Spring Retreat for Diligent Practice Commences To Constantly Illuminate the Nature of Mind through Meditation
As spring returns to the earth, all things flourish, making it an auspicious time for diligent effort and advancement in spiritual practice. Ling Jiou Mountain's (LJM) Spring Retreat for Diligent Practice 2025 (February 17th - April 6th) has commenced under the leadership of the Founding Abbot,Master Hsin Tao.The Master Hsin Tao encouraged the disciples to persevere in their meditative practice, using it as a long-term and continuous method to care for their inherent nature. This 49-day retreat will focus entirely on diligently cultivating our intrinsic nature, without deviating.Yearning to seek the Dharma, disciples from Germany and Austria have also traveled far to participate in this retreat.
In his opening address, Master Hsin Tao imparted the following key teachings. He stated that the Chan/Zen tradition of Buddhism emphasizes simplicity over complexity, seeking a pure, solitary, and serene life free from distractions and attachments. The conduct of a Chan/Zen practitioner is solitary, as is the path they choose to follow. It is essential for all participants to maintain unwavering focus on their meditative practice at all times, whether walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, refraining from idle chatter and cherishing every moment of this continuous 49-day retreat.
It is crucial to diligently strive for progress in our Buddhist studies through meditation, while constantly maintaining our inner awareness during this retreat.Our usual awareness may not be stable, hence this retreat provides an opportunity to cultivate the habit of inward contemplation over an extended period, repeated frequently to develop a firm and distinct self-awareness.Do not squander time dwelling on the past, nor indulge in fantasies about the future.
Master Hsin Tao compassionately emphasized and reminded us that both Nirvana and Bodhicitta are realities beyond phenomena, attainable only through contemplative insight. While these perceptions ultimately arise without form or shape, we must turn our gaze inward to our heart and mind. To contemplate is to perceive; and what is perception? Perception is clarity and illumination, both distinct and clear. To perceive one's own heart and mind is to attain cognitive clarity and illumination—clear, unclouded, neither lacking in clarity nor causing worry, but luminous and bright.
The present moment is the reality, and contemplative practice allows us to connect directly with our original nature and awakened awareness. Our original nature existed entirely within us even before our birth by our parents. Prior to enlightenment, this original nature remains unaware of the permanence of awakened awareness, which neither ceases nor arises. Through diligent meditation, one gradually comprehends and clearly perceives that our original nature, while formless and shapeless, possesses an essential core of clarity. This cognitive awareness is clear, and its essence is emptiness. It is imperative that we realize our cognitive awareness with perfect clarity and without any confusion.
Master Hsin Tao further reiterated the importance of LJM's unique Four-Step approach to profound meditation, presented as the key to discovering our original nature and the method for transcending birth and death. This approach provides stability, a sense of permanence, and clarity. The Master emphasized that we should tirelessly familiarize ourselves with our original nature to ultimately realize that its essence is emptiness, yet the heart and mind are clear. The Chan/Zen tradition of Buddhism seeks to understand the nature of our heart and mind—that the heart is clear, free from delusion, and luminous; while our original nature is emptiness. Returning to our true selves signifies that our heart should remain clear and empty, free from any defilements or afflictions.
For the Ling Jiou Mountain Spring Retreat 2025, the Master imparts his invaluable wisdom and experience, which the disciples eagerly receive and integrate into their practice. Retreat participants, especially the monastic community, set aside their worldly affairs to dedicate themselves to meditation and strive for spiritual progress. Simultaneously, non-participating followers of LJM can seize the opportunity to accumulate merit by offering generous donations of essential supplies such as food, medicine, and bedding to support the practitioners throughout the 49-day retreat. Such acts of generosity cultivate wholesome seeds of Bodhi.
In his opening address, Master Hsin Tao imparted the following key teachings. He stated that the Chan/Zen tradition of Buddhism emphasizes simplicity over complexity, seeking a pure, solitary, and serene life free from distractions and attachments. The conduct of a Chan/Zen practitioner is solitary, as is the path they choose to follow. It is essential for all participants to maintain unwavering focus on their meditative practice at all times, whether walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, refraining from idle chatter and cherishing every moment of this continuous 49-day retreat.
It is crucial to diligently strive for progress in our Buddhist studies through meditation, while constantly maintaining our inner awareness during this retreat.Our usual awareness may not be stable, hence this retreat provides an opportunity to cultivate the habit of inward contemplation over an extended period, repeated frequently to develop a firm and distinct self-awareness.Do not squander time dwelling on the past, nor indulge in fantasies about the future.
Master Hsin Tao compassionately emphasized and reminded us that both Nirvana and Bodhicitta are realities beyond phenomena, attainable only through contemplative insight. While these perceptions ultimately arise without form or shape, we must turn our gaze inward to our heart and mind. To contemplate is to perceive; and what is perception? Perception is clarity and illumination, both distinct and clear. To perceive one's own heart and mind is to attain cognitive clarity and illumination—clear, unclouded, neither lacking in clarity nor causing worry, but luminous and bright.
The present moment is the reality, and contemplative practice allows us to connect directly with our original nature and awakened awareness. Our original nature existed entirely within us even before our birth by our parents. Prior to enlightenment, this original nature remains unaware of the permanence of awakened awareness, which neither ceases nor arises. Through diligent meditation, one gradually comprehends and clearly perceives that our original nature, while formless and shapeless, possesses an essential core of clarity. This cognitive awareness is clear, and its essence is emptiness. It is imperative that we realize our cognitive awareness with perfect clarity and without any confusion.
Master Hsin Tao further reiterated the importance of LJM's unique Four-Step approach to profound meditation, presented as the key to discovering our original nature and the method for transcending birth and death. This approach provides stability, a sense of permanence, and clarity. The Master emphasized that we should tirelessly familiarize ourselves with our original nature to ultimately realize that its essence is emptiness, yet the heart and mind are clear. The Chan/Zen tradition of Buddhism seeks to understand the nature of our heart and mind—that the heart is clear, free from delusion, and luminous; while our original nature is emptiness. Returning to our true selves signifies that our heart should remain clear and empty, free from any defilements or afflictions.
For the Ling Jiou Mountain Spring Retreat 2025, the Master imparts his invaluable wisdom and experience, which the disciples eagerly receive and integrate into their practice. Retreat participants, especially the monastic community, set aside their worldly affairs to dedicate themselves to meditation and strive for spiritual progress. Simultaneously, non-participating followers of LJM can seize the opportunity to accumulate merit by offering generous donations of essential supplies such as food, medicine, and bedding to support the practitioners throughout the 49-day retreat. Such acts of generosity cultivate wholesome seeds of Bodhi.