Chan Master Wanxing is the founding abbot of the Donghua Chan Monastery. For more information about the Donghua Chan (i.e., the teaching of Master Wanxing and of the Donghua lineage), please visit the International Official Website of the Donghua Chan: www.donghuacha...
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In this video, Master Wanxing shares with us:
(1) The foundation and mechanism of entering into meditative concentration;
(2) The physical and mental states when entering into the first, second, third, and fourth dhyāna [four meditative absorptions] respectively; and
(3) The phenomenal state of great bodhisattvas’ concentration.
Note1: 定 (Skt. samādhi; Ch. ding) is often translated as “concentration” in English. The English word “concentration” is rather generic, whereas the original Sanskrit word “samādhi” typically refers to the state of mind in one-pointedness. When “samādhi” was translated into Chinese, it went through different iterations. It was first translated as “sanmei” (三昧) or “sanmodi” (三摩地) in Chinese. Tang dynasty Buddhist master Xuanzang (602-664 C.E.) translated it as “ding” in Chinese, which means “fixity” in English. Master Wanxing uses “ding” throughout his speeches. Without being overly technical, I have translated his word “ding” as “concentration” or “meditative concentration” in English. The word “concentration” should not be construed merely as the focus of one’s attention as we carry out our daily activities. It is used in this context to denote the one-pointed mind during meditation.
Note2: 禪/禪定 (Skt. dhyāna; P. jhāna; Ch. chan or chanding; Eng. meditative absorption). To translate the Chinese word “chan” in the context of the four stages of meditative absorption, The original Sanskrit word “dhyāna” is used because “dhyāna” is increasingly accepted and used in Buddhist English. Although it is sometimes translated as “meditative absorption” in English, the latter could entail different meanings in different Buddhist or Indian yoga traditions. To avoid confusion, it is decided to use “dhyāna” to translate the Chinese word “chan,” but only in the context of the four stages of entering into concentration, as expounded by Master Wanxing.
Note3: 道 (Eng. path; Skt. mārga, Ch. dao) is also commonly translated as the “way.” Unless the specific part within the five-path soteriological schema [Note4] is identified, the term “path” generally refers to the path or way to awakening (Skt. bodhi) from the perspective of the Small Vehicle or full enlightenment from the perspective of the Great Vehicle (Skt. Mahāyāna). “Path” with a capitalized “P” is adopted for indicating the path to awakening or full enlightenment in Buddhist teachings and “path” to refer to the generic meaning of “route,” footpath,” “trail,” etc.
Note4: Five-path soteriological schema: 資糧道 (Skt. saṃbhāramārga; Ch. zi liang dao ) is the path of accumulation, the first of the five-path soteriological schema, followed by the path of preparation (Skt. prayogamārga; Ch. 加行道 jiaxing dao), the path of perception (Skt. Darśanamārga; Ch. 見道 jian dao), the path of cultivation (Skt. Bhāvanāmārga; Ch. 修道 xiu dao), and the path of no more leaning (Sk. aśaikṣamārga; Ch. 無學道 wu xue dao).
24 сен 2024
