Giving - formless giving.

Giving money, food or clothing for the salvation of our physical self are the "formed" giving.  Formed giving once consumed, the recipient return to the same condition as before the giving.  Therefore "formed" giving only resolves temporary sufferings.  Formless giving is to give to the spirits within.  Formless giving may change the recipient forever.  Therefore formless giving, by awakening the recipient to the true meaning of life, is the most precious giving, as well as the highest merit.

The twenty-fourth chapter of Diamond Sutra states, "The merit from uttering four phrases from the Diamond Sutra is immeasurably more precious than mountains of jewels and gold.

Discipline - purification

The practice of Chan is to dissolve the karma of ourselves, all inner desires and impulses.  The most effective way is to purify our body, our mind and our spirit.  When these three are purified, we automatically disciplined without any effort.  And we naturally uncover our self nature.

Patience - as if it never existed

Patience does not mean take it all in.  If any human being continues to take it in and bury inside.  Soon or later it will cause some damages internally.  The practice of patience is to detach from the incident or situation as if it never occurs.  In reality, all phenomena are transient and temporary, good or bad.  When we focus inward to our pure heart, we detach from all forms.  Then none of the Five Poisons, (greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, suspicion) will rise.

When these is "no occurrence", then there is nothing to be patient about.

Effort - continuous

Ordinarily, effort may be understood to mean dedication at everything we do.  In the practice of Chan, effort is related mostly to the spiritual effort.  A continuous, relentless, concerted effort to quickly uncovers self nature and quickly be enlightened.

Buddha does not exist in the physical world and invisible to our naked eye.  Buddha could be "seen" only by our spirit.  Therefore, continuous effort is need to entering the spiritual world and "meet" Buddha.

From another perspective, the Chan practice is sort of like a race against time.  We honestly don't know how much longer can we live, or whether any accident may serious cut our lives short.  A dedicated effort exerted continuously is needed to quickly reach enlightenment before any surprise occur.

Based on the Ten Buddhist Realm, we need to enhance our spirit from human to deity, to Sravaka, to Pratyeka, to Bodhisattva, to Buddha.  It is a long journey requiring a life time cultivation of merit.  A "continuous" effort is really a must to cross all these realms.

On the other hand, directions of effort exerted should be readjusted along the way.  As the Six Paramitas are executed, wisdom and the undertaking of karma are being carried out, we would truly become wiser and more powerful.  These feedback and witness to the authentic lineage teaching of Chan could easily point us to the proper direction for each of us.  After all, each journey is unique and different.

Hence, efforts must be continuous without pause.  That's the only way to surpass all hindrances and land at Buddhaland.

Chan Ding - awakening

Chan Ding, like Jhana, is the only path to the other shore.  Chanting the sutra or mantra is not that effective.  In addition to Chan Ding, awakening to the truth of the universe is the key.  Through states such as Right Ding, Grand Ding, Deep Ding and Profound Ding, we enter into realms affected by more than the four dimensions of time and space that we are aware of.  It is here we could liberate all internal sentient beings.  We could arrive at formless, as is, Buddha'r realm from our formed and visible realm.  This is the goal of Chan Ding.

The key to reach Chan Ding, is to eliminate all thoughts.  Detach ourselves from all form, egoistic notions and entering into the realm of pure truth.  We journey from no consciousness, no subconsciousness to the boundless sea of emptiness and universal nature and stay in this realm of final truth.  This is our purpose for this time and our responsibility.

While in Chan Ding, depending on your purity level, you shall receive corresponding blessing from Buddha.  The power of this blessing will help you to depart from earthly phenomena into cosmic formless realm of final truth.  This power of blessing is required to transcend ourselves beyond our transient physical being and uncovering our infinite spiritual being.  Just sitting there without the boost from this power, would only temporarily calm ourselves down and be rattle again when we get up from the moment.  If we were not enlightened in this life time, will we be able to have a similar opportunity again in our next life?

Entering Chan Ding is the key to enlightenment.  Therefore sitting Chan is not to turn the lights down, turn up the music and relax ourselves.  Sitting Chan requires a lot of hard work.  Yawning or feeling sleepy during Sitting Chan is a sign of relaxing oneself without a committed dedication to surpass our habitual life style.  Instead, in order to be enlightened in this life, it is vital to integrate our body and mind.  Only then the universal life force could be collected and concentrated, enabling us to surpass hindrances from our body and mind. Then, as our egoistic notions eradicate and our heart is in sync with Buddha or through our Teacher, a natural pure compassion rise from our heart.  One day you shall meet Buddha and be one with Him.

Wisdom -- Fulfillment

Wisdom or Prajna, if to fulfill all requirements, conditions, encounters of our journey to enlightenment. Chan ding is the most effective way to witness the manifestations of wisdom.  Then having a committed and dedicated vow is the prerequisite enabling us to surpass our three physical realms.  This powerful initiative will be energized by the light of Buddha with its infinite life force and wisdom.  This light will guide you from being a human to a Buddha.  This is witness of wisdom or Prajna.

When you uncover this wisdom in you, you shall continue to transcend, transform and surpass all hindrances until the right time, truly witness the realm of Bodhisattva.  Along this journey of fulfillment, you will witness the integration of your heart with other sentient being, your wisdom with that of Buddha, your spirit with that of others.  As the practice of the Six Paramitas peak, you shall be enlightened.