аЯрЁБс>ўџ 79ўџџџ6џџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџьЅСq Пу%bjbjt+t+ -8AAу!џџџџџџ]ЄЄЄЄЄЄЄИИИИИЬ,ИS њ               $MєA’> Є     > ьЄЄ   ььь ,Є Є  ИИЄЄЄЄ  ь,ь ЄЄ ј@|`1РИИ8Д An Evening with the Bristol Ch’an Group To help those of you who are not yet familiar with our weekly meetings, we offer the following introduction to the format of the evening, with some explanation of what we do, how and why. Preparation Each week a number of us take it in turns to lead the evening meeting. The first task is to set up the altar. This usually comprises a small statue of the Buddha sitting in meditation, two candles and one or more incense sticks. As people arrive and enter the meditation room (having removed their shoes), they bow to the altar in gassho (bowing from the waist with palms together). This is a gesture of respect to the Buddha and his teachings (the Dharma). Some of us may prostrate three times towards the altar. It is important to realise that this, too, is a mark of deep respect; it is not an act of worship to a deity. We then settle down on our cushions (zafus) or stools to compose ourselves for several minutes before the leader starts the liturgy at 7.45pm. ((((( THE LITURGY You will have been handed one of the booklets we all use. The leader will tell those present which parts of the liturgy we shall be reciting and chanting. He or she will then ring the bell three times, after which we all bow, and will lead us in saying the introductory sentence together: To know all the Buddhas of past, present and future, only remember that all worlds of experience are totally created by the mind. The Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra This is a profound statement about the realisation of ‘Buddha mind’. It is complex, even obscure and apparently paradoxical; but it embodies the essential wisdom of the Buddha’s teachings. It is a central piece, hence the ‘heart’, of our scripture. Don’t worry if you can’t understand it at this stage. It takes most meditators many years to fully appreciate its profound meaning; and such understanding is the result of deep experience - ‘direct perception’ - rather than the result of an intellectual process. At the end of the Heart Sutra, in Sanskrit, is the ‘great mantra’: GATE GATE PARAGATE PARASAMGATE BODHI SVAHA. Master Sheng-yen, our Founder in Ch’an, explains this as follows: “The meaning of this ‘mantra’ is that we should use prajna (wisdom) to transcend all sufferings and attain Buddhahood. ‘Gate’ (pronounced ‘gatay’) means ‘go’. ‘Paragate’ means ‘to the shore beyond’. In this case the shore refers to ultimate nirvana. ‘Parasamgate’ means that all of us, all together, are to go to the shore beyond…..’Bodhi Svaha’ is the perfection of Buddhahood. ‘Svaha’ means ‘completion’ or ‘perfection’. All together the line means: ‘Go, go, go to the shore beyond. Everybody go together to the shore beyond and complete the bodhi path.’” After reciting the Heart Sutra in English, we then chant the following line: MO HO BO RAY PO LO MI DO This is the Chinese version of the Sanskrit: Ma-ha Praj-na Pa-ra-mi-ta (Great Wisdom Perfection) The Four Great Vows We vow to deliver innumerable sentient beings. We vow to cut off endless vexations. We vow to master limitless approaches to Dharma. We vow to attain supreme Buddhahood. Vows and precepts form an essential ethical core to the teachings of all schools of Buddhism, not least Ch’an. What can seem an impossible ideal from a conventional viewpoint has a very different aspect seen through the ‘enlightened’ mind. The challenge is to perceive that we all have such a mind. We first say the words in English, and then chant them in Chinese. A group of British people chanting in Sanskrit and Chinese may seem a bit odd at first! It does however deliberately ‘anchor’ our liturgy firmly in its historical