We were privileged to host Teacher Gilbert for a two-day seminar that welcomed both newcomers and seasoned practitioners to explore the core teachings of Chan Buddhism. The focus was on integrating Chan practice into everyday activities—walking, eating, talking, and resting. This seminar served as a deep dive into understanding our inherent nature through the straightforward yet profound principles of Chan.
The seminar kicked off with Teacher Gilbert posing a pivotal question to the participants: “What is Buddhism, and what is Buddha?” He clarified that “Buddha” signifies awakening, knowing, and observing. This initial query set the stage for the seminar, prompting everyone to reassess their personal interpretations of Buddhist practice.
Teacher Gilbert highlighted that each of us possesses Buddha Mind—the immutable essence of The Mind. A recurring theme was that everything is created by The Mind, and that what we perceive in daily life are illusions or appearances projected upon The Mind.
Key Teachings and Insights:
1. The Mind and Illusion:
Teacher Gilbert stressed that everything we experience is a projection of The Mind. Our thoughts, emotions, and even the world around us are illusions that arise in The Mind.
2. Harmonizing with the Environment:
One of the key points was to harmonize with our environment without picking and choosing. The Mind is immutable; it does not discriminate or change. What we often perceive as changes in our mind are simply habitual patterns we mistake for The Mind itself.
3. Meditation Practice:
During meditation, Teacher Gilbert explained that we are not practicing with our legs or our body, but rather with The Mind. He used a beautiful metaphor to describe this process:”When we sit, The Mind is like a mother, and the method is like her child. The mother protects the child.“
He also highlighted the role of the ego in creating false illusions and taking them to be reality. The right practice is to set aside the ego. When we stop striving for attainment, insights will naturally arise.
4. Great Compassion (Mahakaruna):
Another significant teaching was Mahakaruna, or Great Compassion, which he described as an integral part of Chan practice aimed not just at personal enlightenment but at aiding all sentient beings on their path.
5. Faith, Sincerity, and Community (Sangha):
Teacher Gilbert stressed the importance of faith in one’s self nature (not the ego) and sincerity in practice.
He also emphasized fostering a community of practitioners, or Sangha. He stressed that we must care for one another on this path, supporting each other’s growth and practice.
Throughout, Teacher Gilbert reiterated that Chan is fundamentally about practice—aligning oneself with the environment and transcending habitual thought patterns. He encouraged applying these principles not just during meditation but in every daily activity, thereby making practice an integral part of life. This seminar was not just an educational session but a transformative journey into understanding and living the teachings of Chan.
by Charie
