THE WRITTEN WORD
by Ven. Wayne Hughes (Ren Cheng)
There is an astounding number of books, articles, pamphlets and magazines out there on Buddhism and Buddhist inspired subjects . . . all vying for our attention, to read their worldview.
Ven. David and myself read lots of them and will comment on some of them. Our teacher, Eubanks Sensei was fond of saying, “There is a lot of crap out there.” He is so right.
In this simple yet important volume, David Sensei sets out a clear and viable approach for us to understand Buddhism from a useful and productive point of view for the 21st century by focusing on the pragmatic lessons of the Buddha. This book provides a common sense approach to exploring some of the hard questions man has encountered for centuries. It is published by Engaged Dharma Communications and available through Amazon. (You may also request a PDF data copy or a printed manuscript, send an email to engageddharma.ig@gmail.com for details).
Avalokitesvara, Bodhisattva of compassion, observing deeply the refinement of wisdom, Prajnaparamita, clearly saw the emptiness of personality, thus enduring adversity and pain.
O, Saripurtra, form is no other than emptiness, emptiness no other than form; form is exactly emptiness, emptiness exactly form, the same is true of feeling, perception, mental formations and consciousness.
O, Saripurtra, all dharmas are forms of emptiness, not born, not destroyed; not tainted, not pure, not increasing, not decreasing, and so in emptiness there is no form, no feeling, no perception, no mental formations, no consciousness; no eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind; no color, no sound, so smell, no taste, no touch, no thought, no realm of sight and so forth until no realm of consciousness, no ignorance, no end to ignorance and so forth until no old age and death, and no end to old age and death, no suffering, no desire, no cessation, no path, no wisdom, no attainment.
And so the Bodhisattva relies on the Prajnaparamita with no hindrance in the mind, no hindrance, therefore no fear, far beyond deluded thoughts, this is Nirvana.
All past, present, and future Buddhas rely on the refinement of wisdom and thus attain the cultivated enlightenment.
Therefore, know that the Prajnaparamita is the interdependent mantra, the interconnected mantra, the mantra of world making the mantra which relieves all suffering.
So proclaim the Prajnaparamita mantra, proclaim the mantra and say: Gate! Gate! Paragate! Parasamgate! Bodhi Sva Ha!
Great refinement of wisdom, Prajnaparamita, Heart Sutra!
Shakyamuni of Seiryoji, 985BCE -- Hands held in the Abayamudra, the mudra which grants the absence of fear. - photo Gregory Henderson
A tree frog accompanies me doing the Heart Sutra. Wayne Shi
David Sensei's altar Buddha
12 years on David's sailboat, a well-traveled Buddha
Place of Peace Temple a Japanese Temple on the grounds of Furman University, South Carolina
Sally Fields eat your heart out! The Flying Monk.
The Buddha as a putt-putt golf challenge.
Walking meditation at Place of Peace Temple, from the Furman Univ video. Eubanks Sensei, Ven. Wayne, Ven. David.
Meditation Hall, MABA, Augusta, Missouri
Kamakura Buddha, photo taken by Vernon Hughes, my father, 1959
In the St. Louis Art Museum
David Sensei rings ching-bell during service in St. Louis
In or Out -- Where is your practice ?
EDIG is a member of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington
THE THREE REFUGES:
I go for refuge to the Buddha, the teacher
I go for refuge to the Dharma, the teaching
I go for refuge to the Sangha, the taught
/\
I take refuge in the Buddha
I take refuge in the Dharma
I take refuge in the Sangha
/\
I have taken refuge in the Buddha
I have taken refuge in the Dharma
I have taken refuge in the Sangha
/\
THE THREE PURE PRECEPTS:
Cease to do harm.
Do only good.
Do good for others.
BODHISATTVA VOW:
However innumerable all beings are,
I vow to lead them all.
However inexhaustible my delusions are,
I vow to extinguish them all.
However immeasurable the Dharma teachings are,
I vow to master them all.
However endless the Buddha’s Way is,
I vow to follow it completely.
SVA HA!
The Teachers
Ven. David (Xi-Ken) -- Eubanks Sensei (Shi Yong Xiang) -- Ven. Wayne (Ren-Cheng)
Breakfast with Buddha, Roland Merullo -- See MEDIA REVIEWS
Buddhism Without Beliefs, Stephen Batchelor
Why I Am a Buddhist, Stephen Asma -- See MEDIA REVIEWS
Early Buddhist Discourses, John J. Holder
The Six Perfections, Dale S. Wright
Alone with Others, Stephen Batchelor
The Hobbit, J. R. R. Tolkien
The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton
Dao De Jing, Making Life Significant, Ames and Hall
Taoism, The Parting of the Way, Holmes Welch
Ethics in Early Buddhism, David J. Kalupahana
The Heart of Buddhist Meditation, Nyanaponika Thera
Zen and the Birds of Appetite, Thomas Merton
Dharma Rain, edited by Stephanie Kaza and Kenneth Kraft
The Buddha and the Terrorist, Satish Kumar -- See MEDIA REVIEWS
Consequential Strangers, Melinda Blau/Karen Fingerman PhD,
Altar made from natural pieces during a personal nature meditation retreat.
Ryugen Fisher Sensei. Photo by Aden Albert.
S. Asian style Buddha found in junk store, Potosi, Missouri
Prayer flags over the nature meditation retreat in Missouri. They have hung over campsites from Colorado to Florida.
Venerable Holmes Welch
David Sensei speaks to the Buddha Center sangha.
The Ryugen Buddha, the official Buddha of CPB
Carved from beeswax by student for David Sensei
Buddha, Shamballa Mountain Center, Colorado - fabric wall hanging from original photo was made by my lady Mary
Friends at sea greet David's sailboat, Pendragon
Where was this made?
Running water indicates monks in residence at temple
Wayne Shi attending Spring retreat 2010
Practice sometimes feels like this
S/V Pendragon somewhere in the Chesapeake Bay at dusk
Thomas Merton Cistercian monk, The Dalai Lama "a simple monk"
Xi-Ken Shi in Qigong Practice
An expression of causality
Sailing Pram made by David Sensei for charity benefit
The teachers reciting their monastic service, St. Louis
Chinese monks at MABA in recitation on Vesak Day. St. Louis MO
Korean Zen monk chanting Heart Sutra with a moktak