setting, reflecting the spread of Buddhism throughout the East. Chanting itself also has a settling effect on one’s mind which is probably the result of deeper breathing. The Three Refuges We take refuge in Buddha, and we wish all sentient beings will awaken to the Great Path, and make the Supreme Resolution. We take refuge in Dharma, and we wish all sentient beings will penetrate the sutras, their wisdom as deep as the ocean. We take refuge in Sangha, and we wish all sentient beings will be brought together in great harmony, without any obstructions at all. The Buddha, the essence of his teaching – the Dharma , and the community of Buddhists – the Sangha – are collectively known as the Three Jewels. ‘Taking refuge’ – reciting this passage with sincerity – is regarded as a mark of a Buddhist. Sentient beings are not, of course, just human beings, but all creatures which are ‘sentient’. The Supreme Resolution means the Four Great Vows. Sutras are the recorded teachings of Sakyamuni, the Buddha. (Certain other scriptures, especially in the Mahayana tradition, are accorded the name ‘sutra’, being regarded as ‘enlightened wisdom’, even sacred, though not emanating from Sakyamuni himself.) On Pursuing That Which Leaves No Tracks Our Teacher, John Crook, wrote this poem as an encapsulation of the wisdom contained in a pre-eminent Chinese Buddhist scripture, the Platform Sutra of Hui-Neng. Hui-Neng was the Sixth Patriarch of Ch’an Buddhism; his sutra is regarded as one of the clearest descriptions of the essential steps to realising the enlightened Mind. We sometimes recite this together before the Three Refuges. It is easier to understand than the Heart Sutra, and is well worth memorising. ((((((( MEDITATION Zazen After ringing the bell (all bow), the leader will now invite everyone to ‘prepare for zazen’. This means turning round to face the wall (about 3 feet away), settling comfortably onto your cushion or stool, and then ‘following your method’. You need to know two things – an appropriate posture to adopt; and an appropriate method to follow. You may already be used to meditating, and have your own posture and method. The leader will ask you if you know what to do; and if you don’t know please ask. Ch’an is quite ‘flexible’ in certain respects; but everyone is expected to use its traditional postures and methods. Further guidance on meditation techniques can easily be had from any of the leaders, or from literature in our library. Just ask! Each of the two sessions of zazen lasts 30 minutes. Thoughts will intrude, and it is natural for them to do so. The aim of meditation is not to banish thoughts, but to allow them to arise, to observe them without becoming ‘involved’, and then to allow them to go, returning to your method. Gradually, hopefully, you should find your mind settling down to a calmer state. However, this sadly is often not the case, and the hurly-burly of life continues on the cushion. And if you are new to meditation 30 minutes is a long time! Feel free to move, or stop meditating, or even leave the room – trying to make sure that you cause the minimum disturbance to others. You may like to read until the end of the ‘sit’. Kinhin This is ‘slow walking’ meditation, and the leader will show you how it goes. There is a particular posture, and way of walking and breathing, which you will soon get the hang of. Once you do so, you will find kinhin is often an effective way to ‘calm the mind’. We usually go twice round the room, and then do two or three circuits of ‘fast walking’. When doing either slow or fast walking, simply focus your attention on your feet. A further 30 minutes of zazen follows. Interviews When John Crook is able to join us he invites anyone who wishes to have an interview with him, to discuss methods of, and problems with, practice. This is usually