interview Hyon Gak Sunim

sinweiy SG

Dennis Wholey interviews Hyon Gak Sunim -
Part 1 of 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTCogarppGs

Dennis Wholey interviews Hyon Gak Sunim -
Part 2 of 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIba3ZTQZl8&feature=related

Dennis Wholey interviews Hyon Gak Sunim -
Part 3 of 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v9irjs70ws&feature=related

Rooney9 SG

who is he or she?

An Eternal Now SG

who is he or she?

A highly enlightened Zen Master from Zen Master Seung Sahn's lineage.

An Eternal Now SG

Sinweiy, thanks for posting. I love the interview. Awesome!

sinweiy SG

another excellent talk:-

Hyun Gak Sunim English Dharma Talk 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40VgJDoEHnM&feature=related

the rest i think u know how to continue watching until Part 7.

sinweiy SG

He advocate all religion(including Islam) are finger pointing to the same moon.

i think some people might disagree?

MCK said if one's level is high, one can transform and explain other religion's stuff into high level dharma/truth. but if their level is not so high, the way they explain will also be not so high. hence it all depend on the person realisation.

Dawnfirstlight SG

Thanks for sharing. I'm getting interested in Zen though have a long way to go to realise.

simpo_ SG

Very good video! Thanks for sharing :)

An Eternal Now SG

Thanks for sharing. I'm getting interested in Zen though have a long way to go to realise.

Few years should be enough... not kidding.

Years ago someone (also enlightened) told me it only takes a few months, to a few years, and at most a decade for enlightenment. At first I had my doubts. Now I am seeing (from others and from my own experience) that this is a realistic figure for those who are sincere and interested in practicing.

It usually takes a few months to a few years (for me, less than two years for a not-so-intense practice of self-inquiry - asking 'Before birth, Who am I?') for the first direct glimpse of your essence to arise. Subsequent and deepening insights will arise over the next months and years...

Pure Emptiness SG

Few years should be enough... not kidding.

depends on capacity of practitoner. I think some ppl take a few lifetimes?

realization SG

Not about to start exploring this just yet....

But I've always been curious about how people get started with Zen (Chan) meditation. I get the impression that having a teacher is very important with Zen. So what does a willing student do if there isn't access to a teacher?

An Eternal Now SG

Not about to start exploring this just yet....

You are in Singapore right?

There are Zen centers in Singapore.

Personally, I don't go Zen centers (but there are quite a few, like Kuan Yin Chan Ling, and Dawnfirstlight's teacher is a Zen teacher as well, and so on) - I go to the dharma center at http://www.humanbliss.com.sg/B_target-F3.html

The teaching there is also very direct, but not exactly the same as Zen school (well my Master is a Linji/Rinzai Zen lineage holder, but doesn't focus on Zen methods like koans)

As for the 'Who am I' koan, I was taught by Thusness. He didn't give me much instructions on that koan other than to contemplate on 'Before birth, Who am I'... that was two years ago, and this led to an important realization earlier on this year. Ultimately, only you yourself can find the answer... there is no need to say so much. Nevertheless, I have written more 'advices' and details about this method and my insights at http://www.box.net/shared/3verpiao63. Just for your reference, especially if you follow to follow a path similar to this.

An Eternal Now SG

depends on capacity of practitoner. I think some ppl take a few lifetimes?

There is the Direct Path and Gradual Path of practice... the Direct Path is a form of investigation that cuts through years of searching and practicing... it investigates directly into the nature of mind and will likely yield penetrating insights in a matter of few years.

sinweiy SG

Not about to start exploring this just yet....

i think still need a ch'an teacher to transmit the awakening nature. to what i know from MCK, ch'an school (in the past, now i not sure), don't study the texts like other school. they cut off all texts in the beggining. it's just meditation, chores, ch'an koan and chanting. yes, they chant now as a support, like Old Yuan Yin 元音老人did. u can say they awake already then practice/study. most school is the other way around, practice/study then awake.

sinweiy SG

depends on capacity of practitoner. I think some ppl take a few lifetimes?

