Master Yin Guang's Pure Land Method!
May 16, 2021 15:44:34 GMT 1
Post by Shi Da Dao on May 16, 2021 15:44:34 GMT 1
Master Xu Yun (1840-1959) had a very high opinion of Ven. Yin Guang. He was the 13th Patriarch of the Pure Land School of Chinese Buddhism and was renowned for integrating Ch'an with Pure Land. He meditated day and night on the mantra 'Omitofo' (Namo Amitabha Buddha). This practice brought his mind single-point of awareness - and it then expanded to embrace all of the universe! Ven. Yin Guang eventually passed away sat upright in the seated meditation position facing 'West'. Master Xu Yun thought very highly of Master Yin Guang and in 1952 gave a short but penetrating Dharma-Talk remember the inner and outer strength of this great master:
Master Xu Yun's Discourse on Pure Land Master Yin Guang (1952)
Master Xu Yun's Discourse on Pure Land Master Yin Guang (1952)
My view is that no matter what is 'visualised' - be it bright light, the various types of Buddha or his Assistants - all of this emerges from the underlying empty mind ground. This means that Pure Land training can be augmented by applying the hua tou 'Who is seeing?' and 'returning' the visual stimulus back to the empty mind ground from which its originated. As regards 'chanting' - the hua tou 'Who is hearing?' 'returns' the expressed (verbal) sound back to the empty mind ground. If the chant is internalised and said only in the mind - then 'Who is thinking?' can be utilised. This is a combination of Ch'an and Pure Land.
