| What is Chan?
1.By concentrating on a focal point, absolutely everything can be accomplished. The Dharma of sitting meditation is a prerequisite in cultivation. What does "Chan" mean? Chan is not a Chinese term but is derived from the Sanskrit word, Dhyana.
This means thought cultivation and is also known as stilling thoughts.
As the Chinese like abbreviations, so the word Chan came into being.
Hence the Chinese terms: Chan sitting or sitting meditation. As stated in the term, one adopts the sitting posture. Why does one need to sit? To gather one's scattered thoughts. Normally, while one is sitting, the mind wanders. Where does the mind go? The mind indulges in false thinking, anywhere from East to West, South to North. Without having to pay for traveling, one goes on a rocket trip. The false thoughts fly everywhere without restraint. Why is it people do not have wisdom? It is because the mind wanders everywhere. Why does one age day-by-day? It is because the mind rushes to all places. For example, you drive a new car recklessly and aimlessly; it will definitely consume and waste a lot of fuel. Eventually, the car and its parts will be damaged and will give you a lot of problems. This analogy applies to the human body as well. If you do not know how to take good care of it and allow it to act without restraint, it will definitely consume a lot of "fuel". What "fuel" is this? This is your precious mental energy. Regardless of how much "fuel" you top up, you will exhaust it. Take for example people who consume tonics everyday, thinking that they are replenishing their bodies with nutrients. If you do not treasure your mental energy and are self-indulgent, no matter how much tonics you consume, they will never replenish the wasted energy. As the proverb says, "Concentrate on a focal point and absolutely everything can be accomplished." One has to gather one's thoughts and concentrate on a focal point. One will not waste or overdraw one's mental energy then. So, if you know how to drive well, you will not drive around recklessly and meet with an accident, and the car will also last longer. Similarly, if one knows how to take care of one's body, it will not age or even die. |