heard of 2 stories. one is Su Dong Bo's previous life as Wu Jie Ch'an master. later when dying, he accepted pureland and the next life, he ended his rebirth cycle as a Pureland master. 如宋朝蘇東坡,前世是五戒祖禪師。

the other one is recorded in the Book of high monks 高僧传 - 十世高僧悟达法师患人面疮记事. 10 consecutive lifetime as a high monk, but still cannot escape one deptor's revenge.

http://h.foyuan.net/home-space-do-blog-uid-139509-id-88093.html

An Eternal Now SG

the other one is recorded in the Book of high monks 高僧传 - 十世高僧悟达法师患人面疮记事. 10 consecutive lifetime as a high monk, but still cannot escape one deptor's revenge.

http://h.foyuan.net/home-space-do-blog-uid-139509-id-88093.html

What do you mean by Su Dong Bo's previous life. Do you mean Su Dong Bo's subsequent life?

By the way I heard Su Dong Bo is supposedly a Sakadagami even in that lifetime as Su Dong Bo. In that case, by his next life he would have attained Arhantship/ending the cycle of birth and death... even without going to pure land. But of course it is also a valid choice to be born in pure land and continue practice.

sinweiy SG

What do you mean by Su Dong Bo's previous life. Do you mean Su Dong Bo's subsequent life?

Previous life. as in the record.

苏东坡的生命轮回

http://zhoubao.minghui.org/mh/haizb/115/A08/index.html

云庵惊呼道：“五戒和尚就是陕右人，一只眼睛失明，晚年时游历高安，在大愚过世。”大家一算此事过去五十年了，而苏东坡现在正好四十九岁。从时间、地点和多人相似的梦来看，苏东坡是五戒和尚转世已经无异议了。

苏东坡曾与黄庭坚一起去拜见一老者，老者一见面就说苏东坡的前世是五戒和尚，而黄庭坚的前世是一女子。

my heard version many many years ago is his next life was a Pureland Master, but i can't find his name, something Yun i think.

u say Su Dong Bo was a once-returner, then it kind of coincide with my posting. be it end rebirth as Arhantship or end rebirth in Pureland. Arhantship no need to continue practice?

to me rebirth in Pureland mean attain Buddhahood. continue practice is skill said. after long realisation/understanding, Pureland don't have the below 2 abodes (凡圣土, 方便土) . to say have is also skill said. straight away go to 3rd abode and 4th abode (实报 ). 3rd abode is non-practice state. 4th abode (寂光) Dharmakaya already.

sinweiy SG

宋徽宗建中靖国元年七月二十八日，苏东坡去世时，他对守在床边的三个儿子说：“我平生没做什么坏事，相信不会坠入地狱的，你们不要太伤心了。”又告诫人们神的世界是真实存在的，但遗憾自己已经回升无力了，他说道：“看来西方极乐世界是有的，但我现在已经用不上力了。”

when Su Dong Bo was about to die, his three sons were beside him. He told them not to be sad, saying he did not commit evil, hence he will not reborn in hell. He also said the Western Pureland is real, but regret he had no more energy.

hmm...no more energy? :)

An Eternal Now SG

Previous life. as in the record.

苏东坡的生命轮回

http://zhoubao.minghui.org/mh/haizb/115/A08/index.html

my heard version many many years ago is his next life was a Pureland Master, but i can't find his name, something Yun i think.

u say Su Dong Bo was a once-returner, then it kind of coincide with my posting. be it end rebirth as Arhantship or end rebirth in Pureland. Arhantship no need to continue practice?

Interesting info.. thanks.

I understand that the lower two abodes have relative existence for sentient beings... however for enlightened beings yes they do go straight to the 3rd and 4th abode.

sinweiy SG

Interesting info.. thanks.

I understand that the lower two abodes have relative existence for sentient beings... however for enlightened beings yes they do go straight to the 3rd and 4th abode.

that's why it's skill said. Western Pureland is a land of Equanimity, and as stated in the 48 vows, then sentient beings even reborn in "1st lowest abode" is equal to reborn in 3rd abode. all the mahasattvas there have equal abilities. no more, some are senior or some are junior. All Same. no discrimination.

Provided I become a Buddha, if those Bodhisattvas in that country of mine should not be able to preach the law of wisdom in completion, then may I not attain the enlightenment.

Provided I become a Buddha, if any Bodhisattvas of that country of mine, have their wisdom of oration limited, then may I not attain the enlightenment.