Getting the Buddha Mind
Getting the Buddha Mind: A Journey into Chan Meditation and Awakening
Experience the transformative power of Chan (Zen) meditation with Master Sheng-Yen’s Getting the Buddha Mind. This profound guide combines ancient Buddhist wisdom with practical insights to help readers achieve a state of peace, compassion, and spiritual awakening.
Inside, you’ll discover:
- The essence of Chan meditation and its historical roots.
- Practical methods for mindfulness and self-realization.
- Guidance on overcoming inner obstacles and cultivating a clear mind.
- Personal reflections and retreat experiences that inspire growth and understanding.
Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or new to meditation, Getting the Buddha Mind will guide you on a journey to inner peace and the discovery of your true nature. Embrace the teachings of Chan and uncover the clarity and wisdom that reside within you.
The works of Master Sheng Yen
Master Sheng Yen’s advocated concept is to enhance human qualities, construct a pure land on earth, and fulfill the mission of care through education, using care to achieve educational goals. He has published nearly a hundred works in Chinese, Japanese, and English, distributed across Asia, America, and Europe. His most widely distributed work is “True Buddhism,” with a circulation of over 3 million copies, and the most translated work is “Inscription of Faith,” which has been translated into 10 languages. The series with the most volumes is “Autobiography” and “Zen Meditation Guide,” all of which have been well received by a wide readership.
Propagation of Buddhardharma in the West
Sheng Yen taught in the United States starting in 1975, and established Chan Meditation Center in Queens, New York, and its retreat center, Dharma Drum Retreat Center at Pine Bush, New York in 1997. He also visited many countries in Europe, as well as continuing his teaching in several Asian countries, in particular Taiwan.Sheng Yen gave dharma transmission to several of his lay Western students, such as John Crook, who later formed the Western Chan Fellowship,and several other Western disciples such as Simon Child, Max Kalin, and Zarko Andricevic.
The passing of Venerable Master Sheng Yen
Sheng Yen died from renal failure on February 3, 2009, while returning from National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei.[9] He had endured the illness for many years, but refused a kidney transplant.In accordance with East Asian age reckoning, the Dharma Drum Mountain organization states that Sheng Yen died at the age of 80.
Hours after his death, tributes from eminent Buddhist monks and Taiwanese politicians and celebrities, including President Ma Ying-jeou, Vice President Vincent Siew, DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen, kung fu star Jet Li, and actress Brigitte Lin, began to pour into Dharma Drum Mountain monastery. As stipulated in his will, Sheng Yen forbade the use of extravagant funeral services, including the construction of memorials or monuments. Sheng Yen received a simple Buddhist ritual attended by the President and dignitaries, and was buried in the Life Memorial Garden near the monastery.
What is Buddhism?
Buddhism is a spiritual tradition founded by Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, in the 5th–6th century BCE. It is based on the Four Noble Truths, which identify suffering (dukkha) as a fundamental part of life, its causes, and the path to its cessation through the Eightfold Path. Buddhism emphasizes mindfulness, meditation, and ethical conduct to achieve enlightenment—a state of wisdom, compassion, and freedom from the cycle of birth and rebirth (samsara). With various schools like Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna, Buddhism teaches self-transformation, interdependence, and the pursuit of inner peace, offering guidance for living a meaningful and harmonious life.
