THE LETTER WRITING TRADITION.

[Shi Da Dao]

Richard Hunn (Upasaka Wen Shu), was a prolific wrter of letters, (many handwritten). Part of my learning from him, was conveyed in letter-form. He explained that ancient China had a postal system, and that many Ch'an monks, or holy men, lived in the remote hills, practicing solitary meditation, for the benefit of all life. The 'written letter', allowed these extraordinary people to to continue their practice, whilst still exercising 'skillful means' and 'compassion', by interaction with the people.

Of course, Ch'an practice has meditation at its core - but a well placed 'word' here or there can assist breakthroughs of insights. The letter writing tradition, is one that is passed on, from teacher to student. And in many ways, reflects the now famous 'kung-an' (Jap: 'koan') practice, now familiar in the West.

We must all find our 'sacred spots'. Areas that empower our very beings, and serve to focus our spiritual energies. And there are times of required solitude, just as there are times of necessary interaction. And in many ways, we must become our own 'temples'. The spiritual search is 'here and now'.

However, self-sufficiency, although a basic tenant of Ch'an, is not the only pre-requisite - the 'Mind' needs to 'turn'. Consciousness needs to 'turn' at its very essence - and the 'True Mind' manifest. To assist this process, the Ch'an masters developed and utilised the 'language of the un-create'. In other words, a dialogue that 'strips' the 'Mind' of delusive thinking, and allows for a 'sudden', or indeed' 'gradual' emergence of the realisation of 'Sunyata' - or the vibrant void, that contains all things.

Anyone who would like instruction in the 'great matter', may email;

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May All Beings Attain Release!

[Shi Da Dao]

The time will come when my pen will stop. This is natural and merely a point of good order. Whilst my pen still moves, however, all enquiries will be answered - if by "answered" it is meant that all phenomenal activity (movement) is returned to the "stillness" of the empty mind ground. When my pen stops - this will be due to the fact that my bodily existence has also returned to the empty mind ground! We can all sit around together and chuckle at the irony. This is the function of "humour" as a harbinger of universal (and unending) compassion.