ego) converts to knowing of equanimity  Thinking/ discriminating mind converts to knowing of clear observation  Five other consciousness transforms to knowing of perfected action (or the perfected mirror knowing in the sense-consciousness)  The nature of knowing (Citta) (thức) is wisdom (trí). When it doesn’t know itself, it is deluded by phenomena of consciousness deluded with its factors, it is knowing in  a dualistic manner. When knowing knows itself and is liberated from attachments to all phenomena of itself, it is transformed into wisdom.  The essence of knowing nature (thể) is the absolute reality of unmoving stillness amidst all the … Continue reading

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