during the first session of zazen. Closing Verses We close the ‘formal’ session with the two invocations – Warning to the Assembly and Transfer of Merit. These are simple and self-explanatory. After three rings of the bell and the final bow, we sit for a few moments in silence. (((((( AND THEN . . . Discussion The leader will then invite those present to say something if they wish about their meditation or other experiences or insights. People sometimes talk about how they have been affected by events in the world, or in their own lives. A lively discussion often follows. Or, if no-one feels inclined to break the silence, the leader may read a passage from an inspirational book, or introduce a topic for discussion. Many of us find this is an important part of the evening, and helps to ‘bring us together’ as a Ch’an Sangha. After this we have a cup of tea/tisane and chat amongst ourselves. Donations We ask for Ѓ2 if you are waged; and Ѓ1 if not. ()чѓ]b14EKНУзрNQ–›эє < Ц Ч Ш ч щ Ь в Ќ ч № уСеж›žL^zлць>Deqефў:LWoгмk“”#$5qxŒ“ыёЖНлс=‘x§їѓёёёёёяёёыѓёщёёёёёчёёчёёёёёёёёёёёчуёёыччёёёё5>*>*5 jЉ№>*65>* 5>*CJCJ Z()хцчѓєp ; < q  Ц Ч Ш ч ш щ ѓ §њієєђ№эээњэђ№ээњњщ№№чсмз$„а$„а„p„а„ $„а$()хцчѓєp ; < q  Ц Ч Ш ч ш щ ѓ є 7 8 h i Ћ Ќ ту1QRŸПРСеж*[€БJKL^_zЙклѕ0STnЙклнопрстijk“”сopqyz{|}~€Œ“ќњњњїїєёёюёёё^ѓ є 7 8 h i Ћ Ќ ту1QRŸПРСеж*[€БJKњњѕѕњђђњњђяђњяяђэыэяяяяяэээ$$$„а$„аKL^_zЙклѕ0STnЙклнопрстijk“”сo§ћ§љііііііііііі§§§§§§ђ§§ћ§§§„а$opqyz{|}~€Œ“”bdelm'!O!P!Q!\!]!&"§§њ§§§§§§§§ј§ј§ѕѕ§§ѓ§§§§§ѓ§§$$“”bdelm'!O!P!Q!\!]!&"'"("7"8""###*#+#;#<#G#H#Y$Ђ%Є%Ѕ%Џ%А%у%ќќљљљљќ!xЊЏC I !!%!@!E!"$"("7"r"‰"Ž"Ÿ"##)#+#F#U%[%у%§§§§§§§ћ§§їћ§ jЉ№>*6&"'"("7"8""###*#+#;#<#G#H#Y$Ђ%Є%Ѕ%Џ%А%у%§§ћ§§§јјћћћ§§§§§іѓѓ$$+&P 0АШA Аƒ.!А "А #$%А P Š [$@ёџ$NormalmH 4@4 Heading 1 $$@&>*66 Heading 2 $$@&5>*2@2 Heading 3$@&5>*4@4 Heading 4 $$@&60@0 Heading 5$@&544 Heading 6 $$@&5B@B Heading 7 $$@&5>*CJ(OJQJB@B Heading 8 $$@&5>*CJ0OJQJ<A@ђџЁ<Default Paragraph Font,>ђ,Title$ 5>*CJ*B@* Body Text$у!8џџџџxу%ѓ Ko&"у%“у%'EKНУ–›LSЬк0:>BpuŠрц ! 8 = N V Ћ Ж §     ) - 2 д й ˆ  “ ž S Y t ~ ъ я эѓfl>DŽ—глU^-59A]b’ы№‘–ЊЏekCI@E$O!T!U![!т!т!х!':=quЅЈekвз8Bљ ќ w y Ѓ Ѕ 1 7 ‚ Œ Ÿ Џ ‚ № :z}ЙМѕј05nqЙР#_f]bБДklфљШЮ…‘a g O!T!Я!а!т!т!х!џџDr Timothy Paine?C:\My Documents\My Documents\An Evening with the Bristol Ch.docDr Timothy Paine?C:\My Documents\My Documents\An Evening with the Bristol Ch.docDr Timothy Paine?C:\My Documents\My Documents\An Evening with the Bristol Ch.docDr Timothy Paine?C:\My Documents\My Documents\An Evening with the Bristol Ch.docDr Timothy Paine?C:\My Documents\My Documents\An Evening with the Bristol Ch.docDr Timothy Paine?C:\My Documents\My Documents\An Evening with the Bristol Ch.docDr Timothy Paine?C:\My Documents\My Documents\An Evening with the Bristol Ch.docDr Timothy PaineGC:\WINDOWS\TEMP\AutoRecovery save of An Evening with the Bristol Ch.asdDr Timothy PaineGC:\WINDOWS\TEMP\AutoRecovery save of An Evening with the Bristol Ch.asdmrwm$F:\CHAN\WWW-Leaflet\AnEveningWWW.docџ@€т!т!,гшт!т!у!@@G‡ŸTimes New Roman5€Symbol3& ‡ŸArialCF‡ŸComic Sans MS"1ˆаhEJ,EJкМGцё;YЅРДД€0dP"џџ'An Evening with the Bristol Ch an Group Tim Painemrwmўџр…ŸђљOhЋ‘+'Гй0Œ˜Шдшє   < H T `lt|„ф(An Evening with the Bristol Ch’an Groupn E Tim Paine wim Normalnmrwmln3wmMicrosoft Word 8.0 @FУ#@ЌVsгєП@а!„Z1Р@РЄ`1РцёўџеЭеœ.“—+,љЎDеЭеœ.“—+,љЎT hp|„Œ” œЄЌД М №ф e;P"1 (An Evening with the Bristol Ch’an Group Title˜ 6> _PID_GUIDфAN{7D5B57E8-84BD-11D3-B224-444553540000} ўџџџ !"#$%ўџџџ'()*+,-ўџџџ/012345ўџџџ§џџџ8ўџџџўџџџўџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџRoot Entryџџџџџџџџ РFР{;ЂZ1Р`.„`1Р:€1TableџџџџџџџџџџџџгWordDocumentџџџџџџџџ-8SummaryInformation(џџџџ&DocumentSummaryInformation8џџџџџџџџџџџџ.CompObjџџџџjObjectPoolџџџџџџџџџџџџ`.„`1Р`.„`1Рџџџџџџџџџџџџўџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџўџ џџџџ РFMicrosoft Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.8є9Вq